The Embassy of Spain in New Zealand and author Winston Cowie have collaborated and translated Cowie's book, Conquistador Puzzle Trail, into Spanish. Conquistador Puzzle Trail proposes that Spanish or Iberian navigators may have been the first Europeans to voyage to New Zealand, over 100 years pre Abel Tasman.
The Spanish version is entitled "Nueva Zelanda, Un Puzzle Historico:
Tras la pista de los conquistadores espanoles," which means: “New Zealand,
a history puzzle: After the traces of the Spanish Conquistadors.”
As part of the celebration of launching the Spanish version, the Embassy
of Spain and Cowie have sent a free English version, to 350 Secondary Schools
and Universities in New Zealand.
The Ambassador of Spain comments that “this book focuses on the cultural
relations between our two countries that despite being in the antipodes they
might have shared a common history. It is really a food for thought not only
for scholars but also for students in the schools of New Zealand.”
Author Winston Cowie, states "I am incredibly grateful to the
Embassy of Spain, New Zealand for their ongoing collaboration and cooperation.
To have Conquistador Puzzle Trail now translated into Spanish and distributed
across Spain, and the English version now in most Secondary Schools and
Universities in New Zealand is a proud moment. My hope is that students will
read the book, and in time become teachers themselves, and perceptions changed
in respect of the European discovery of New Zealand. What is needed is a robust
public debate on the subject, and more research, in order to move knowledge
forward. Everybody has a role to play."
The Embassy of Spain and Cowie have also offered a free personal copy to
the first 10 history teachers that volunteer to write their own objective
review on Conquistador Puzzle Trail.
The Embassy of Spain and Winston Cowie look forward to the ongoing
discussion on the theory that the Spanish and other Iberians were the first
Europeans to voyage to New Zealand.
“Plus ultra,” ‘Beyond’, as the Conquistadors would say.
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