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Story: Chatham Islands

Moriori survivors

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Moriori survivors

Many Moriori died at the hands of the Māori who invaded the Chatham Islands in 1835, and those who survived became slaves. These survivors were photographed in 1877. Hirawanu Tapu (second left, standing), Rohana (second left, sitting) and Tatua (second right, standing), adolescents in 1835, endured more than two decades of slavery. Descendants of survivors include Wari Tutaki (left), Teretiu Rehe (third left, standing), Rangitapua Horomona Rehe (fourth left, standing), Piripi (far right), Ngakikingi (middle, sitting) and Te Tene Rehe (next right).

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Canterbury Museum

Reference: 19XX.2.481

by Alfred Martin

Permission of Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch, New Zealand must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Rhys Richards, Chatham Islands – From first settlement to 1860, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/37793/moriori-survivors (accessed 14 June 2026).

Story by Rhys Richards, published 28 November 2012, updated 1 May 2015.