In November 1769 the HMB Endeavour anchored in Te Whanganui o Hei for twelve days. Here the crew replenished their supplies and made repairs, while Joseph Banks & Daniel Solander collected botanical specimens and Cook and the ship’s astronomer Mr Green observed the Transit of Mercury. But perhaps of most note, was the prolonged and generally positive encounters that occurred between Ngāti Hei and the occupants of the HMB Endeavour.
November 1769 was the first time that these two great voyaging peoples had really communicated and had the chance to begin to take the measure of each other. Facilitated largely by the Tahitian linguist, Tupaia, also on board HMB Endeavour, this communication formed the first steps in a relationship that over the intervening 250 years has moved slowly towards partnership and shared ideals,
‘Twelve Days – 1769’ is those momentous events as noted by Cook and Banks in their journals and the traditional oral history of Ngāti Hei.
They will be reflected by twelve objects for twelve days and will look at the background to these events and to those first historic meetings between Captain James Cook, the crew and the people of Te Whanganui o Hei, led by the great Ngāti Hei chief, Toawaka.