Chatham Island
Chatham Island (left) from space | |
Map showing location of Chatham Island | |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 43°54′S 176°29′W / 43.900°S 176.483°W |
| Archipelago | Chatham Islands |
| Area | 920 km2 (360 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 660 (2022) |
| Ethnic groups | Moriori, Māori |
Chatham Island (/ˈtʃætəm/ CHAT-əm) (Moriori: Rēkohu, lit. 'Misty Sun'; Māori: Wharekauri) is the largest island of the Chatham Islands group, in the south Pacific Ocean off the eastern coast of New Zealand's South Island. It is said to be "halfway between the equator and the pole, and right on the International Date Line", although that point is 173 miles WSW of the island's westernmost point. The island is called Rekohu ("misty skies") in Moriori, and Wharekauri in Māori.
The island was named after the survey ship HMS Chatham which was the first European ship to locate the island in 1791. It covers an area of 920 km2 (355 sq mi). Chatham Island lies 650 km (404 mi) south-east of Cape Turnagain, the nearest point of mainland New Zealand to the island.