HISTORY OF THE LAND
The Rich History ofOur Land
At Bayview Valley Lodge, we celebrate the rich history of our area and our proud to welcome visitors to our region to learn of our Maori and Maritime History. In November 2019 Whitianga celebrated the 250th anniversary of Captain James Cook’s Great First Voyage of 1769 to Te Whanganui a Hei (Mercury Bay) on the Coromandel. A series of events took place with the replica of Cooks Ship, the Endeavour was here in Mercury Bay much to the delight of visitors where we celebrate this journey to explore, discover and share cultures in an uncharted land.
Te Whanganui a Hei (Mercury Bay) was one of four landing sites for Cook’s ship 'TheEndeavour' in New Zealand, but it was significant in the story of the birthplace of ournation.
'The Endeavour' was a barque originally launched in 1764 as a three-mast broadbeamed 'Whitby Cat' named the Earl of Pembroke. Cook served on 'Whitby Cats' beforejoining the Royal Navy, and when selected to lead a voyage exploring the seas of the‘Terra Australis Incognita’, he was quite at home.
When Cook landed at Tahiti to witness the transit of Venus in 1769 he became acquaintedwith a master Polynesian navigator Tupaia from the island of Raiatea. Tupaia waswelcomed on board as an additional member of the crew, providing his Polynesiannavigating skills to Cook’s search for New Zealand. Cook and his crew anchored in CooksBeach on the Coromandel, and it was here that he recorded the Transit of Mercury. Indoing so, he put New Zealand on European charts for the first time. Captain Cook sailed three voyages throughout the Pacific Ocean. He and his crew spent 12days in this part of the Coromandel and named it Mercury Bay in recognition of thissignificant astrological event.
Te Whanganui a Hei (Mercury Bay) was one of four landing sites for Cook’s ship 'The
Endeavour' in New Zealand, but it was significant in the story of the birthplace of our
nation.
'The Endeavour' was a barque originally launched in 1764 as a three-mast broad
beamed 'Whitby Cat' named the Earl of Pembroke. Cook served on 'Whitby Cats' before
joining the Royal Navy, and when selected to lead a voyage exploring the seas of the
‘Terra Australis Incognita’, he was quite at home.
When Cook landed at Tahiti to witness the transit of Venus in 1769 he became acquainted
with a master Polynesian navigator Tupaia from the island of Raiatea. Tupaia was
welcomed on board as an additional member of the crew, providing his Polynesian
navigating skills to Cook’s search for New Zealand. Cook and his crew anchored in Cooks
Beach on the Coromandel, and it was here that he recorded the Transit of Mercury. In
doing so, he put New Zealand on European charts for the first time.
Captain Cook sailed three voyages throughout the Pacific Ocean. He and his crew spent 12
days in this part of the Coromandel and named it Mercury Bay in recognition of this
significant astrological event.
Tukukino Te Ahiātaewa
Tukukino Te Ahiātaewa was one of the 19th-century leaders of Ngāti Tamaterā.
In 1878 his portrait was painted by Gottfried Lindauer.
Tāraia Ngākuti Te Tumuhuia
Tāraia Ngākuti Te Tumuhuia was an important chief of Ngāti
Tamaterā. This portrait by Gottfried Lindauer was based on early black-and- white photographs.
Hōri Ngākapa Te Whanaunga
Hōri Ngākapa Te Whanaunga was an important ancestor and chief of Ngāti Whanaunga, who lived in the Wharekawa district in western Hauraki in the 19th
century. He was a supporter of the Māori King movement, and at one stage organised an attack on the young township of Auckland.
Te Horetā
This portrait of Te Horetā, also known as Te Taniwha, was almost
certainly painted from a photograph many years after Te Horetā’s death in 1853. Te Horetā was an important chief of Ngāti
Whanaunga.