Midworlder's Fotothing

Monument Friday

I found something in my Nelson photos for the theme On the foreshore at Nelson this commemorates the European settlors who help found modern Nelson. Sometimes we forget they hopped on a ship with all the possesions they were allowed and sailed half way around the world, in those days they were pretty much cutting all ties with any family they may have had at home, most of them very unlikely to return to what they once called home. I have added a little extra history of Nelson, please don't fall asleep reading :-))

A Short History of Nelson New Zealand

Maori arrived around 700 -800 years ago
A knowledge of sailing, the stars and the moods of the Pacific Ocean brought Maori here in the Great Migration period from Hawaiiki.

One of the oldest tangata whenua (original) tribes who have remained in Te Tau Ihu O te Waka A Maui (Top of the South) is Ngati Kuia. Their forebears arrived in Te Tai Tapu (the western coast of Nelson-Tasman), aboard the waka “Kurahaupo” some 700 years ago.

On their arrival these early travellers found plenty of birds and fish; argillite for weapon and tool making; and fertile soils. Further south in Te Tai Poutini (the West Coast), they found and treasured pounamu (greenstone)(onyx). However life in those times was not always idyllic as other iwi (tribes ) invaded the area.and either annihilated the residents of the time or drove them further south.

Abel Tasman - 1642
The first documented European visitors to Te Tai Tapu were Dutch explorer, Abel Tasman, and the men of his vessels. They were attacked by local Maori, Ngati Tumatakokiri, in their canoes and Tasman lost four men clashing with them in Mohua (Golden Bay). Tasman, unusually forbearing, left without setting foot on the shore.

James Cook 1770
James Cook, on a scientific voyage, rediscovers the area in his ship, the Endeavor which he repaired and took on wood and water in Queen Charlotte sound. He then circumnavigated the South Island passing Cape Farewell.. He returned on two further voyages in 1773 and 1777

Whalers - From the 1820’s
Sealing parties were landed on the rocky west coast of the region. They were followed by whalers. These early visitors paved the way for the next wave of arrivals to the region

Dumont D’Urville - 1827
The French voyager spent nearly a week in Tasman Bay in his ship the Astrolabe and was the first to explore the area. He named Separation Point which separates Tasman Bay from Golden Bay.

The Region Invaded - 1828 – 1832
Iwi from the north – Ngati Tama, Nagti Toa, Te Atiawa, Ngati Rarua and Ngati Koata – swept down from Kapiti and Te Whanga-nui-a-tara (Wellington), armed with the new technology of deadly muskets and after fierce fighting, they conquered the area and all the resources it contained.

The New Zealand Company 1841
The ships Will-Watch, Whitby and Arrow embarked under the command of Captain Arthur Wakefield R.N. to establish the Second Colony of the New Zealand Company in New Zealand. The settlement was to be called Nelson named in honour of the feats of the British Admiral, Horatio Lord Nelson who died at the Battle of Trafalgar in October 1805.

Here ends your history lesson for today.