History
Pitt Island was originally inhabited by the Moriori the indigenous peoples of the Chatham Islands, who called it Rangiaotea or Rangihaute. Their archaeological remains are found almost everywhere on the island; large quantities of artifacts are constantly coming to light. No remains of momori rakau are visible on the island, but there are records of them once being present
The first Europeans to see the island were the crew of William R. Broughton's ship HMS Chatham, who spotted it in 1791. It was named for William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham. Fifty years later the name was simplified to "Pitt" Island.
The Taranaki Maori who invaded the Chatham Island islands called it Rangiauria, a name which is still in use today.
Over the years there have been many ships wrecked around both Pitt and Chatham Islands. The Glory, a small brigantine was wrecked in what became known as Glory Bay in 1827.
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—Frances A. Griffin, U.S. suffragist. As quoted in History of Woman Suffrage, vol. 4, ch. 19, by Susan B. Anthony and Ida Husted Harper (1902)