Satellite photograph of the archipelago. The two largest islands are Chatham Island, followed by Pitt Island to the southeast
The Chatham Islands form an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean about 800 kilometres (500 mi) east of the South Island of New Zealand. It consists of about ten islands within a 40-kilometre (25 mi) radius, the largest of which are Chatham Island and Pitt Island. Some of these islands, once cleared for farming, are now preserved as nature reserves to conserve some of the unique flora and fauna.
The resident population is 600 (). The islands' economy is largely dependent on conservation, tourism, farming, and fishing.
The archipelago is called Rēkohu ("Misty Sun") in the indigenous Moriori language, and Wharekauri in Māori. The Moriori are the indigenous people of the Chatham Islands, and members of the MāoriNgāti Mutunga tribe have also settled on the island. It has officially been part of New Zealand since 1842 and includes the country's easternmost point, the Forty-Fours.
Moriori tree carving or dendroglyph found at the historic reserve
JM Barker (Hapupu) National Historic Reserve is 33 hectares of kopi forest which was created to protect Moriori tree carvings called momori-rakau (or dendroglyphs).
Chatham Island is by far the largest island of the Chatham Islands group, in the south Pacific Ocean off the eastern coast of New Zealand. It is said to be "halfway between the equator and the pole, and right on the International Date Line", though the point (180°, 45°S) in fact lies ca. 173 miles WSW of the island's westernmost point. The island is called Rekohu ("misty skies") in Moriori, and Wharekauri in Māori.
The island was named after the survey shipHMS Chatham which was the first European ship to locate the island in 1791. It covers an area of 920 square kilometres (355 sq mi). Chatham Island lies 650 km (404 mi) south-east of Cape Turnagain, the nearest point of mainland New Zealand to the island. Read more...
Pitt Island has an area of 65 square kilometres (25 sq mi). It lies about 770 kilometres (480 mi) to the east of New Zealand's main islands, and about 20 kilometres (12 mi) to the southeast of Chatham Island, from which it is separated by Pitt Strait. The island is hilly; its highest point (Waihere Head) rises to 241 metres (791 ft) above sea level. , Pitt Island had a population of about 38 people. Read more...
Looking down at Nugget Point and The Nuggets from viewing platform next to the lighthouse.
Nugget Point is one of the most iconic landforms on the Otago coast. Located at the northern end of the Catlins coast, along the road from Kaka Point, this steep headland has a lighthouse at its tip, surrounded by rocky islets (The Nuggets). The point is home to many seabirds, including penguins, gannets and royal spoonbills, and a large breeding colony of fur seals. Roaring Bay, on the south coast of the tip of Nugget Point, is home to a small colony of yellow-eyed penguins. Read more...
Pitt Island has an area of 65 square kilometres (25 sq mi). It lies about 770 kilometres (480 mi) to the east of New Zealand's main islands, and about 20 kilometres (12 mi) to the southeast of Chatham Island, from which it is separated by Pitt Strait. The island is hilly; its highest point (Waihere Head) rises to 241 metres (791 ft) above sea level. , Pitt Island had a population of about 38 people. Read more...
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