Governor-General visits Chatham Islands

The Governor-General of New Zealand, Hon Anand Satyanand, and Mrs Susan Satyanand, will visit the most eastern part of New Zealand when they travel to the Chatham Islands today (17 December 2008).

During their visit to the Chatham Islands, they will travel by boat to Pitt Island and visit Pitt Island School. They will also visit Kopinga Marae, view the Tommy Solomon Statue and visit the Haupupu National Scenic Reserve and its famous Moriori dendroglyphs cut into living kopi trees.

As a part of the visit to the Chatham Islands, on Friday evening the Governor-General will formally launch the Chatham Heritage and Restoration Trust (CHART) at a function at Waitangi.  The Trust has been established to protect and restore the natural and historic heritage of the Chatham Islands.

The Governor-General said he was looking forward to visiting the Chatham Islands.

"The Chatham Islands were described by the late Dr Michael King as a l'and apart.'  Having never visited the Islands before, some 800km distant from the South Island, we are looking forward to meeting the people of the Islands and learning more of their distinctive heritage, landscapes and environment."

The Governor-General and Mrs Satyanand will return to Wellington on Monday 22 December.

For further enquiries contact: Antony Paltridge, Government House on 04-382-0827 or 021 470 583