Chatham Island, Rekohu |
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The first human habitation of the Chathams involved migrating Polynesian tribes who settled the islands about 1000 AD, and in their isolation became the Moriori people. The exact origins of these people remains a matter of some dispute. Some have thought they arrived directly from more northerly Polynesian islands, but the now more current theory sees them as Maori from mainland New Zealand. The debate has political overtones as modern Maori inhabitants, descendants of those who invaded and conquered the archipelago in 1832, claim access to ancestral Maori fishing rights. An extensive report on these claims, "Rekohu", has been published by the Waitangi Tribunal. The Moriori population of the islands numbered about 2000. They lived as hunter-gatherers, taking food from the sea and from native flora. The society lived peacefully, resolving disputes through consensus rather than warfare and keeping its population stable by castrating a certain percentage of the male children. The name "Chatham Islands" comes from the ship HMS Chatham, whose captain William R. Broughton landed on November 29, 1791, and claimed possession for Great Britain. Sealers and whalers soon made the islands a centre of their activities. Fishing activities continue to contribute significantly to the economy, although the sealing and whaling industries ceased activities about 1861. The invading Maori from New Zealand – as well as European whalers – all but wiped out the indigenous Moriori population. Today, however, some island families continue a Moriori lineage, and the Moriori culture continues to recover. Moriori have recently established a national marae and united under the Hokotehi Trust. |
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14. Photos 15. Anthem - sound file |
1. Dependency status: officially belonged to New Zealand since 1842 2. Government type: parliamentary democracy 3. Location: The islands as a grouping are located at about 43° 59' 17” S, 176° 27' 13” W, roughly 800 km to the east of Christchurch, New Zealand 4. Border Countries: none (islands); about 10 islands within a 40-kilometre radius 5. Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts6. Terrain: Most of the land is fern or pasture covered, although there are some areas of forest. The islands are hilly – Pitt more so than Chatham – with the highest point being a 290-metre summit on Pitt Island. The main island of the chain is dotted with numerous lakes and lagoons, notably the large Te Whanga Lagoon. Other lakes on Chatham include Huro and Rangitahi. The main island has streams including Te Awainanga and Tuku. 7. Area: 963 km2 8. Capital: Town Waitangi (about 200 residents) 9. Administrative divisions: Names of the main islands are (in English and Moriori):
10. Population: 717 inhabitians (2001) 11. Languages: English (official), Maori 12. Religions: Anglican, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, 13. Currency: New Zealand dollar (NZD) |
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