The Chatham Islands |
 History: … in late 1835, nine hundred Maori from two Taranaki tribes – Ngati Mutunga and Ngati Tama – prevailed upon the captain of the Rodney to take them (in two hugely over-crowded sailings) to the Chatham Islands. The Maori contingent, which was about sixty percent the size of the Moriori population of the islands at the time, initially settled on the peninsula on the northern shores of Petre Bay that can be seen in the centre of this photograph. The Moriori covenant of peace left the indigenous inhabitants of Rekohu and Rangihaute defenceless in 1836 and subsequent years when they were attacked by the Maori newcomers. It has been estimated that about 300 Moriori were killed (many of whom were eaten), and that about 1,300 were enslaved. Maori also gave the islands Maori names: they called Chatham Island / Rekohu Wharekauri, and Pitt Island / Rangihaute Rangiauria. |