The Prime Minister visited the Chatham Islands yesterday and today. This is his first visit. The Chatham Islands are part of New Zealand. They lie 800km east of Christchurch, a two-hour flight or a 4 day voyage by ship from the mainland. Only about 600 people live on the two main islands. There are three small primary schools but high school students have to go to boarding school on the mainland. The main economy on the island is farming and fishing, especially crayfish; however tourism is increasing.
The people of the Chatham Islands talked to the Prime Minister about their problems. Lack of jobs is a worry because young people leave to find jobs and they don’t return. There are infra-structure worries also and not enough money to re-build the infra-structure. The airport runway is bumpy and modern planes cannot land. The wharf is becoming dangerous because it is rotting. They don’t have enough electricity generation which makes electricity very expensive so householders pay three times as much as other New Zealanders for their power.
However, there is a possibility of dredging the sea floor for phosphate which can be sold for fertilizer. This could provide jobs.
Meanwhile the Prime Minister promised $400,000 to build five state houses and said the government could possibly find $20m for a new wharf and $6m for a hydro power station.
Vocabulary
mainland – eg. the two main islands of New Zealand
lack of (n) – not enough; also a verb e.g. it lacks jobs
crayfish – lobster
infra-structure – basic facilities for a community e.g. transport, water, electricity
bumpy – not flat e.g. holes in the runway
rotting – the wood is starting to decay and become weak
generation – making electricity e.g. In the Chathams they use diesel or wind
dredge (n)– a machine which can make a harbour deeper or take sand etc from the bottom of the sea; to dredge (v)
phosphate – phosphorus compounds
fertilizer – food for plants
state houses – owned by the government; available for renting