Te Mahanga (Moehanga) of the Ngāpuhi became the first recorded Māori visitor to England when the whaler Ferret berthed in London.
Te Mahanga had boarded the Ferret when it visited the Bay of Islands late in 1805. While Māori had travelled as far as Tahiti and Australia in the late 18th century, Moehanga was the first to reach the northern hemisphere.
He took a keen interest in the sights and people of London, which had a population of more than a million. He met Earl Fitzwilliam and also (he claimed subsequently) King George III and Queen Charlotte, who apparently gave him tools and money.
Te Mahanga sailed on the Ferret when it left for Port Jackson (Sydney) in June. After spending the summer in Sydney, he returned to his home in the Bay of Islands in March 1807.
Te Mahanga was still living in the Bay of Islands in 1827, when he was described as the uncle of Te Whareumu, the Ngāti Manu leader at Kororāreka. (aka Russell)
You know what? You had me almost fooled, thinking it was one of your fables until a doubt germinated in my mind and had me check for accuracy before sending you my (as usual) ironic answer.
To my astonishment, it appears to be true and I am fascinated by it.
Does not surprise me because as they look into true history what were Templars doing in the Arizona desert? The Vikings actually found Newfoundland and New England not Christopher Columbus. Or the Mayflower. The history books do not tell you everything
