Chatham Islands
The remote Chatham Islands are located in the far South Pacific some 850 km due east from the South Island of New Zealand. The islands, with a land area of 970 km², consist of two main islands and numerous smaller islets and rock formations. Chatham Island is by far the largest island at around 900 km² in area, with Pitt Island at 62 km² being the second largest.
In addition to the larger Chatham and Pitt there are numerous smaller islets and distant rock outcroppings — home to colonies of threatened seabirds. Minor islets include: Rangatira (2.18 km²) located 2 km southeast from Pitt Island; The Sisters (Rangitatahi) located around 11 km north of Cape Pattison, northwest Chatham Island; the Forty Fours (Motuhara) located some 50 km east from Chatham Island; and the Star Keys (Motuhope) — a group of five islets with Round Islet being the largest — located 12 km east from Pitt Island. Among the islands that lie off Pitt Island the two largest are the islands of Mangere (1.13 km²) and Rangatira (2.2 km²). These islands, once cleared for farming, are now preserved as natures reserves, helping to conserve some of the flora and fauna that are unique to the Chatham Islands.
Although the introduction of alien species (such as sheep and goats) and large-scale land clearing (for agriculture and grazing land) has devastated both the islands original vegetation and wildlife, the Chatham Islands still manage to maintain a unique biological heritage — they are home to 20% of New Zealand’s threatened bird species, and 14% of its threatened plants. In all, the islands support 338 native land plants, 47 of which are endemic to the islands.
