The Chatham Islands are 800km east of the South Island. Photo: Andris Apse
A ship has left Nelson bound for the Chatham Islands with diesel supplies - and a small amount of petrol.
The Chatham Islands had run out of petrol and its diesel supplies are running low after bad weather forced a barge to turn around earlier this week.
Another ship, the Seaworker, was expected to arrive on the island with supplies on Tuesday.
Mayor Monique Croon said there was a chance this vessel's journey could also be disrupted by bad weather, but residents were confident the ship would make it.
Currently, there was about a week's worth of fuel left on the island.