HMS Endeavour’s Voyage

In celebration to mark the 250th year since Captain James Cook made his first landfall in New Zealand, the replica HMS Endeavour will anchor in and around Mercury Bay with a side trip up the Firth of Thames.

This year, New Zealand marks 250 years since the first meetings between Maori and Europeans during Captain James Cook and the Endeavour’s 1769 voyage to Aotearoa New Zealand.

A highlight of the commemorations is the six-boat Tuia 250 Voyage Flotilla, which will start its journey in Gisborne on 5 October 5 and will sail to Uawa/Tolaga Bay before visiting Mercury Bay from October 18-21.

Wharekaho (Simpsons Beach) in Mercury Bay is the second main site where Maori and Captain Cook met. This was also the site where Cook and his crew observed the transit of Mercury.

The fleet will land at the northern end of Wharekaho where it will be met by Ngati Hei and proceed to the southern end of the beach to the historic Ngati Hei pa site where a powhiri will take place.

When the boats visit Mercury Bay there will be opportunities for the public to go aboard. Alongside the boats, a range of other events will include:

National Science Technology Roadshow about Pacific and European voyaging
Pop-up planetarium focusing on celestial navigation
Activities by waka hourua crew to instruct the public how to use waka sails and build a star compass
Speaker presentations about the Spirit of New Zealand youth programmes
Educational sessions hosted by the HMB Endeavour crew
Display of story boards about the R. Tucker Thompson
Wānanga and educational programme about sustainable oceans
Schedule