Heritage Talk - Seascapes of Encounter 1

Visits by James Cook and French explorer, Marion du Fresne to Ipipiri Bay of Islands

Talk date: 1 September 2022.

Marc Joseph Marion du Fresne was a French mariner who, after joining the French India Company when very young, worked his way up the ranks of the Company and the French Royal Navy.

In 1771, he was given command of two ships, the Mascarin and Marquis de Castries for a voyage of trade and exploration to the Pacific sponsored by the French authorities.

His was the second French expedition to visit New Zealand, arriving in 1772. The ships were severely damaged by a gale while sailing around Spirits Bay. He managed to reach the Bay of Islands and spent the next five weeks exploring the Bay and doing ship repairs. Despite establishing close contact with the local Māori people, Ngare Raumati, he and several of his crew were killed by members of the tribe.

Bill discussed the archaeological and historical evidence of the visits by Cook and du Fresne to Ipipiri Bay of Islands.  

Chart of the Bay of Islands probably by Bernard Jar du Clesmeur of the Marion Du Fresne expedition 1772.
Cartographic historian Jeremy Spencer described it as ‘perhaps the most aesthetically pleasing manuscript chart of first contact New Zealand in existence’.
It was presented to the Peabody Museum, Salem, Massachusetts, USA by an anonymous donor in 1950. Its existence until then is unknown.

About Bill Edwards

Bill Edwards is the Northland area manager for Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and has a wide range of interest in heritage and archaeology.