Chatham Islands

Ten islands in the South Pacific, 860 km east of New Zealand, which were settled by Polynesians from New Zealand about 1000-1200 AD. The culture was a fishing and collecting population until European contact (1791). The original inhabitants, called Morioris, died out following contact with Europeans and conquest by New Zealand Maoris in 1835. Areas of limestone indicate that the islands may once have been part of New Zealand. There are no indigenous mammals, and the reptiles are of New Zealand species.

Occupying an isolated position in the South Pacific, 860 km east of Christchurch, New Zealand, these islands were settled by Polynesians from New Zealand about AD 1000-1200. They are of great interest because they lie climatically beyond the limits of prehistoric Polynesian horticulture, and thus supported a fishing and collecting Polynesian population until European contact (1791). Material culture remained similar to Archaic Maori throughout. The original inhabitants, called Morioris, died out following contact with Europeans and conquest by New Zealand Maoris in 1835.