Abel Tasman is the first recorded European to sight New Zealand.

Abel Tasman (1603–1659) was a Dutch seafarer, explorer, and merchant, best known for his voyages of exploration in the 17th century that charted significant portions of Australasia. Under the commission of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), Tasman embarked on two major voyages. In 1642, he became the first European to sight Tasmania, which he initially named Van Diemen’s Land after the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies. He also charted the western coasts of New Zealand and parts of the Pacific Islands, including Tonga and Fiji, during the same expedition. Tasman’s journeys were driven by the pursuit of expanding trade routes and discovering potential new territories for the VOC. Despite his discoveries, Tasman did not find substantial opportunities for trade or colonization, leading to limited immediate follow-up by the Dutch. His contributions, however, laid the groundwork for future exploration and remain significant in the history of navigation and the European understanding of the Southern Hemisphere.