On 18 March 1992, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands unveiled sculptures of the 'Heemskerck' and 'Zeehaen' in Wellington’s Frank Kitts Park.

These were the ships of Dutch explorer Abel Tasman and the unveiling marked the 350th anniversary of his visit to New Zealand. Abel Tasman was one of several European explorers in search of a legendary “great southern land”. Although Portuguese and Spanish ships were in the general area of New Zealand the century before, Abel Tasman has been widely recognised as the first European to view this country. While the great southern land sought by the navigators proved mythical, Abel Tasman found much to wonder at during his long voyage, not least being the high mountains of the Southern Alps. He named the area now known as Golden Bay, "Murderers’ Bay" after a tragic clash between his crew and Maori.

Shown here are Queen Beatrix at the Frank Kitts Park ceremony with sculptor Margriet Windhausen (on her left) and Boyd Klap (president of the New Zealand Netherlands Foundation). Queen Beatrix gifted the sculptures to New Zealand in recognition of its relationship with the Netherlands. Subsequent vandalism saw the memorial being moved to the grounds of Parliament.

Reference: R18379237 www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=18379237