Next month, on the 7 October, New Zealand marks 250 years since Captain James Cook, on board his boat Endeavour, first made landfall in our country. 

His journey then went on to create the first New Zealand chart – one that is recognised for its ‘astonishing accuracy’ despite the difficulties he faced in creating it.

Tuia 250 commemorations are planned to celebrate Cook’s journey but a book has also been written to mark the event.

First Map: How James Cook Chartered Aotearoa New Zealand, by Tessa Duder and illustrated by David Elliot, documents James Cook’s expedition and the difficulties he faced in mapping the New Zealand coastline.

Duder joined Andrew Dickens to talk about what drew her to the project. 

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