Chatham Islands

The largest of the islands, Chatham, has an area of 900 sq.km and a population consisting mainly of fishermen and farmers. Its most striking feature is the large central lagoon (180 sq.km), and there are also a number of shallow lakes. The chief place on the island is Waitangi (pop. c 300).

From Chatham the other islands (mostly bird sanctuaries) can be visited in local fishing boats. There is little in the way of accommodation - a tourist lodge, a modest hotel and a few rooms in private houses. There is no restaurant or baker's shop and only two small general stores.

There is a small museum in Waitangi containing Moriori artifacts and documents from the arrival of the Europeans and the Taranaki Maoris. There is also material on the career of Te Kooti.

At some places on the main island, particularly on the west side of the central lagoon and on the east coast, there are rock drawings scratched on the limestone cliffs, almost all depicting seal-like figures.

The tree carvings of the Moriori were always of human figures.