Beachcrossers 1769–1839
Abstract
So deep was Aotearoa in the watery world of the Pacific that it remained for a long time unknown to Europeans, other than as a part of the mythical great southern land, Terra Australis. Surely there had to be a continent in the South Pacific to balance the weight of land in the Northern Hemisphere? As it proved, there was not. New Zealand is immersed in the Pacific, surrounded by 2000 kilometres of ocean, a fact that is reflected in Māori waka (canoe) traditions. Only in the late eighteenth century did its full outline register in European consciousness through the process of physical discovery.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies
Australian History and Society
Travel Writing and Literature
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Cambridge University Press eBooks
- Pages
- 21–48
- Publication date
- 9 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter