Meeting again after 375 years!

In December 1642 Abel Tasman's ships sailed into what he would call Moordenaers Baij, now Golden Bay/Mohua. It's the earliest recorded event in New Zealand's shared written history.

This weekend the Golden Bay/Mohua community recognises the event with its biggest heritage celebration since 1992, when Queen Beatrix visited.

"First Encounter 375", echoes the two voyaging cultures coming together for the first time, effectively a key change point in history, especially for Maori.

The commemoration begins on Saturday 16 December with a powhiri at Onetahua Marae for visiting dignitaries, followed by a big public opening event at the Pohara Hall at 4pm same day.

The Minister of Conservation, Hon Eugenie Sage, will formally mark the beginning of the commemoration after 375 years, as well as the 75th anniversary of Abel Tasman National Park, which was created in 1942.

It will be an international affair with visitors from Grootegast (near Tasman's birthplace) in the Netherlands, as well as Netherlands’ Ambassador Rob Zaagman.

Commemoration organiser Penny Griffith adds "Of real significance is the participation by descendants of Ngati Tumatakokiri -- the iwi who encountered Tasman in 1642. This may be the first time in 375 years that Ngati Tumatakokiri and the Dutch have been together in the original location of that first encounter."

Historians, local MPs and Dutch visitors in New Zealand are also coming.

A volunteer planning group, working with Manawhenua ki Mohua and Tasman District Council, are working hard as final details of the commemoration fall into place. "I'm excited by the range of events we've created, There's something for everyone including fun family events on Monday (18 December), the actual anniversary of when the ship sailed into the bay".

Pohara Hall, near Tarakohe Harbour and the Abel Tasman Memorial, will be the hub of the events. A specially developed "Welcome Aboard" exhibition and other displays will be open to the public throughout, from the afternoon of 16 December. On the following days there are documentaries, boat trips, talks, and a very special Farewell Spit trip on the Sunday (17 December).

"Our small Golden Bay/Mohua community can definitely be proud of this commemoration, concludes Penny, "this is an important occasion, marking a nationally significant heritage event."

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Facebook: First Encounter 375

Web: www.abeltasman.org.nz

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