evidence: About Minerva Reef Retreat Where does the name, Minerva Reef Retreat, come from? The actual Minerva Reef consists of two reefs: North and South Minerva, the two reefs lay within close proximity of each other and are situated halfway between New Zealand and Tonga around 400 nm from either country in the South Pacific Ocean. North Minerva reef is in the shape of a circle with a small inlet while South Minerva forms the shape of the infinity symbol. The Minerva Reefs are in the territory of Tonga and named after one of the most important Greek Goddesses, originally a Goddess of war she fought on behalf of just causes and is seen as a civilising influence.