Around forty-five people, mostly fishing and farming families, call Pitt Island home. They share the island with an abundance of wildlife and species endemic to Pitt and its outer islands. You may have heard or read the story of Old Blue, the last fertile female black robin, who is credited for being the saviour of the species – a conservation triumph for the island.
Pigs, wild sheep, bountiful diving and fishing, spectacular views and un-touched landscapes all make Pitt Island an exciting destination for the lucky few who venture there. With only a lodge, church and primary school on the island, living on Pitt makes the village of Waitangi on the main island of the Chathams seem like a bustling city. The cargo boat that also services the main island visits Pitt just a handful of times a year. When it comes in, everything stops. All the families gather at the wharf to help unload stores and goods, and load on stock and wool from the island.
The annual Pitt Island Autumn Muster has become a well-talked-about event for the island. It consists of a week or so of chasing cattle on horseback, soaking in your surroundings, slogging through muddy yards, chops and boil up for lunch and dinner, and drinking whiskey straight from the bottle. It’s a wild week that tests your skills in the saddle – and your liver! Although it’s not for everyone, it’s certainly on my bucket list.
My partner Kenny was the solo Pitt Island ranger for the Department of Conservation for a number of years. During my second year living on the Chathams, I taught between Te One School on the main island and Pitt Island School, covering principal release. Kenny came with me on a few of my longer stays on the island, and we had an incredible time exploring and hunting our way along the cliff-top coast lines. In amongst native bush, we rediscovered hidden tracks, spotting albatross chicks and piglets along the way.
I asked a good friend of mine what it was like growing up on Pitt Island. Giggling a little, they replied: ‘Wild. But it was the safest place in the world – 16,000 acres to roam freely with no strangers.”
The kids on Pitt Island have always been one of my favourite groups to teach – wild and rough, just like the island. The school roll floats at around 8 – 12 students, mostly all related and always in each other’s pockets. They travel to school by foot, truck, bike or horse. One boy once arrived at school with a whole roast mutton leg in his bag for lunch. His little brother arrived with his pet piglet, which he also shared a bed with.
Kenny and I are currently waiting to hear more information about a large fencing contract coming up on Pitt Island later this year. We are hoping to have our tender accepted and whisk the kids across the strait to embark on our own crazy and wild Pitt Island family adventure.
This story appeared in our March Social Club newsletter.
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