NZ Outlying Islands Regional Information
NZ Outlying Islands | Regional Information | Activity Highlights | Scenic Highlights | History
New Zealand has many outlying islands including the Chatham Islands, Kermadec Islands, and the Sub-Antarctic Islands.
NZ Outlying Islands Overview
The New Zealand Outlying Islands are made up of nine island groups. These islands are found north of the North Island, east and south of the South Island, and in the sub-antarctic. The Sub-Antarctic Islands are part of New Zealand, but lie outside of the New Zealand continental shelf.
Seven of the island groups are part of the Area Outside Territorial Authority and do not belong to any region or district. The Chatham Islands form a special territorial authority themselves, and the Solander Islands are part of the Southland Region and Southland District.
NZ Outlying Islands Highlights
The archipelago of the Chatham Islands are found about 800 kilometres east of Christchurch. This island group consists of about 10 islands within a 40 kilometre radius, but only the two main islands are inhabited. Once cleared for farming, some of the islands are now preserved as nature reserves to conserve some of the flora and fauna found on them that is unique to the Chatham Islands.
An island arc in the South Pacific Ocean, the Kermadec Islands include four main islands and have a total area of 33.08 kilometres squared. The islands are all uninhabited except for the permanently manned Raoul Island Station. This station is a government meteorological and radio station and hostel for Department of Conservation officers and volunteers. It has been in service since 1937, and represents the northernmost outpost of New Zealand.
The five most southern island groups form the Sub-Antarctic Islands, and are all World Heritage Sites (a programme aimed to catalogue, name, and conserve sites of outstanding cultural or natural importance to the common heritage of humankind). These islands are found near the southernmost edge of the mostly submerged continent called Zealandia which is thought to have sunk after rifting away from Australia about 60 to 85 million years ago.
NZ Outlying Islands Main Centres
- Chatham Islands - about 800 kilometres east of Christchurch and the only inhabited islands
- Kermadec Islands - a volcanic island arc in the South Pacific Ocean
- Sub-Antarctic Islands - include five main island groups
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NZ Outlying Islands Region Information
Regional Information
Key information and facts about the NZ Outlying Islands region.
Activity Highlights
Major activities and attractions in the NZ Outlying Islands region.
Scenic Highlights
Major natural attractions in the NZ Outlying Islands region.
History
History of the NZ Outlying Islands region.
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