The first known European explorers to visit NZ were Able Tasman in 1642 followed by James COOK in 1769.
There is speculation that other Europeans may have arrived in NZ prior to TASMAN and COOK. In particular it is possible that one or more Spanish Caravels landed in NZ between 1526 and 1566. Charlie OSBORNE reportedly found Spanish coins in Rosalie Bay (ref ROBA).
It is possible that the Portuguese may have traveled as far as New Zealand in the 1500’s. Several books claim that the Portuguese discovered NZ in 1521-2. [6], [8] Early maps produced by the French and probably reproduced from original maps produced by Cristoval de Mendonca, a Portuguese Explorer, who was searching for “El Dorado”, would seem to prove that he traveled from Mallaca, and down the east coast of Australia and then circumnavigated the North Island of New Zealand. According to this account he entered Wellington Harbour, traveled up the east coast and also stopped in Tryphena Harbour on Great Barrier Island
In November 1769 Captain James COOK, whilst on his first of three visits to New Zealand, spent time in Mercury Bay and then sailed through the Colville Channel. He anchored between Cape Colville and Channel Island for a night and then he explored the Thames Estuary (Firth of Thames) and the Waihou River before sailing north. He did not stop at Great Barrier Island but his journal stated that the Hauraki Gulf was “defended from the sea by a chain of large and small islands which I have named the Barrier Isles”. He then sailed north following fairly close to the mainland to the Bay of Islands.
