Motutapu Island

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Location of Motutapu island (marked in red)

Motutapu Island (or simply Motutapu) is located in the Hauraki Gulf to the northeast of the city of Auckland, New Zealand. The island is part of the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park. Its full name, rarely used, is Te Motutapu a Taikehu, "The sacred island of Taikehu", Taikehu having been a tohunga (tribal priest) of the Tainui iwi.

The island is now linked by an artificial causeway to the much younger volcanic island cone of Rangitoto. Prior to the emergence of the volcano, the island had been extensively occupied by Māori for over 100 years. The eruption, some 700 years ago, destroyed their settlements, but there is circumstantial evidence that some of the residents may have escaped the destruction, presumably by waka (canoe). Of the many archaeological sites recorded, one shows human footprints preserved in solidified ash. These were protected from erosion by a layer of ash from the next eruption.

The volcanic ash provided a new layer of fertile soil, and settlements were soon re-established, although many of the archaeological sites found indicate that seabirds and shellfish were a more important part of the diet than anything provided by cultivated land. There are the remains of a number of important pa on the island.

During World War II, the island was an important coastal defence position, and military tunnels and bunkers can still be viewed by visitors to the island. The causeway, which is actually quite broad, was built at that time to allow easier connection between Motutapu and Rangitoto.

Today the island lacks the forest cover of neighbouring Rangitoto Island and most areas are limited to grass and marsh. There are few large trees on the island.