History Through Film: Tupaia’s Endeavour

A first contact story, told from a Pacific point of view.

When James Cook, captain of the British ship Endeavour, took his first steps on the un-colonised shores of Aotearoa/New Zealand in 1769, the Polynesian navigator Tupaia was at his side.

Who was Tupaia, his high-priest, star-navigator, and extraordinary artist? Though he is often left out of European history books, his imprint lives on in modern Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Our monthly History Through Film series is a great opportunity to view documentary films showcasing the history of our nation. After the film, we can also show you how to access many more documentaries at home using Kanopy, absolutely free!