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Coronavirus: Chatham Islands desperate for tourists to return

08:18 am on 20 May 2020

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The Chatham Islands are the closest most New Zealanders can get to international travel without packing their passport.

Located more than 800 kilometres east of the South Island, the remote territory is heavily reliant on air travel to deliver tourists that figure large in its economy.

The Chathams were largely cut off from the rest of the country when lockdown saw non-essential flights halted during peak tourist season.

Flights have only recently resumed under level two Alert Level 2, and tourism operators are desperate to see visitors return.

Tourism reporter Tess Brunton has more.