An early Moriori fishhook

An early Moriori fishhook

The Chatham Islands (Rēkohu) were the last in the Pacific to be settled. This occurred some time after 1300 AD, possibly around 1550, from mainland New Zealand. It involved sailing downwind in rough seas, heading for a tiny target in a vast ocean. Sailing back to New Zealand against strong westerlies would also have been challenging. Adaptations in language and artefacts suggest that the people there became isolated and a distinct culture, later termed Moriori, developed. The large dugout canoes disappeared as there were no suitable trees. Moriori constructed rafts out of reeds and inflatable kelp. These only allowed cod fishing and birding or sealing trips up to 50 km offshore.