Introduction - the exploration of New Zealand

Introduction

'A view of the Murderers' Bay' (1642)

The romance and sheer challenge of getting to New Zealand, and once here, of exploring its often hostile interior, have made the discovery and rediscovery of these islands popular topics of study. There are many websites on the exploration of New Zealand, so this feature is a carefully selected and annotated collection of website links. For each section - Polynesian, European and Interior explorers - we have prefaced the links with a brief overview of the topic, including some discussion of the differing interpretations historians and others make regarding the discovery and exploration of this country.