The Chathams sit about 800km east of the mainland, which makes them the first inhabited place on Earth to see each new day. They run on their own clock, 45 minutes ahead of the rest of the country, and frankly do most things their own way.
This is as remote as New Zealand gets: a few hundred people, a lot of crayfish and blue cod, weka wandering about, and the deep history of the Moriori who were here first. You donât move here by accident. You move here because the rest of the world feels a bit much and youâre happy to wait for the supply boat.
There are six settlements listed across the territory. This page gathers them so you can get the lay of the land: who lives where, whatâs actually available, how the school works, and what day-to-day life out here really involves.
The edge of the country, and proud of it. Have a look and see what life on the Chathams looks like.