In 1767 the St Jean Baptiste under the command of French explorer Jean-François-Marie de Surville, set sail from Brittany. During the voyage he visited various islands of the Pacific, but by August 1769 a number of his crew had become dangerously sick. De Surville knew that Abel Tasman had outlined the coast of New Zealand a century before, and turning to Tasman's charters, he decided to head there knowing that it was somewhere in the region.

At 11:30am on 12 December 1769, the St Jean Baptiste sighted the coastline of New Zealand, just south of Hokianga Harbour, before heading towards the East Coast. At the same time, Captain James Cook of the Endeavour was doing his east-west circumnavigation of the North Island during his first voyage to New Zealand. Unknown to each other due to bad weather, they almost crossed paths off the top of the North Island. De Surville was desperately searching for a safe anchorage where his scurvy-ridden crew could get fresh food and water and recuperate.

In the evening of 17 December, the St Jean Baptiste anchored just north east of Whatuwhiwhi, in a bay which de Surville had baptised "La Baie de Lauriston" in honour of Lauriston, Governor of French India. Cook had already named this bay Doubtless Bay, although he had sailed by and not anchored at this point. Here friendly relations were established between local Māori and the French. De Surville was able to replenish the ship's supplies, and care for his sick crew.

During the stay, the St Jean Baptiste had two anchors out to hold her. Then an easterly storm blew up. Its force caused the ship to drag her anchors and drift towards the rocks close to shore. So a third anchor was dropped. The ship held, but then the cable to one of the anchors broke, and the ship again started drifting shorewards. De Surville ordered the cables to the other two anchors to be cut, hoisted the sails, and got the ship under way just seconds before it would have been wrecked on the rocks. One of the anchors is now held at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

This National Publicity Studios photograph shows the commemorative plaque marking the anchorage of the ‘St Jean Baptiste’ at Doubtless Bay. It reads: "Jean François Marie de Surville anchored his ship "St Jean Baptiste" in Doubtless Bay 17 - 13 December 1769 to refresh his men. He visited a Pa on this headland, 30 December." The photo itself was taken by W Neill in December 1969 – 200 years later.

Archives Reference: AAQT 6539 W3537 Box 102/ A93119 archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=24768015

For updates on our On This Day series and news from Archives New Zealand, follow us on Twitter twitter.com/ArchivesNZ