[Chart of New Zealand drawn by Tooke-Titter-a-nui Wari-pedo, a priest of that country who resided on Norfolk Islands 6 months]

Rare engraved map by the Maori chief Tuki Tahua of New Zealand’s North and South Islands printed in 1798.

Very rarely found without extensive tears.

Tuki’s map is the oldest, possibly the most studied, and the only example that covers all of both the North and South Islands is a map drawn by Tuki. Tuki and Huru, two young Maori men, were kidnapped in 1793 off the Cavalli Islands. They were taken via Port Jackson (Sydney) to Norfolk Island, arriving 30 April 1793. At Norfolk Island they were supposed to teach convicts how to dress flax, but neither of them knew very much about it because in their communities women performed this task. The lieutenant governor of Norfolk Island, Philip Gidley King, was kindly disposed toward the two, who were miserable in captivity and feared for the safety of their families. They lodged at King’s home, where he showed great interest in their language and culture.

Perceiving he was not thoroughly understood by King, he delineated a sketch of New Zealand with
chalk on the floor of a room set apart for that purpose.
From a comparison which Governor King made with
Captain Cook’s plan of those islands, a sufficient similitude to the form of the northern island was discoverable to render this attempt an object of curiosity;
and Too-gee was persuaded to describe his delineation
on paper. This being done with a pencil, corrections
and additions were occasionally made by him, in the
course of different conversations; and the names of districts and other remarks were written from his information during the six months he remained there. 

Tuki’s map is “unique in that it includes social, mythical, and political information written at his dictation.”

From David Collins, Account of the English colony in New South Wales