Back Chathameilande Afrikaans Cethāmīga ANG جزر تشاتام Arabic Islles Chatham AST Çatem (arxipelaq) Azerbaijani Чатэм (астравы) Byelorussian Чатъм (архипелаг) Bulgarian চ্যাথাম দ্বীপপুঞ্জ Bengali/Bangla Inizi Chatham Breton Illes Chatham Catalan
Nickname: The Chathams | |
|---|---|
 The two largest islands: Chatham (Rēkohu) and Pitt Island (Rangiaotea), to the southeast | |
.svg) Location of the Chatham Islands | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Southern Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 44°00′S 176°30′W / 44.00°S 176.50°W |
| Total islands | 10 |
| Major islands | |
| Area | 793.88 km2 (306.52 sq mi)[1] |
| Highest elevation | 299 m (981 ft) |
| Administration | |
New Zealand | |
| Electorates | Rongotai Te Tai Tonga (Māori) |
| MPs | Julie Anne Genter (Green) Tākuta Ferris (Māori) |
Local Government | |
| Territorial authority | Chatham Islands Council |
| Largest settlement | Waitangi |
| Mayor | Monique Croon |
| Deputy mayor | Keri Lea Day[2] |
| Demographics | |
| Demonym | Chatham Islanders |
| Population | 720 (June 2024)[3] |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
| • Summer (DST) |
|
| Official website | cic.govt.nz |
The Chatham Islands (/ˈtʃætəm/ CHAT-əm) (Moriori: Rēkohu, lit. 'Misty Sun'; Māori: Wharekauri) are an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean about 800 km (430 nmi) east of New Zealand's South Island, administered as part of New Zealand,[4] and consisting of about 10 islands within an approximate 60 km (30 nmi) radius, the largest of which are Chatham Island and Pitt Island (Rangiauria). They include New Zealand's easternmost point, the Forty-Fours. Some of the islands, formerly cleared for farming, are now preserved as nature reserves to conserve some of the unique flora and fauna.
The islands were uninhabited when the Moriori people arrived around 1500 CE and developed a peaceful way of life. In 1835 members of the Ngāti Mutunga and Ngāti Tama Māori iwi from the North Island of New Zealand invaded the islands and nearly exterminated the Moriori, enslaving the survivors.
Later during the period of European colonisation, the New Zealand Company claimed that the British Crown had never included the Chatham Islands as being under its control, and proposed selling it to the Germans to be a German colony. In 1841, a contract was drawn up for the sale of the islands for £10,000, (equivalent to approximately £860,000 in 2023),[5] but the sale failed and the Chatham Islands officially became part of the Colony of New Zealand in 1842.
In 1863 the resident magistrate declared the Moriori released from slavery.[6]
The Chatham Islands had a resident population of 720 as of June 2024.[3] Waitangi is the main port and settlement. The local economy depends largely on conservation, tourism, farming, and fishing. The Chatham Islands Council provides local administration – its powers resemble those of New Zealand's unitary authorities. The Chatham Islands have their own time zone, 45 minutes ahead of mainland New Zealand.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Areawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Meet the Team". www.cic.govt.nz. Chatham Islands Council. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
CIC_Actwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Inflation calculator". www.bankofengland.co.uk. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
- ^ Davis, Denise; Solomon, Māui. "Moriori – The impact of new arrivals". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2018.