More than any other aspect of Maori culture, this complex dance is an expression of the passion, vigour and identity of the race. Polynesian explorer Kupe reaches New Zealand by canoe from Hawaiki. Circles North Island, probably touches South Island and returns to tell his people about the discovery. One of them may have stayed in New Zealand while the other returned home to tell his people. Arrival of an organized migration from Hawaiki, including seven or more canoes.
Permanent settlement begins.
1503 French seafarer de Gonneville possibly sights New Zealand coast. 1521 Portuguese caravel probably stranded off North Island's west coast. 1576 Spanish sea captain Juan Fernandez may have landed in New Zealand. 1642 Dutch explorer Abel Tasman sails up South Island's west coast and anchors in Golden Bay, but is driven away by a hostile Maori tribe. Tasman thinks he has touched Staten Island off the tip of South America.