About Abel Tasman:
"Abel Janszoon Tasman (Lutjegast, 1603 – Batavia, October 10, 1659) was a Dutch explorer in the service of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). He is best known for his travels between 1642 and 1644, set up by Antonie van Diemen. During this trip he discovered Tasmania, New Zealand and Tongatapu."
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About the statue / plaques
"This modern work of art, called "Terra Incognita" (unknown land). The design consists of a water basin with lines (brass) depicting part of the coast of New Zealand, as drawn in the Tasman news. A whimsically shaped image towers high above the surface of the water: Abel Tasman and his travels are interwoven in a special way in this work of art.
Inscriptions
Next to the monument (near the entrance of the Abel Tasman museum) is a memorial plaque with a plaque that reads:
From the government and people of New Zealand
in commemoration of the 350th anniversary of the
charting of New Zealand by Abel Janszoon Tasman
1642 1992
Aangeboden door de regering en bevolking van
Nieuw Zeeland ter gelegenheid van de herdenking
dat Abel Janszoon Tasman 350 jaar geleden
Nieuw Zeeland in kaart bracht.
Information board (on the street side)
TERRA INCOGNITA
Abel Tasman Monument - Hans Mes 1995
13 December 1642
Tegen de middag zagen wij een groot, hoog-
gelegen land (Nieuw Zeeland) op ongeveer 15
mijl afstand, wij wijzigden de koers in zuid-
oost, recht naar het land toe
logboek Abel Tasman
13 Dec 1642
Towards noon we saw a large high lying land
(New Zealand) bearing south-east of us at
about 15 miles distance, we turned our course
to the south east, making straight for this land.
log book Abel Tasman"
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