Captain James Cook, Voyages of Discovery in the Pacific

250th Anniversary Of Cook's Voyage

In 1769, Captain James Cook became the first European to land in New Zealand and claim it for the British crown. He led the Endeavour and its crew in a circumnavigation and mapping of the two main islands of New Zealand, completing the journey on March 31st, 1770.

I attempted to photograph locations in New Zealand that Cook had highlighted in the Endeavour logbook but found that pre-existing monuments and commemorative plaques made this difficult. Instead, I chose to walk along the Cook route and capture images of the monuments and plaques around the islands of New Zealand. Additionally, I took pictures of specific locations mentioned in the Endeavour logbook and those named by Cook and his crew.

I used 6x7 cm medium format camera and negative film and the Hasselblad Xpan to shoot extreme panoramic formats.
The project was funded by the Stiftung Kulturwerk of the Verwertungsgesellschaft Bild-Kunst, Germany.

Click image to enlarge
Gisborne, Gladstone Road with models of the Endeavour on the streetlights. (click to enlarge)
"Land! Land!" Nicholas Young Memorial in Gisborne, Waikanae Park. (click to enlarge)
"Young Nick's Head," land came into view on October 7, 1769. Nicholas Young, "Young Nick" discovered it and so the southwesternmost point of Poverty Bay was named after him. (click to enlarge)
On October 9, 1769, James Cook, accompanied by Dr. Solander and Mr. Banks, became the first European to set foot in New Zealand at the very spot where a log harbor now is located. (click to enlarge)
"Cook Plaza", Cook Memorial on Kaiti Hill in Gisborne. (click to enlarge)
"Cook Plaza," Cook Memorial on Kaiti Hill in Gisborne. (click to enlarge)
"Cook Plaza," Cook Memorial on Kaiti Hill in Gisborne. (click to enlarge)
Cook Memorial in Gisborne, Waikanae Park. (click to enlarge)
Cook Landing Site Monument from 1969 in Gisborne, Kaiti Beach. (click to enlarge)
East Cape. (click to enlarge)
Whangara, Maori village, where the story "Whale Rider" by Witi Ihimaera is set, which was filmed by Niki Caro in 2002. (click to enlarge)
Tolaga Bay, Opoutama, Cook’s Cove. (click to enlarge)
Anaura Bay, on October 20, 1769, James Cook and the crew of the Endeavour have the first welcome encounter with the Maori of New Zealand: Motuoroi Island and angler Danny Murphy. (click to enlarge)
Coromandel Peninsula, Mercury Bay, Cook's Beach in November 1769 James Cook and the crew of the Endeavour observe the passage of Venus through Mercury, determine the exact location of Mercury Bay, and take possession of the land for the British Crown. (click to enlarge)
Coromandel Peninsula, Mercury Bay, Cook's Beach in November 1769 James Cook and the crew of the Endeavour observe the passage of Venus through Mercury, determine the exact location of Mercury Bay and take possession of the land for the British Crown. (click to enlarge)
Coromandel Peninsula, Mercury Bay, Cook’s Beach. (click to enlarge)
Coromandel Peninsula, Mercury Bay, Cook's Beach, Cook's Watering Place near the mouth of the Purangi River, Log: November 15, 1769 "Before leaving this bay we carved in a tree near the watering place the name of the ship, the date, etc. ...". (click to enlarge)
Coromandel Peninsula, Mercury Bay, Cook's Beach, Corner of Captain Cook Road and Banks Street. (click to enlarge)
Coromandel Peninsula, Mercury Bay, Cook's Beach. (click to enlarge)
Coromandel Peninsula, Mercury Bay, Whitianga, Cook Drive. (click to enlarge)
Coromandel Peninsula, Mercury Bay, Whitianga, Endeavour Motel. (click to enlarge)
Coromandel Peninsula, Mercury Bay, near Whitianga, Wharekaho Beach here was the Pa of Iwi Ngati Hei mentioned by James Cook. (click to enlarge)
Near Netherton on the Waihou River, Cook Landing Memorial, on November 20, 1769, Cook sails with a pinasse from the Firth of Thames about 20 km up the Waihou, which Cook himself called Thames, to this point. (click to enlarge)
Near Netherton on the Waihou River, Cook Landing Memorial, on November 20, 1769, Cook sails with a pinasse from the Firth of Thames about 20 km up the Waihou, which Cook himself called Thames, to this point. (click to enlarge)
Near Netherton on the Waihou River, Cook Landing Memorial, on November 20, 1769, Cook sails with a pinasse from the Firth of Thames about 20 km up the Waihou, which Cook himself called Thames, to this point. (click to enlarge)
Near Kopu on the Waihou River, Cook obelisk with memorial plate, on November 20, 1769 Cook sails with a pinasse from the Firth of Thames about 20 km up the Waihou, which Cook himself called Thames. (click to enlarge)
Auckland, Khyber Pass Road, Lion Brewery, Cook Statue (not actually of Cook). (click to enlarge)
Auckland, Khyber Pass Road, Lion Brewery, Cook Statue (not actually of Cook). (click to enlarge)
Bream Bay, Parry Channel, Bream Head, Hen and Chicken Islands, Log: 24 November 1769. (click to enlarge)
Bay of Islands, Waitangi, Treaty Ground, gable decoration on a marae. (click to enlarge)
Bay of Islands, Paiha, Maori from the Iwi of the Nagapuhi with European tourists. (click to enlarge)
Matauri Bay, Cavalli Islands (named by James Cook, December 6, 1769), off Motutapere Island the wreck of the Rainbow Warrior is sunk, Rainbow Warrior Memorial on Matauri Bay Hill, sculpture by Chris Booth showing the propeller of the Rainbow Warrior. (click to enlarge)
Bay of Islands, Motuarohia Island (formerly: Roberton Island, named after the tragedy of the Roberton family) here James Cook anchored and landed on November 27, 1769, sightseeing steamer with tourists. (click to enlarge)
Cook Strait, Marlborough Sounds, Queen Charlotte Sound. (click to enlarge)
Cook Strait, Marlborough Sounds, Queen Charlotte Sound, Motuara Island, on January 30, 1790, James Cook raises the British flag on Motuara Island, takes possession of the southern islands for the English Crown and King George II. (click to enlarge)
Cook Strait, Marlborough Sounds, Queen Charlotte Sound, seen from Motuara Island, on January 30, 1790, James Cook raises the British flag on Motuara Island, takes possession of the southern islands for the English Crown and King George II. (click to enlarge)
Cook Strait, Marlborough Sounds, Queen Charlotte Sound, Ship Cove, Memorial of 1913. The Endeavour stays almost 30 days in Ship Cove and is overhauled, Cook explores the Marlborough Sounds and recognizes that New Zealand consists of two main islands. (click to enlarge)
Cook Strait, Marlborough Sounds, Queen Charlotte Sound, Ship Cove, Memorial of 1913. The Endeavour stays almost 30 days in Ship Cove and is overhauled, Cook explores the Marlborough Sounds and recognizes that New Zealand consists of two main islands. (click to enlarge)
Cook Strait, Marlborough Sounds, Queen Charlotte Sound, Motuara Island, Cook's Cairn, on January 30, 1790, James Cook raises the British flag right here on Motuara Island, takes possession of the southern islands for the English Crown and King George. (click to enlarge)
Cook Strait, Marlborough Sounds, Queen Charlotte Sound, Ship Cove, Memorial of 1913. The Endeavour stays almost 30 days in Ship Cove and is overhauled, Cook explores the Marlborough Sounds and recognizes that New Zealand consists of two main islands. (click to enlarge)
Christchurch, Victoria Square, Cook Memorial. (click to enlarge)
Wellington, The Terrace, James Cook Hotel. (click to enlarge)
Wellington, British High Commission, bronze bust of James Cook. (click to enlarge)
Cook Strait, Marlborough Sounds, Queen Charlotte Sound. (click to enlarge)
Cook Strait, Marlborough Sounds, D'Urville Island, Whareata Bay, Simpson Point, on March 31, 1770, James Cook leaves New Zealand from here. Logbook: "Before I leave this country for good, I want to give a short and general description of its shape ... ". (click to enlarge)