Explorers of New Zealand

British explorer, cartographer and naval officer (1728–1779)

Dutch seafarer, explorer and merchant (1603–1659)

French Navy officer and explorer (1790–1842)

French explorer and cartographer (1724–1772)

German-born New Zealand geologist (1822-1887)

New Zealand printer, botanist, explorer, missionary and politician (1811-1899)

thumb|Detail of Kupe and his wife Kūrāmarotini from the statue on the Wellington waterfront Kupe was a legendary Polynesian explorer who, according to Māori oral history, was the first person to discover New Zealand. He is generally held to have been born to a father from Rarotonga and a mother from Raiatea, and probably spoke a Māori proto-language similar to Cook Islands Māori or Tahitian. His voyage to New Zealand ensured that the land was known to the Polynesians, and he would therefore be responsible for the genesis of the Māori people.

Prime Minister of New Zealand (1854-1930)

Welsh officer of the British Royal Navy, sailed with Charles Darwin (1811-1885)

French explorer

New Zealand botanist (1935-1992)

English-born New Zealand explorer, recipient of the Victoria Cross and artist (1820–1881)

British sailor

New Zealand engineer and surveyor (1841–1939)

Surveyor, explorer, New Zealand Company agent (1907-1876)

British surveyor (1821-1884)

English-born New Zealand surveyor and explorer (1821–1874)