Chatham Island Events
CHATHAM ISLANDS FESTIVAL
Chatham Community Focus Trust (CCF) organise the annual Chatham Islands Festival for the community of the Chatham Islands.
CCF's kaupapa for this event is to encourage participation and enjoyment and add value to the overall wellbeing of the community.
This event has given opportunities for groups and individuals to take part in different aspects of the festival including: culture, art, food, music and family activities.
CCF has provided an atmosphere to this event similar to those held on mainland New Zealand.
The 2013 Festival will be held on Saturday 09 March.
CHATHAM ISLANDS YACHT CLUB
The Chatham Islands Yacht Club Fishing Tournament is held on the 1st and 2nd of January each year and has been running since 1990.
The 1st January is shore fishing only and the 2nd January is boat and shore fishing.
There are various catagories in the tournament such as heaviest gropher, blue cod, first fish landed for the day, heavienst moki off the Waitangi wharf and more.
Spot prizes, lucky draw and BBQ also make up this fantastic 2 day tournament.
KAINGAROA Vs THE REST RUGBY GAME
In 1931 eleven young men sailing from Kaingaroa to Owenga to play rugby lost their lives to the sea in a freak accident. This game is played in their honour each year by the young and old.
It is not a game for the faint hearted, it is a game played with pride and passion of any provincial match.
The teams are sorted by residency. If you live in Kaingaroa or have associations with that community you are in. The rest are from the four corners of the island, including Pitt Island.
This match is usually played in the 2nd term of the school holidays.
CHATHAM ISLANDS JOCKEY CLUB
A book of rules were printed, taken mostly from the rules of the Auckland Racing Club. These stated that the object of the club was the improvement of the breed of horses on the island and so far kept the view that imported geldings are not allowed to race. The idea was to encourage the importation of well-bred sires and had the desired result.
Today the annual race meetings are held on the 27th and 31st of December and also a picnic race day in the new year. Since 2007 the First Five Pacing Club have combined with the gallops.
This is a great day for locals and visitors to get together and enjoy the festivities.