6 | New era looms for Chathams’ Exciting development: The new wind farm under construction at Point Durham. Chatham Islands Enterprise Trust T T Russell Fredric REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT With several major infrastructure upgrades completed and others nearing delivery, it is the dawn of an exciting new era for the Chatham Islands. Chatham Islands Enterprise Trust has responsibility for the majority of the island’s infrastructure assets, and governs the companies that underpin the local economy. Shipping, fishing, electricity, forestry, two ports and the airport sit within its portfolio, with each sector strengthened by significant government-backed investment during the past decade. At the end of the 2025 financial year, the trust’s businesses held $232 million of assets, reflecting the scale of capital deployed and the strategic importance of these operations. Trust chairman Hamish Chisholm says the focus has remained firmly on economic and community development. Two projects in particular have defined recent progress: construction of a wind farm at Point Durham, and securing a replacement for the island’s aging shipping link, the 40-year-old Southern Tiare. Supported by funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, three wind turbines have been constructed, significantly reshaping the island’s energy profile. “The turbines will reduce our reliance on imported diesel by up to 65%, allowing for a much-needed reduction in electricity tariffs to the community,” Hamish says. “The risk of being 100% reliant on volatile global diesel prices and the need for it to be imported has been all too obvious in recent years, with the increase in tariff prices and the two near misses where the island almost ran out of diesel during prolonged shipping outages.” The island’s energy resilience is closely linked to shipping reliability. Last September the Government announced the Southern Tiare will be replaced by a new, 78- metre purpose-built vessel, expected to be operational late 2027. “Now that we’ve got clarity on [the new ship], everyone’s pretty excited about the opportunities it could mean for growing the economy over here and securing the ability to do that for the next 20 years,” says Hamish. Alongside energy and shipping, other major upgrades during the past eight years have included a lengthened and strengthened airport runway, an airport terminal addition and refurbishment, and at Waitangi port, construction of a new all-weather cargo wharf and fishermen’s wharf. These projects collectively provide a more reliable and future-proofed platform for commerce and connectivity. With this core infrastructure largely secured, attention is shifting towards economic growth and diversification, with improved reliability across energy, transport and logistics creating the conditions to back local enterprise, expand tourism offerings and encourage new investment. The Chatham Islands’ unique biodiversity, landscape and cultural heritage position the region strongly for high-value visitor experiences, while investment in foundational assets supports population retention and workforce stability, essential for a community of around 600 people. Demographic trends reinforce that opportunity. More than 50 children under the age of five now live on the islands, signalling longterm confidence and renewed momentum. Following a decade of intensive capital investment, the islands are moving from infrastructure rebuild to sustained economic development. To help catalyse this next phase, the trust and Chatham Islands Council have jointly responded to Regional Development Minister Shane Jones’ direction for a reset of island infrastructure ownership and funding. 03 318 1198 admin@southernscreenworks.co.nz 50 Bealey Rd, RD1, Aylesbury www.southernscreenworks.co.nz On site mobile crushing and screening with modern tracked machines • Deliveries available from our Aylesbury Quarry of AP20, AP40, AP65, boulders, sand, dust & premix. ready for your adventure? 0800 FLY NOW Air Chathams is New Zealand’s largest privately-owned airline, proudly connecting regional communities. It operates scheduled services between Auckland and Whakatāne, Kāpiti Coast, Whanganui, and the Chatham Islands, as well as between Wellington and Christchurch and the Chatham Islands.
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