The Tuia Mātauranga GeoTour is about having fun discovering the history of Aotearoa New Zealand by finding sites of significance in local communities from early Pacific voyaging and migration, European settlement to present day. The interaction between people, and people and the land have provided a rich history that the GeoTour invites you to explore.
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Tupaia was the Tahitian high priest and navigator on board Endeavour who played a pivotal role in mediating between Māori and the crew of the Endeavour on its visit to New Zealand in 1769.
Tupaia was nobly born in the Society Islands about 1725. He was tall, handsome, strong, athletic and extraordinarily intelligent, all of which qualified him to be one of the select few taught at the greatest marae in all Polynesia, Taputapuatea on Raiatea. After consecration as a tahua, or priest, with star navigation as his speciality, he did a three-year cadetship graduating as an honoured wayfinder.
At one point the hight priest of all Tahiti, Tupaia was in a much humbler position when Cook and the Endeavour arrived on 13 April 1769. He accompanied the chief Tutaha on a peacemaking visit to the ship, where Cook took the opportunity to recruit four of the party to the crew. Tupaia was enlisted as a guide and intermediary for the duration of the time in Tahiti, and he was accompanied by his young acolyte Taiata, a boy Cook assumed was Tupaia’s servant.
During that time Tupaia learned enough English to impart his special knowledge. Not only did he relate mythology and introduce his new friends to the traditions and culture of Tahiti, but he drew compelling artworks to illustrate what he was describing. He agreed to sail aboard the Endeavour when they left Tahiti. Tupaia navigated a course to Huahine, and from there to Raiatea, where he guided a party, including Banks and Cook, over the great marae, Taputapuatea. He created an iconic map of the Pacific for Cook, dictating the names of 74 islands and demonstrating Polynesian wayfinders’ vast knowledge of the ocean.
But as the Endeavour left the tropics, the situation deteriorated. Tupaia urged Cook to sail west, promising him an abundance of islands, but Cook refused and sailed south in conformity with his instructions to search for the ‘Great Southern Continent’. Acutely aware that he had lost his role as a navigator and interpreter of language and custom, Tupaia became depressed and withdrawn. Another conflict developed as Tupaia refused to eat the strange food Cook relied on to prevent scurvy. Consequently, when the east coast of New Zealand was sighted, on 6 October 1769, Tupaia’s advice was not sought, and when a party from the ship went on shore two days later, Tupaia was not included. This was a huge mistake.
The immediate outcome was disastrous. While Cook and Banks, with two other men, were exploring a deserted kaingā (village), marines left to guard the boats shot dead a man who was armed only with a spear. He was Te Maro, of the local Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti tribe. Recognising his vulnerable position, Cook had the sense to include Tupaia in a shore party next day — which was fortunate, as 50 Rongowhakaata warriors had arrived with the intention of seizing the ship. To their astonishment, Tupaia walked out and introduced himself in a language they understood.
Instead of attacking, the Māori party conferred with this interesting newcomer, raising Cook’s hopes of bartering for fresh water and provisions. However a fight developed over a cutlass, leading to the shooting of a prominent chief, and in the chaos that followed several fleeing warriors were wounded. Then a botched attempt to kidnap seven fishermen to befriend them resulted in the death of four of them. Tupaia was able to smooth over the situation, though interactions with Māori remained confused.
As the Endeavour sailed along the east coast of the North Island, war canoes raced out, their paddlers roaring a challenge to come on shore and fight like men that was countered by Tupaia’s warning that European firepower was fatal. However, after some of the Māori became curious enough to paddle close and talk with Tupaia, the encounters became more friendly. Exchanges of Tahitian tapa cloth for Māori artefacts and seafood inspired Tupaia’s iconic portrait of Banks bargaining for a crayfish. Then, as Tupaia’s high status in Polynesia became recognised, diplomatic overtures were made by local chiefs, enabling anchorage at watering places and surveying points.
On shore, in recognition of his prestige as a Tahitian tahua, Tupaia was greeted as an honoured guest, enfolded in valuable cloaks and entrusted with ancient treasures. Disassociated from the homeland for perhaps 500 years, elders, priests, chiefs and their people welcomed this chance to reclaim their ancient past. Hundreds gathered to hear Tupaia preach, while priests engaged him in religious discussions. As the ship sailed north to the Bay of Islands, Tupaia was welcomed and feted: he was a valued interpreter and mediator for the Māori people, as well as for the Europeans.
The fact that the Endeavour left New Zealand on 31 March 1770 without the loss of a single crewman can be attributed to Tupaia’s prestige and diplomacy. Whether the Europeans recognised this is debatable. Yet in April 1770 Cook wrote “. . .by means of Tupaia. . .you would always get people to direct you from island to island and would be sure of meeting with a friendly reception and refreshments at every island you came to.”
As for the local Māori, as far as they were concerned the Endeavour was Tupaia’s waka. When Cook returned to New Zealand in 1773, Māori approached his ship shouting “Tupaia! Tupaia!”. Cook noted that “. . . the Name of Tupaia was at that time so popular among them that it would be no wonder if at this time it is known over the great part of New Zealand.”
The cache is a 1 litre sistema hidden at Kaiti Beach not far from where Tupaia first stepped onto New Zealand shores.
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To be able to complete this Geotour and receive your special geocoin, remember to take a note of the codeword on the log book of the cache. This will need to be recorded in your passport which can be downloaded from here. If the passport is unavailable for any reason just keep a note of the codeword and try again later.