| The Sisters (Rangitatahi) | |
| Local Name: | Maori: Rangitatahi (Māori) Rakitchu (Moriori) |
| Coordinates: | -43.5647°N -176.808°W |
| Archipelago: | Chatham Islands |
| Population: | 0 |
The Sisters is a group of three main islands located 16km (10miles) north of Cape Pattison, Chatham Island. They are the northernmost members of the Chatham Archipelago, located 800km (500miles) east of New Zealand's South Island.
The islands of the group are Big Sister (Rangitatahi proper), Middle Sister (Te Awanui) and Little Sister.
Scientists on the 1954 Chatham Islands expedition visited the islands recording prolific bird life.[1]
The islands have the second largest breeding colony of the northern royal albatross, and provide breeding sites for Buller's albatross, northern giant petrel, fairy prion, broad-billed prion, sooty shearwater, common diving petrel, grey-backed storm petrel, white-faced storm petrel, pitt shag, subantarctic skua, red-billed gull, and white-fronted tern. The site has been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International because it supports Buller's albatrosses and northern giant petrels.[2]
A species of stag beetle called Geodorcus sororum is endemic to the islands.[3]