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Inia William Tuuta Memorial Airport Mountain Airport illustrationMountain Airport
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CHTmedium airport

Inia William Tuuta Memorial Airport

Te One, New Zealand
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NZCI
ICAO
43 ft
Elevation
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Remote gateway to New Zealand's Chatham Islands archipelago.

Location
Te One, New Zealand
Inia William Tuuta Memorial Airport, known by its IATA code CHT and ICAO code NZCI, serves as the primary air access point for the Chatham Islands, a remote archipelago located approximately 800 kilometres east of New Zealand's South Island. The airport is situated near Te One on Chatham Island (Rēkohu), the largest island in the group. The airport provides a vital lifeline for the islands' small population, facilitating the movement of passengers, freight, and essential supplies. Its remote location and the challenging weather conditions of the South Pacific make operations here demanding. The facility is named in honour of Inia William Tuuta, reflecting the local Moriori and Māori heritage of the Chatham Islands community. Air Chathams is the primary and essentially sole scheduled airline serving the route between the Chatham Islands and mainland New Zealand.
Terminals
The airport has a small, single terminal facility befitting its status as a remote regional aerodrome serving a population of approximately 600 residents.
Getting to & from
Ground transport on the island is limited to private vehicles and local arrangements, as there is no formal public transport service from the airport.
Airlines here
Air Chathams is the sole scheduled airline operating at the airport, providing connections to Wellington, Auckland, and Napier on mainland New Zealand.
Notable facts
  • ›The Chatham Islands lie so far east that they have their own time zone, 45 minutes ahead of New Zealand Standard Time.
  • ›The airport is one of New Zealand's most isolated scheduled air service points.
  • ›Air Chathams, founded on the islands, has operated here for decades and is essentially the island's lifeline carrier.
  • ›The airport is named after Inia William Tuuta, a respected figure from the local community.
  • ›Freight flights are critically important given the islands' lack of alternative supply routes.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.

Airlines serving this airport

No scheduled airline data available.

Routes

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City & Place Guide

Quiet coastal gem on Chatham Island's serene eastern shore.

Te One is a small settlement on Chatham Island, the main island of the Chatham Islands archipelago located roughly 800 kilometres east of mainland New Zealand. It serves as a quiet hub for the island's eastern coast, offering visitors an authentic glimpse into a remote, windswept community shaped by Moriori and Māori heritage alongside European settler history.

The surrounding landscape is dramatic and largely untouched, featuring rolling farmland, wetlands, and rugged coastlines. The pace here is unhurried, and visitors come for solitude, birdwatching, fishing, and a genuine off-the-beaten-path experience far removed from tourist crowds.

  • •Te One Beach — expansive black-sand shore ideal for walks and dramatic seascape photography.
  • •Chatham Islands Heritage Trust Museum — small but rich collection covering Moriori, Māori, and settler history.
  • •Moriori Kopinga Marae — culturally significant site honouring the indigenous Moriori people.
  • •Lake Huro — nearby wetland renowned for birdwatching including endemic Chatham Island species.
  • •Te Whanga Lagoon — vast shallow lagoon teeming with wildlife and offering scenic fishing spots.
  • •Chatham Island Black Robin habitat areas — see conservation efforts for one of the world's rarest birds.

Getting around: There is no public transportation on Chatham Island; visitors rent cars or campervans from the handful of local operators after arriving at Chatham Islands Airport. Taxis and rideshare services do not exist, so pre-booking a rental vehicle before arrival is strongly advised.

Best time: Late spring through early autumn, roughly November to March, offers the mildest temperatures and the most daylight for exploring the island's outdoors.

Local food: Try freshly caught blue cod and crayfish prepared by local operators, along with Chatham Island pāua served in simple, unfussy preparations that highlight the outstanding quality of local seafood.

This guide is provided for general information only. Verify details locally before making travel decisions.

Passport, Visa & Immigration

Flying internationally via CHT? Check entry, transit and customs requirements for New Zealand from official government sources.

Entity data from open aviation datasets (OurAirports, OpenFlights) with AI-assisted editorial clearly marked. Always confirm time-sensitive details with the official airport website. Sources & verification