Abel Tasman’s journey of discovery celebrated

Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, home to Oranjehof, the national Dutch museum in Foxton, is to host an impressive international travelling exhibition, ‘Welcome Aboard’, which explains the journey Dutch explorer Abel Tasman and his 110 men undertook in 1642 to become the first Europeans to reach New Zealand.

Co-Chair of the Dutch Connection Museum Trust, Arjan van der Boon, said the exhibition has been shown to great acclaim in the Netherlands and Tasmania.

“It tells the story of what in its day was a huge journey of discovery. Two small wooden ships set out to sail some 30,000 kilometres into unknown stormy southern oceans, without the ability to exactly know where they were. They travelled almost 1/10th of the distance to the moon. And that exciting story is told from the everyday perspective of the barber who also acted as the doctor, the carpenter, and the navigator who was responsible for getting everyone home again,” he said.

The exhibition explores everyday life and the hardships on board, as well as the crew’s encounter with Ngāti Tūmatakōkiri in Mohua/Golden Bay, on 18 and 19 December 1642.

Mr van der Boon said the exhibition’s connection with both Dutch and Māori heritage emphasises the partnership at Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, which also houses Piriharakeke Generation Inspiration Centre, a Māori museum, art and learning centre.

The exhibition will be opened at 12pm on Saturday 28 April by Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Rob Zaagman, and attended by Mayor of Horowhenua Michael Feyen. The opening coincides with the Big (‘Orange’) Dutch Day Out celebrated around Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom and De Molen, to celebrate the Dutch King Willem Alexander’s Birthday.

The opening day will feature a one-off seminar at 1.30pm, where Ambassador Zaagman will discuss the historic voyage with four well-known Abel Tasman experts: David Horry, Abel Tasman scholar and author; Rudiger Mack, antiquarian bookseller and researcher; Patricia Wallace, Adjunct Fellow of the University of Canterbury; and Te Kenehi Teira, descendent of the iwi that first encountered Abel Tasman.

Each expert focuses on a different part of the Tasman story. David Horry provides insights about the events in Golden Bay, where he lives. Rudiger Mack offers information on Abel Tasman from international archives. Patricia Wallace brings in the Māori perspective, looking at the clothing Tūmatakōkiri wore back then, and Te Kenehi Teira explains the local hapū connections with the iwi that lived in Golden Bay around 1642.

Entry to both the exhibition and the seminar is free, although bookings are required for the seminar. Those who wish to attend the seminar should RSVP to exhibition organiser Agnes Maat at tasman1642@outlook.com or call Awhina Tamarapa, Principal Advisor – Culture and Exhibitions, on 0275741617 for further information.
The exhibition runs until Sunday 22 July.
ENDS

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