Once in a whale ship he actually sighted the well-beloved headlands of the Bay of Islands, and brought up all his goods and precious presents ready to go on shore.

But the sulky captain broke his promise and sailed past the Bay.

Why trouble to land a Maori?
Ruatara had to choose between landing at Norfolk Island or another voyage to England.

Cheated of his earnings and half-drowned in the surf, he struggled ashore on the convict island, whence he made his way to Sydney and to Marsden's kindly roof.

The whaling captain went on towards England.