OT: Happy New Zealand Day

This message is aimed at Pete Dashwood who I bet is celebrating and,
if not, now has a reason to.

On this day (I know it is tomorrow in New Zealand, but humor me) Dec.
18th, in 1642, the first European discovered New Zealand by accident
like most great discoveries.

Dutch seafarer and explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to
reach New Zealand. After sighting and taking formal possession of
Tasmania, Tasman and his crew planned to sail north, but unfavorable
winds caused them to turn east and discover the islands of New
Zealand.

Abel Tasman is best known for his voyages of 1642 and 1644 in the
service of the VOC (United East India Company). His was the first
known European expedition to reach the islands of Van Diemen's Land
(now Tasmania) and New Zealand and to sight the Fiji islands, which he
did in 1643. Tasman, his navigator Visscher, and his Merchant
Gilsemans also mapped substantial portions of Australia, New Zealand
and the Pacific Islands.

After landing in Tasmania, Tasman had intended to proceed in a
northerly direction but as the wind was unfavourable he steered east.
On 13 December they sighted land on the north-west coast of the South
Island, New Zealand. After some exploration he sailed further east,
and nine days later was the first European known to sight New Zealand,
which he named Staten Landt on the assumption that it was connected to
an island (Staten Island, Argentina) at the south of the tip of South
America. Proceeding north and then east one of his boats was attacked
by Ma-ori in waka, and four of his men were killed. It has recently
been suggested that some of Tasman's sailors briefly landed here on 18
December 1642. Tasman named it Murderers' Bay (now known as Golden
Bay) and sailed north, but mistook Cook Strait for a bight (naming it
Zeehaen's Bight). Two names that he bestowed on New Zealand landmarks
still endure: Cape Maria van Diemen and Three Kings Islands (Cabo
Pieter Boreels is now known as Cape Egmont).

Cheers to all the Kiwis and have a cold one.

Regards,
////
(o o)
-oOO--(_)--OOo-

"Bart, a woman is like a beer. They look good,
they smell good, and you'd step over your own
mother just to get one."
---Homer Simpson
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Steve