Chatham Islands are an archipelago 860 km east of mainland New Zealand. Nestled on the edge of the roaring 40s and the international date line, we are the first people in the world to see the sun. and are 45 minutes ahead of New Zealand time. It is an isolated, wild, and rugged land full of light and dark history.

An archipelago of 10 scattered islands together covers 966km. Chatham Islands/Rekohu/Wharekauri 90,000ha and Pitt Island 6300ha are the two largest and most inhabited.

A tight-knit community varying from 600 to 700 mixed-blooded locals. 40 of whom live on Pitt Island.

An island of many names…

Rekohu: Original name from the indigenous Moriori Peoples, meaning ‘Misty Skies’.

The Chatham Islands: 1791 William Broughton was the first European encounter after getting blown off course on a mapping expedition, Claiming the Islands under King George the Third, and naming the Islands after his vessel ‘Chatham’ in respect to the earl of Chatham.

Wharekauri: 1835 - Start of the Maori Invasion on the Moriori people, named after a small kainga north coast of the Chatham Island, dialogued to be a homestead built from salvaged Kauri timber.

Pitt Island: 1807 Named by the ‘HMS Cornwallis’ also naming the Chatham Islands ‘The Cornwallis group’ which did not last. Rangihaute (Moriori) - Rangiauria (Maori)

All names are used today.

Home to very rare wildlife and fauna, the Chatham Island Black Robin is one of many. The Black Robin was nearly extinct, down to 5 birds by 1980. A man called Don Merton revived the bird with the last fertile female, 'Old Blue'. Fast forward to today, there are nearly 300 of these birds alive and singing now