The Chatham Islands are an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean about east of New Zealand's South Island, administered as part of New Zealand. The first human inhabitants, the Moriori, suffered disease outbreaks from European contact beginning around 1800, as well as invasion, genocide, and enslavement in 1835 by the MÃÂori of two iwi from Taranaki. MÃÂori steadily returned to Taranaki over the 1860s, leasing land on the islands to PÃÂkehÃÂ herders, who settled and constructed sheep stations on the islands. Registered historic buildings in the Chathams primarily comprise houses and cottages constructed in the late 19th century, following the construction of Hough Cottage (the earliest surviving building on the islands) .
Heritage New Zealand classification of sites on the New Zealand Heritage List / RÃÂrangi Kà Ârero, in accordance with the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014, distinguishes between Category 1 ("places of special or outstanding historical or cultural significance") and Category 2 ("places of historic or cultural significance"). Sites important to MÃÂori or Moriori communities are given special classifications, including for sites of spiritual, traditional, or ritual importance. Ten locations in the Chatham Islands are listed on the New Zealand Heritage List. Nine are located on the main island of Chatham, while one, Whaler's Cottage, is on neighboring Pitt Island. Two additional sites â Hunts Forge on Pitt Island and Zimmerman House at Waitangi West on Chatham â were initially listed as Category 2 sites, but were later destroyed and removed from the list.
These sites were formerly listed on the New Zealand Heritage List, but are no longer extant.