M Abel Tasman
NL
1 January 1603 - 10 October 1659
Abel Tasman was a 17th-century Dutch explorer who led the first European expeditions to reach Tasmania and New Zealand in 1642. Sailing for the Dutch East India Company, he mapped parts of Australia and the Pacific, expanding European knowledge of the southern hemisphere. Although he never landed in mainland New Zealand, his voyage marked a significant milestone in Pacific exploration.
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