750km to the east of New Zealand’s South Island lie the Chatham Islands, home to New Zealand’s most remote communities.  Around 600 people live on two of the 11 islands that make up ‘the Chathams’. Incomes are largely reliant on farming, fishing, conservation and tourism. The purpose of this website […]

Weka are part of the Chatham Island identity. Indeed, people born on Chatham Island call themselves “Weka”, as opposed to “Kiwi” for people born on the New Zealand mainland. And so it is a surprise to many people that weka are not native to the Chatham Islands and that they can be hunted.

Weka belong to a group of birds called rails. The Chatham Islands originally had seven species of rail but now (following the arrival of humans) there are only 3 surviving species – pukeko, spotless crake and marsh crake.  The three surviving species are widely distributed throughout New Zealand and the southwest Pacific, reaching the edge of their range on the Chatham Islands.

The Chatham Islands lie 750km east of New Zealand’s South Island. AccommodationChoose from Hotel, Motel, Lodge, Bed and Breakfast or Backpacker accommodation – see www.discoverthechathamislands.co.nz for details. Getting thereAir Chathams fly to the Chatham Islands four to six times a week depending on the time of year, departing from Auckland, […]

750km to the east of New Zealand’s South Island lie the Chatham Islands, home to New Zealand’s most remote communities.  Around 600 people live on two of the 11 islands that make up ‘the Chathams’, with incomes largely reliant on farming, fishing, conservation and tourism.  The Chatham Islands community is […]