Flax and muelinbeckia fields near 'The Clears' on South East Island. Grazing of livestock led to the replacement of most of the bush and tree-heath by grass and fern. Farming ceased in the early 1960s and since this time there has been a major regrowth of vegetation on the island.

South East Island/Rangatira is the third largest island in the Chatham Islands chain. It covers an area of 218 hectares, rising to 224m high above the western cliffs. It is located 800 kilometres east of New Zealand off the southeast coast of Pitt Island.