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Kaingaroa is a small fishing village with a one teacher school and a social clubroom.

Attractions to take in include the picturesque harbour used in the early days by sealers, whalers and trading ships and as a fishing port, prospering around 1910 with blue cod exports and again during the 1960s crayfish boom. This saw around 50-60 boats in the harbour at one time.

A walk to the north western beach to view the jagged schist rocks and along the hard, sandy Kaingaroa Beach is also enjoyable.

Numerous examples of endemic and rare Chatham Island plant species can be seen in the coastal zone around Kaingaroa.

A Moriori village was located at Kaingaroa when Lieutenant Broughton called in during 1791 and two memorials can be viewed that relate to his visit.

The first, a trypot and whale bone memorial commemorates the Moriori resident of Kaingaroa, known as Tamakaroro who was killed by Lieutenant Broughton’s men of H.M.S. Brig Chatham, in 1791 defending his fishing gear.

The memorial is also dedicated to islanders lost in sea tragedies and provides a poignant reminder of the challenges of life on the Islands.

The second memorial marks the bicentenary of European discovery of the Chatham Islands by Lieutenant Boughton. This was the first meeting between Europeans and the local Moriori inhabitants.

Nearby attractions include: