Abel Tasman was born in 10 October 1603.Abel Tasman was a Seafarer,explorer and the first European to discover Tasmania and confirm Australia as an island continent.On 13 December 1642 the Dutch sighted ‘a large land, uplifted high’ – probably the Southern Alps.He Tasman is officially recognised as the first European to ‘discover’ New Zealand in 1642.Abel Tasman next sailed a north east coast course,the expedition arrived in Tonga on 21 January 1643.After they found some food and water they sailed on,sighting but not landing on the northern islands of fiji.After turning west abel and his expedition reached New Guinea in April before returning to Bataviaon 15 June 1643.On the 30rd of May 1619 Abel Tasman sailed to Batavia, Dutch East Indies and died by getting blown out tosea by a storm.
