Pitt Island

Pitt Island is the second largest island in the Chatham Archipelago, New Zealand. It is called Rangiauria in Māori and Rangiaotea in Moriori.[2]

For other places with the same name, see Pitt Island (disambiguation).
Pitt Island
Rangiaotea (Moriori)
Rangiauria (Māori)
Pitt Island from space
Map showing location of Pitt Island
Geography
Coordinates44°17′15″S 176°13′12″W
ArchipelagoChatham Islands
Area65 km2 (25 sq mi)
Highest elevation241 m (791 ft)[1]
Highest pointWaihere
Administration
Demographics
Population38 (2011)
Pop. density0.59/km2 (1.53/sq mi)
Flower Pot Bay in the northwest 1877

Pitt Island has an area of 65 square kilometres (25 sq mi). It lies about 770 kilometres (480 mi)[3] to the east of New Zealand's main islands, and about 20 kilometres (12 mi) to the southeast of Chatham Island, from which it is separated by Pitt Strait. The island is hilly; its highest point (Waihere Head) rises to 241 metres (791 ft) above sea level.[3] As of 2011, Pitt Island had a population of about 38 people.

Pitt Island's Kahuitara Point is the first populated location on earth to observe a sunrise in each new year, based on local time zone.[4]

History

Pitt Island was originally inhabited by the Moriori, the indigenous peoples of the Chatham Islands, who called it Rangiaotea or Rangihaute. Their archaeological remains are found almost everywhere on the island; large quantities of artefacts are constantly coming to light.[5][6] No remains of momori rakau are visible on the island, but there are records of them once being present.[7]

The first Europeans to see and name Chatham Island were the crew of William Robert Broughton's ship HMS Chatham. However, they did not see Pitt Island. The first to do so was Captain Charles Johnston on HMS Cornwallis in May 1807. He named it 'Pitt's Island' after William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham. In 1840, the name was simplified to "Pitt" Island. Taranaki Maori who invaded the Chatham Islands in 1835 called it Rangiauria, a name which is still in use today.

Over the years there have been many ships wrecked around both Pitt and Chatham Islands. One of these was the Australian sealing brig Glory, which was wrecked on Pitt Island in what became known as Glory Bay in January 1827.[8]

Economy and facilities

The main sources of income for Pitt Islanders are farming, commercial fishing, and tourism. The New Zealand Department of Conservation is active on Pitt Island and, in conjunction with several landowners, administers a number of covenanted areas and reserves. The island imports fuel and most manufactured goods, and exports live sheep and cattle to mainland New Zealand.

The island has a school, a wharf, a church and a grass landing strip for light planes.[9] A gravel road runs from Flower Pot Bay to the airstrip. A supply ship visits Pitt Island about every three months. Each household generates its own electricity, by either diesel generator or wind turbine. Most homes have satellite TV and broadband internet connections. Transport on the island is mostly by means of quad bikes, four wheel drives and occasionally horses. In 2011, the Pitt Island School had eight children, aged between 6 and 12 years.

Air Chathams operates from Pitt Island to Chatham Island with their Cessna 206.

Fauna and flora

On Pitt Island there are several flocks of feral Saxon Merino sheep.

See also

References
  1. "Waihere, Chatham Islands - NZ Topo Map". Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  2. Government of New Zealand, Dept. of Conservation (1999) Chatham IslandsConservation Management Strategy, map 6. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  3. "Chatham Islands Page 1 Overview". web page. The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 7 September 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  4. "First Sunrise of the New Millennium". Astronomical Applications Department, U.S. Naval Observatory. Archived from the original on 26 June 2004.
  5. King 2000.
  6. "Education-resources for unit plans, unit-plan templates index". Education-resources.co.nz. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  7. King 2000
  8. The Australian, 20 March 1827, p.3
  9. "C206 landing Pitt Island". YouTube. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
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