was (re)discovered by Captain James Cook in 1769 and is 90km NE of Auckland, New Zealand. It was given this name by Cook as it provides a protective barrier for the entrance to the Hauraki Gulf from the South Pacific Ocean. The island has been known for centuries as “Motu Aotea” (Island [of the] White Cloud) by the indigenous Māori (the “local” or “original” people). Motu Aotea has been… read more
