One of the world's largest cruise liners is making its way into Auckland, the Queen Mary 2.
But most interesting of all is what it's carrying on board – a historic treasure of great relevance to New Zealand. The ship is circumnavigating the country with items once owned by Captain James Cook.
The Queen Mary 2 was in Devonport this morning, where spokesman David Jones told Firstline one of the items is a handwritten description of Capt Cook's first day in New Zealand, and his first encounter with Maori at Poverty Bay.
"It was a tragic encounter to begin with," says Mr Jones, "but it's just amazing to read his handwritten journal describing the events of the day. You'd swear you're in the bay seeing it from Capt Cook's point of view. It started tragically, but it's also clear, when you read the full picture of Cook's experience in New Zealand that he actually came away with a great respect for Maori."
- VIDEO: David Jones on Firstline
Mr Jones, an Australian, says in his country Capt Cook isn't as revered as he is in New Zealand.
"We see him as merely – well, not merely – but we see him as the master navigator who charted the eastern coast of Australia, but from a New Zealand perspective, with three voyages to the South Pacific, the story of Cook in New Zealand is far deeper, the relationship is far deeper, and it's also quite clear that Cook… felt badly about that first tragic encounter, because his mission was to treat local people with respect. So the journals give his account of what happened, and really, his apology for what happened as well."
The items are usually kept at the state library of New South Wales.
"This is the first time they've actually left the library in more than half a century," says Mr Jones.
"The material aboard the Queen Mary 2 today would be worth millions of dollars. It's very true to say it's priceless."
The Queen Mary 2 will be in Wellington on Wednesday and Akaroa on Thursday.
3 News
source: newshub archive
