Juan Fernández
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Juan Fernández (c. 1536–c. 1604) was a Spanish explorer and navigator. Probably between 1563 and 1574 he discovered the Juan Fernández Islands west of Valparaíso, Chile. He also discovered the Pacific islands of San Félix and San Ambrosio (1574).
Fernández is the subject of debate over the first European contact with New Zealand. He is thought to have been sailing a considerable distance off the west coast of South America heading towards Lima from Valparaíso when he was blown off course in a storm. He is thought to have sighted land at the north-east corner of the south island of New Zealand around 1576.
He is thought to have sailed down the east coast of the south island but decided to sail north after not finding a decent place to lay anchor. Sailing north he supposedly found the north island and entered (UTC) Wellington harbour where he decided to set anchor. Apparently he spent quite a while there and became friendly with the local Polynesian inhabitants and explored more of the north island.
He set sail back for Chile and had aspirations to return and establish a colony. This idea was soon scrapped due to lack of interest by officials and the Spanish public.
Proof of this "expedition" have been records of the voyage but more so of the various relics of Spanish origin that have been found. A Spanish helmet and cannon ball have both been found in Wellington harbour where Fernández supposedly lay anchor. The wreck of a Spanish galleon was sighted by a plane off the Waikato coast and pieces of wood from the 1500s not native to New Zealand that were used on Spanish vessels have been found in Kaipara Harbour as well as other Spanish artifacts off the coast near Dargaville.
