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New Zealand consists of more than six hundred islands, mainly remnants ofa larger land mass now beneath the sea.[1] New Zealand is thesixth-largestisland country, and the third-largest located entirely in the Southern Hemisphere. The following is alist of islands of New Zealand.
The two largest islands – where most of the population lives – have names in both English and in theMāori language. They are theNorth Island orTe Ika-a-Māui and theSouth Island orTe Waipounamu.[2] Various Māoriiwi sometimes use other names, with some preferring to call the South IslandTe Waka o Aoraki.[3] The two islands are separated by theCook Strait. In general practice, the termmainland refers to the North Island and South Island.[4][5] However, the South Island alone is sometimes called "the mainland" – especially by its residents, as a nickname – because it is the larger of the two main islands.[6][Note 1]
To the south of the South Island,Stewart Island is the largest of the smaller islands, andWaiheke Island in the urbanAuckland Region has the largest population of the smaller islands.
The following table lists the largest islands of New Zealandproper by area.[Note 2] River delta islands such asRakaia Island (25.7 km2 (9.9 sq mi)),[8]Fereday Island,Rangitata Island, andInch Clutha (approximately 15 km2 (5.8 sq mi), 30 square kilometres (12 square miles), and 35 km2 (14 sq mi) respectively) are omitted, as are temporary islands inbraided river channels and tidal islands such asRabbit Island, Nelson (17 km2 (6.6 sq mi)). The country's largest island within a lake,Pomona Island, has an area of just 2.6 km2 (1.0 sq mi).[9]
| Rank | Name of island[Note 3] | Indigenous name[Note 4] | Area (km2)[citation needed] | Area (sq mi) | % of NZ area | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Island orTe Waipounamu[Note 5] | Te Wahi Pounamu,Te Waka a Māui, Te Waka o Aoraki | 150,437 | 58,084 | 56.2% | 1,256,700 |
| 2 | North Island orTe Ika-a-Māui[Note 6] | Aotearoa | 113,729 | 43,911 | 42.3% | 4,067,400 |
| 3 | Stewart Island | Te Punga o Te Waka-a-Māui | 1,683 | 650 | 0.6% | 400 |
| 4 | Chatham Island | Rekohu (Moriori); Wharekauri (Māori) | 900 | 350 | 0.3% | 600 |
| 5 | Auckland Island | Mauka Huka | 510 | 200 | 0.2% | 0 |
| 6 | Great Barrier Island (Aotea Island) | 285 | 110 | 0.1% | 850 | |
| 7 | Resolution Island | Mauīkatau,[11] Tau Moana | 209 | 81 | 0.1% | 0 |
| 8 | Rangitoto ki te Tonga / D'Urville Island | 150 | 58 | <0.1% | About 52[12] | |
| 9 | Campbell Island / Motu Ihupuku | 113 | 44 | <0.1% | 0 | |
| 10 | Adams Island | 100 | 39 | <0.1% | 0 | |
| 11 | Waiheke Island | 92 | 36 | <0.1% | 9,360 | |
| 12 | Secretary Island | Kā Tū-waewae-o-Tū | 81.4 | 31.4 | <0.1% | 0 |
| 13 | Arapaoa Island | 75 | 29 | <0.1% | 50 | |
| 14 | Pitt Island (Rangiauria) | Rangiaotea (Moriori) | 62 | 24 | <0.1% | 38 |
| 15 | Matakana Island | 60 | 23 | <0.1% | 225 | |
| 16 | Raoul Island | Rangitahua | 29.4 | 11.4 | <0.1% | 0 |
| 17 | Te Hauturu-o-Toi / Little Barrier Island | Hauturu | 28 | 11 | ~0.0% | 0 |
| 18 | Rangitoto Island | 23.1 | 8.9 | ~0.0% | 0 | |
| 19 | Antipodes Island | 20 | 7.7 | ~0.0% | 0 | |
| 20 | Kapiti Island | 19.7 | 7.6 | ~0.0% | 0 | |
| 21 | Kawau Island | 19 | 7.3 | ~0.0% | 81 | |
| 22 | Long Island | Motu Roa | 18.99 | 7.33 | ~0.0% | 0 |
| 23 | Cooper Island | Ao-ata-te-pō | 17.79 | 6.87 | ~0.0% | 0 |
| 24 | Ponui Island / Chamberlins Island | Te Pounui-o-Peretū | 17.7 | 6.8 | ~0.0% | 0 |
| 25 | Great Mercury Island (Ahuahu) | 17.2 | 6.6 | ~0.0% | 0 | |
| 26 | Ruapuke Island | 16 | 6.2 | ~0.0% | 0 | |
| 27 | Motutapu Island | 15.1 | 5.8 | ~0.0% | 0 | |
| 28 | Codfish Island / Whenua Hou | 14 | 5.4 | ~0.0% | 0 | |
| 29 | Mayor Island / Tūhua | 13 | 5.0 | ~0.0% | 0 | |
| 30 | Coal Island | Te Puka-Hereka | 11.6 | 4.5 | ~0.0% | 0 |
| 31 | Anchor Island | Pukenui | 11.37 | 4.39 | ~0.0% | 0 |
| 32 | Mōtītī Island | 10 | 3.9 | ~0.0% | 27 | |
| 33 | Taukihepa / Big South Cape Island | 9.4 | 3.6 | ~0.0% | 0 |
The table below lists the islands of New Zealand ranked by their highest elevation. All of these islands are located in either harbours or the open sea. The country’s tallest island situated within a lake is Pomona Island, which rises to 511 metres (1,677 ft) above sea level, approximately 333 metres (1,093 ft) above the normal lake level of Lake Manapouri.
| Rank | Name of island | Highest point | Name of peak | Type of peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Island orTe Waipounamu | 3,754 m (12,316 ft) | Aoraki/Mount Cook | Tectonic |
| 2 | North Island orTe Ika-a-Māui | 2,797 m (9,177 ft) | Mount Ruapehu | Volcanic |
| 3 | Secretary Island | 1,196 m (3,924 ft) | Mount Grono | Tectonic |
| 4 | Resolution Island | 1,069 m (3,507 ft) | Mount Clerke | Tectonic |
| 5 | Stewart Island | 980 m (3,220 ft) | Mount Anglem / Hananui | Tectonic |
| 6 | Rangitoto ki te Tonga / D'Urville Island | 729 m (2,392 ft) | Takapōtaka / Attempt Hill | Tectonic |
| 7 | Te Hauturu-o-Toi / Little Barrier Island | 722 m (2,369 ft) | Mount Hauturu | Volcanic |
| 8 | Adams Island | 705 m (2,313 ft) | Mount Dick | Volcanic |
| 9 | Auckland Island | 659 m (2,162 ft) | Cavern Peak | Volcanic |
| 10 | Great Barrier Island | 627 m (2,057 ft) | Mount Hobson | Tectonic |
| 11 | Long Island | 620 m (2,030 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 12 | Campbell Island / Motu Ihupuku | 569 m (1,867 ft) | Mount Honey | Volcanic |
| 13 | Arapaoa Island | 559 m (1,834 ft) | Narawhia | Tectonic |
| 14 | Cooper Island | 523 m (1,716 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 15 | Kapiti Island | 521 m (1,709 ft) | Tuteremoana | Tectonic |
| 16 | Raoul Island | 516 m (1,693 ft) | Moumoukai Peak | Volcanic |
| 17= | Anchor Island | 417 m (1,368 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 17= | Taranga (Hen) Island | 417 m (1,368 ft) | The Pinnacles | Tectonic |
| 19 | Bauza Island | 383 m (1,257 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 20 | Maud Island/Te Hoiere | 368 m (1,207 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 21 | Antipodes Island | 366 m (1,201 ft) | Mount Galloway | Volcanic |
| 22 | Forsyth Island | 356 m (1,168 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 23 | Mayor Island / Tūhua | 355 m (1,165 ft) | Opuahau | Volcanic |
| 24 | Moutohora Island | 353 m (1,158 ft) | Motu Hara | Volcanic |
| 25 | Breaksea Island | 350 m (1,150 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 26 | Solander Island / Hautere | 330 m (1,080 ft) | Unnamed | Volcanic |
| 27 | Whakaari / White Island | 321 m (1,053 ft) | Mount Gisborne | Volcanic |
| 28 | Chatham Island | 299 m (981 ft) | Unnamed | Volcanic |
| 29 | Blumine Island / Oruawairua | 298 m (978 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 30 | Manawatāwhi/Great Island | 295 m (968 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 31 | Mangere Island (Chatham Islands) | 292 m (958 ft) | Whakapa | Tectonic |
| 32 | Stephens Island / Takapourewa | 283 m (928 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 33 | Rangitoto Island | 260 m (850 ft) | Rangitoto | Volcanic |
| 34 | Coal Island | 251 m (823 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 35 | Codfish Island / Whenua Hou | 250 m (820 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 36 | Nukuwaiata Island | 247 m (810 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 37 | Pitt Island / Rangiauria | 241 m (791 ft) | Waihere | Tectonic |
| 38 | Macauley Island | 238 m (781 ft) | Mount Haszard | Volcanic |
| 39 | Taukihepa / Big South Cape Island | 235 m (771 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 40 | Whatupuke Island | 234 m (768 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 41= | Great Mercury Island (Ahuahu) | 231 m (758 ft) | Mount Mohi | Volcanic |
| 41= | Waiheke Island | 231 m (758 ft) | Maunganui | Tectonic |
| 43 | Jacquemart Island | 229 m (751 ft) | Unnamed | Volcanic |
| 44 | Wakaterepapanui Island | 225 m (738 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 45 | South East Island / Rangatira | 224 m (735 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 46 | Rakitu Island | 220 m (720 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 47 | Aorangi Island | 216 m (709 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 48= | Cuvier Island | 214 m (702 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 48= | Little Mangere Island | 214 m (702 ft) | Whakapa | Tectonic |
| 50 | Moekawa / South West Island | 207 m (679 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 51 | Bollons Island | 202 m (663 ft) | Unnamed | Volcanic |
| 52 | Indian Island | 196 m (643 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 53 | Tawhiti Rahi Island | 191 m (627 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 54 | Tinui Island (Rangitoto Islands) | 190 m (620 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 55 | Matapara / Pickersgill Island | 186 m (610 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 56= | Great Island | 185 m (607 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 56= | Kaikōura Island | 185 m (607 ft) | Mitre Peak | Tectonic |
| 56= | Pearl Island | 185 m (607 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 59 | Coppermine Island | 184 m (604 ft) | Huarewa | Tectonic |
| 60 | Kawau Island | 182 m (597 ft) | Grey Heights | Tectonic |
| 61 | Te Kakaho Island | 179 m (587 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 62 | Motukawanui Island | 177 m (581 ft) | Maungapouri | Tectonic |
| 63 | Ōhau / West Island | 177 m (581 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 64 | Motutapere Island | 175 m (574 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 65 | Ponui Island | 173 m (568 ft) | Ponui | Tectonic |
| 66 | Motuoruhi Island | 169 m (554 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 67 | Lady Alice Island | 158 m (518 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 68 | The Castle / Rangiwheau | 156 m (512 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 69 | Long Island, Marlborough | 152 m (499 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 70 | Noble Island | 154 m (505 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 71 | Chalky Island | 151 m (495 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
| 72= | Red Mercury Island | 150 m (490 ft) | Unnamed | Volcanic |
| 72= | Puangiangi Island | 150 m (490 ft) | Unnamed | Tectonic |
New Zealand administers the following islands outside the main archipelago. Only the Chatham Islands have a permanent population although others also did in the past. Others host visitors for science, conservation, meteorological observation and tourism.
TheNew Zealand Subantarctic Islands are designated as aWorld Heritage Site.
The following islands are part of theRealm of New Zealand, but not of the country itself:
New Zealand also claims theRoss Dependency inAntarctica, including: