Motutapu Island is a small island in the Far North Region of Northland New Zealand. It is situated within the Moturoa Islands about off the Karikari Peninsula.
It is about northwest of Kerikeri and about southeast of Cape Reinga.
Etymology
In Māori, 'motu' means island and 'tapu' is something restricted, prohibited, set apart or sacred. Motutapu as a 'sacred' or 'sanctuary' island, is a term used for various islands in a number of Polynesian cultures.Vaka Moana – Voyages of the Ancestors – Howe, K.R. (Editor), Page 33
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