Linked below is a new reconstruction of Tasman’s course, by Dave Horry
This reconstruction uses all spatial references in Abel Tasman’s journal to build a complete turn by turn course of his progress up the coast of New Zealand.
Information from the journal used to make this reconstruction includes: observed latitude, bearings to features, distances to features, depth, direction sailed, and distance sailed (since the previous day)
Tasman’s expedition is reported to have seen fires or smoke at least three times between the landfall west of Punakaiki on Dec 13th and Dec 26th when its two ships sailed north again from their anchorage east of D’Urville Island.
On the 15th, just north of Cape Foulwind, Tasman’s Journal mentions the lack of any smoke: “did not see any human beings nor any Smoke whatsoever nor are they likely to have any boats here since we did not see any trace of boats”.
However after this there are three mentions of fires onshore, two in Tasman’s Journal and one in the first-hand Haelbos account published in 1671. They are as follows:
Tasman’s Journal, Dec 17th – “In the morning at sunrise we were about a mile away from the coast. Saw at various places Smoke ascending from fires made by the Natives. The wind then being South and from the land we turned Eastward again.”
Tasman’s Journal, Dec 18th – “In the Evening about one Hour after Sunset we saw many Lights on the Land and four boats close inshore two of which came towards us upon which our two boats returned”.
Haelbos account: – Dec 19th – Jan 5th – “Tasman named the harbour, because of the cruel treatment, the Murderers Bay: found himself then surrounded by land: was tossed at anchor by hard storm, before a coast, where we saw much smoke rise: and sailed further along the coast till the 5th of January of the year 1643.”
So lets consider these three references one at a time:
