Great Barrier Island (Motu Aotea)

Great Barrier Island (often colloquially just The Barrier) is a large island of New Zealand, situated 100 kilometres (62 mi) to the north-east of central Auckland in the outer Hauraki Gulf. With an area of 285 square kilometres (110 sq mi) it is the fourth-largest island of New Zealand’s main chain of islands, with its highest point, Mount Hobson, rising 621 metres (2,037 ft).

The remote island was initially exploited for its minerals and kauri trees and saw only some limited agriculture.

The island received its European name from Captain Cook because it acts as a barrier between the Pacific Ocean and Gulf. For centuries, the indigenous Māori have called it Motu Aotea, meaning (island [of the] white cloud)