| Description: | History of Great Barrier Island, New Zealand... The first settlers to the Island were the Maoris, arriving from distant Pacific islands. They named the Island Aotea, which means White Cloud after an early canoe. Captain James Cook discovered the Island during the Endevour's exploration of New Zealand in 1769. He named the Island Great Barrier because it formed a breakwater between the Hauraki Gulf and the Pacific Ocean. Large numbers of Maori people occupied the Island prior to the arrival... |
