The Chatham Islands, a group of ten Islands are part of New Zealand but are separated by nearly 700 km of sea from any other inhabited land.
They form one of New Zealand's smaller counties, both in area and population. They have importance because of their Rock Lobster and Paua Industry and interest through the richness of their bird life. Their former comparative isolation has been overcome by the introduction of a regular air service.
History
It is generally agreed that the original inhabitants of the Chathams were the Morioris who arrived on the Chathams some time between 950 AD and 1150 AD.
The Islands were first discovered by Europeans on the 29th November 1791 when Lieutnant Broughton in the HM Brig "Chatham" landed and took possession. The Moriori population at the time was estimated at 2000. From 1793 onwards the South Pacific was invaded by Whaling and Sealing fleets from Europe and North America and the Chathams became a centre of this unregulated industry.
~ Matti Pellinen (1998, http://www.sll.fi/mpe/chatham/ )
