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Rēkohu | Chatham Islands

Rēkohu Chatham Islands are 862 kilometres east of Christchurch and are 45 minutes ahead of New Zealand time. The Chatham Rise, a 1,400-kilometre mostly underwater land mass connects them to New Zealand. Lakes and lagoons cover about a quarter of the biggest island.

People live on only two of the Chatham Islands group: Chatham Island, also known as Rēkohu by Moriori and Wharekauri by Māori, and Pitt Island, known as Rangihaute by Moriori, and Rangiāuria by Māori. 

The main township is Waitangi, which is also where the port is. Other settlements are Te One, Port Hutt, Ōwenga and Kāingaroa. Rēkohu Chatham Island averages just over 600 people living there, and about 35 live on Rangihaute Pitt Island.

Moriori – People of Peace

Learn about the Moriori people who inhabit Rēkohu | the Chatham Islands.

On now

Long-term exhibition

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Explore our collections from Rēkohu Chatham Islands

Our Rēkohu Chatham Islands collections include photography of the people and places, Moriori and manuhiri (visitors), marine species from the Chatham Rise, fauna, flora, tools for tree pressing and fishing, and unusual geographical forms like the basalt columns from both Rēkohu (WharikauriChatham Island), and Rangihaute (Pitt Island).

Repatriation and return of karāpuna to Rēkohu

Since the early 19th century, the illicit collection and trade of kōimi tangata/kōimi tchakat (Moriori skeletal remains) saw the remains of hundreds of Moriori karāpuna (Moriori ancestors) stolen from sacred burial sites and held in collections, both abroad and within Aotearoa New Zealand.

Chatham Island Taiko

The Chatham Island taiko (Magenta petrel) is one of the world's rarest seabirds. Formerly breeding in hundreds of thousands, if not millions on Rēkohu Chatham Island, taiko were an important food item for Moriori.

Tales from Te Papa Episode 75: Ancient Island Carvings

These Moriori house carvings are extremely precious in that they are the only ones that survive. Riria uncovers some of their story.

Flora and fauna of Rēkohu | Chatham Islands

Read about the giant spiders, the littlest bird, kõpi tree DNA, and the mysterious weevil of Rēkohu | Chatham Islands.