Forty-Fours | |
Local Name: | Motchuhar (Moriori) Maori: Motuhara (Māori) |
Coordinates: | -43.9622°N -175.8336°W |
Archipelago: | Chatham Islands |
Country: | New Zealand |
The Forty-Fours are a group of islands in the Chatham Archipelago, about 50km (30miles) east of the main Chatham Island. They are called Motchuhar in Moriori and Maori: Motuhara in Māori.[1] The group includes the easternmost point of New Zealand, whose South Island is located about 800km (500miles) to the west.
Scientists on the 1954 Chatham Islands expedition visited the islands recording prolific bird life including albatrosses and mollymawks.[2]
The region is one of only two breeding sites for the Chatham fulmar prion.[1] It has been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International due to it also supporting colonies of Buller's and northern royal albatrosses.[3]