
'Maupti supply ship'
The blue barrels on the dock are
Noni which is sent to Papeete for processing.
'Maupiti' is an island at the heart of the
Leeward Islands in
French Polynesia. It is the westernmost
volcanic high island in the
archipelago, 40 km west of
Bora Bora. Its coordinates are: 16°25' S 152°15' W.
Maupiti itself has a highest peak of 380 metres and a
surface area of 11 square kilometers.
The main town is
Vaiea, with a population of 1,192 according to the
2002 census. The primary economic activity on the island is
Noni production.
There are archaeological artefacts dating from at least AD
850.
The first
European to arrive on the island was the
Dutchman Jakob Roggeveen in
1722. Historically, the island has had strong cultural links with Bora Bora.