Chatham Island Visitor Information

The Chatham Island is the most geographically isolated community in New Zealand, which consists of a group of about 10 islands around 800 km east of New Zealand.

Chatham Island and Pitt Island are the two largest islands in the group and the only ones inhabited. Its main settlement being at Waitangi.



The islands main economic base is fishing, farming and ecotourism, and its also home to many rare birds and unique plant species

According to the March 2001 New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings (2001 Census) the usually resident population of the Islands was 717 (Statistics New Zealand 2004).

The population structure of the Chathams differs substantially from that of all New Zealand. At the 2001 Census more than half (58.8%) the population self-identified as Mäori compared with 14.7% for all New Zealand and the proportions of Pacific and Asian peoples were comparatively low at 2.3% and 0.9% respectively.

The Chathams had a more youthful age structure with 5.8% of its population aged 65 years and over compared with 12.1% for all New Zealand (Statistics New Zealand 2004).

For a further comprehensive information on the chathams, search the following links.

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