Pegasus

In 1809, the sealing ship Pegasus left Sydney bound for the southern coast of New Zealand where her Captain Samuel Chase and first officer William Stewart charted the recently discovered Foveaux Strait, and where today we find Stewart Island and Port Pegasus.

Although en route to England, they spent some time in the south before heading north with the intention of sailing between Bank's Island and the mainland. There, they discovered Cook's geographical oversight before rounding the peninsula and becoming the first ship known European ship to enter Whakaraupo, or Lyttelton Harbour. 

Today, the large bay off the coast of Canterbury on the South Island’s east coast bears the name Pegasus Bay, named for the vessel while she was in these waters. A satellite town named Pegasus has been built on the coast north of Christchurch today.

Pegasus Bay, South Island, New Zealand

Eb Bunker may also have visited New Zealand in Pegasus about this time. Eber Bunker was the first European whale ship captain to anchor in New Zealand waters when he visited Doubtless Bay in William and Ann in 1792.