Cook Landing Site National Historic Reserve, Inner Kaiti, 4010, Gisborne, New Zealand 

This history of this site shows that you can decontextualise heritage without moving it. This obelisk marks the setting of Europe’s encounter with Māori New Zealand. In 1642 Māori killed three men of Dutchman Abel Tasman’s expedition, but a more lasting impact was made in October 1769 after Nicholas Young from HMS Endeavour sighted land at Tūranganui-a-Kiwa, modern Poverty Bay. It was an unhappy meeting, especially for the nine Māori Lieutenant James Cook’s men killed.

Epic New Zealand Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound

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