List of islands of New Zealand
Rangitoto Island (pictured in the distance) is a volcanic island in the Hauraki Gulf near Auckland
Whakaari / White Island in the Bay of Plenty
New Zealand consists of more than six hundred islands, mainly remnants of a larger land mass now beneath the sea.[ 1] New Zealand is the sixth-largest island country , and the third-largest located entirely in the Southern Hemisphere. The following is a list of islands of New Zealand .
The two largest islands – where most of the population lives – have names in both English and in the Māori language . They are the North Island or Te Ika-a-Māui and the South Island or Te Waipounamu .[ 2] Various Māori iwi sometimes use other names, with some preferring to call the South Island Te Waka o Aoraki .[ 3] The two islands are separated by the Cook Strait . In general practice, the term mainland 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 / Rakiura is the largest of the smaller islands, and Waiheke Island in the urban Auckland Region has the largest population of the smaller islands.
Listed by size
The following table lists the largest islands of New Zealand proper by area.[ Note 2] River delta islands such as Rakaia Island (25.7 km2 (9.9 sq mi)),[ 8] Fereday Island , Rangitata Island , and Inch 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 in braided river channels and tidal islands such as Rabbit 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 or Te Waipounamu [ Note 5]
Te Wahi Pounamu, Te Waka a Māui , Te Waka o Aoraki
150,437
58,084
56.2%
1,260,000
2
North Island or Te Ika-a-Māui [ Note 6]
Aotearoa
113,729
43,911
42.3%
4,077,800
3
Stewart Island / Rakiura
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%
9,140
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
Listed by highest point
The following table lists the islands of New Zealand by their highest elevation. These islands are all in harbours or the open sea. The country's tallest island within a lake, Pomona Island, rises to 511 metres (1,677 ft) above sea level, which is about 333 metres (1,093 ft) above Lake Manapouri's normal lake level.
Rank
Name of island
Highest point
Name of peak
Type of peak
1
South Island or Te Waipounamu
3,754 m (12,316 ft)
Aoraki/Mount Cook
Tectonic
2
North Island or Te 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 / Rakiura
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
In harbours and the open sea
Aiguilles Island
Aldermen Islands
Allports Island
Amerikiwhati Island
Anatakupu Island
Anchor Island
Anchorage Island
Aorangaia Island
Araara Island
Arakaninihi Island
Arapaoa Island
Aroha Island
Aua / King Billy Island
Awarua Rock
Bauza Island
Beehive Island / Taungamaro Island
Bell Island
Bench Island
Best Island
Blumine Island / Ōruawairua
Boom Rock
Breaksea Island
The Brothers
Motuketekete Island
Browns Island (Motukorea)
Calliope Island , Whangārei Heads
Catherine Island , Charles Sound
Cavalli Islands
Chalky Island
Chetwode Islands
Coal Island
Codfish Island / Whenua Hou
Cooper Island
Dog Island
Cuvier Island
Dragon Island
Eleanor Island , Charles Sound
Elizabeth Island
Fanny Island , Charles Sound
Fergusson Island , Southland
Fisherman Island
Forsyth Island
Frenchman Island , Whangārei Heads
Goat Island / Rakiriri
Great Barrier Island/Aotea
Great Island
Green Island (Okaihe)
Green Island
Guano Island, Whangārei Heads
Hares Ears
Hen and Chicken Islands
High Island
Herald Island
Horomaka Island
Indian Island
Jacky Lee Island
Kaikōura Island
Kapiti Island
Kārewa / Gannet Island
Karewa Island
Kawau Island
Kopuahingahinga Island , Manukau Harbour
Lee Island
Lloyd Island
Long Island, Marlborough
Long Island (Southland)
Māhungarape / Round Island
Mahurangi Island
Mahurangi Island (Goat Island)
Mākaro / Ward Island
Mana Island
Matakana Island
Matapara / Pickersgill Island
Matapia Island
Matiu / Somes Island
Maud Island/Te Hoiere
Mauitaha Island , Whangārei Heads
Mayor Island / Tūhua
Mercury Islands
Mokohinau Islands
Mokopuna Island
Mōtītī Island
Motuara Island
Motuareronui / Adele Island
Motuarohia Island
Motueka Island (Pigeon Island)
Motuhoa Island , Tauranga Harbour
Motuihe Island
Motukaroro Island
Motukōrure Island / Centre Island
Motukawao Islands
Motukiore Island , Parua Bay
Motukōkako Island / Piercy Island
Motu Matakohe / Limestone Island
Motunau Island
Motunau / Plate Island
Motuora
Motuoroi Island
Moturaka Island
Moturoa / Rabbit Island
Moturekareka Island
Moturiki Island
Motutapu Island
Moutohora Island/Whale Island
Native Island
Nee Island
Ngarango Otainui Island
Shelter Island
Ngā Motu / Sugar Loaf Islands
Ninepin Rock , Manukau Harbour
Noble Island
North Island
Okorotere Island
Opahekeheke Island
Open Bay Islands
Ōtamahua / Quail Island
Pakatoa Island
Pakihi Island
Pararekau Island , Manukau Harbour
Pearl Island
Pepin Island (a tied island connected to the mainland )
Ponui Island
Poor Knights Islands
Portland Island
Pourewa Island
Puketutu Island
Putauhinu Island
Quarantine Island / Kamau Taurua
Rabbit Island (Bluff)
Rabbit Island (Coromandel, North)
Rabbit Island (Coromandel, South)
Rabbit Island (Great Barrier Island)
Rabbit Island (Warkworth)
Rat Island (Whangārei)
Rakino Island
Rakitu Island
Rangitoto Island
Rangitoto Islands , Marlborough Sounds
Rangitoto ki te Tonga / D'Urville Island
Raratoka Island
Resolution Island
Ripapa Island
Rotoroa Island
Rurima Rocks, including Rurima Island
Ruapuke Island
Secretary Island
Shark Island , Manukau Harbour
Shoe Island / Motuhoa
Simmonds Islands
Slipper Island
South Island
Stephens Island / Takapourewa
Stephenson Island
Stewart Island / Rakiura
Taieri Island / Moturata
Takangaroa Island
Taputeranga Island
Tarahiki Island
Tarakanahi Island
Tata Islands
Taukihepa / Big South Cape Island
Te Hauturu-o-Toi / Little Barrier Island
Te Motu-o-Kura / Bare Island
Te Hāwere-a-Maki / Goat Island
Te Tio Island
Tikitiki Island , (The Ninepin), Bay of Islands
Tiritiri Matangi Island
Tītī / Muttonbird Islands
Tonga Island
Ulva Island
Urupukapuka Island
Waiheke Island
Waikaranga Island
Wakatehāua Island
Walker Island
Watchman Island
Whakaari / White Island
Whanganui Island
Whangaokeno / East Island
White Island (Otago)
Wiroa Island , Manukau Harbour
In rivers and lakes
Outlying
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.
Topographical map of Antipodes Islands
The New Zealand Subantarctic Islands are designated as a World Heritage Site .
Realm of New Zealand
The following islands are part of the Realm of New Zealand , but not of the country itself:
Territorial claims
New Zealand also claims the Ross Dependency in Antarctica , including:
See also
Notes
^ One cultural guide advises against using the term due to sensitivity.[ 7]
^ The associated Cook Islands , Niue , Tokelau , and islands of the Antarctic Ross Dependency are excluded from this list.
^ Name of the island as recognised by the New Zealand Geographic Board.[ 10] In most cases this will be an official name, however some geographic features in New Zealand do not have official names. In these instances, the name in this column is the recorded name as per the NZGB.
^ Other island names used by Māori or Moriori . Names that form part of a dual name or are an official name are omitted.
^ South Island and Te Waipounamu are both recognised as distinct official names. This is different to dual place names in which there is a single name consisting of both English and Māori origins.
^ North Island and Te Ika-a-Māui are both recognised as distinct official names. This is different to dual place names in which there is a single name consisting of both English and Māori origins.
References
^ McSaveney, Eileen (24 September 2007). "Nearshore islands" . Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand .
^ "Two official options for NZ island names" . The New Zealand Herald . 10 October 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2018 .
^ Mein Smith, Philippa (2005). A Concise History of New Zealand . Australia: Cambridge University Press. p. 6. ISBN 0-521-54228-6 .
^ The Handbook of New Zealand Mammals . Csiro Publishing. 2021. p. 200. ISBN 978-1-4863-0629-9 .
^ Renfrew, Colin; Bahn, Paul (9 June 2014). The Cambridge World Prehistory . Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-64775-6 . Retrieved 24 May 2022 .
^ Meier, Cecile (10 September 2015). "South Island the true Mainland: Cecile Meier" . Stuff . Retrieved 16 December 2018 .
^ Bakić-Mirić, Nataša (15 November 2011). An Integrated Approach to Intercultural Communication . Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4438-3553-4 . Retrieved 24 May 2022 .
^ Taylor, Marie. Once-a-day milking next Turner challenge Archived 25 May 2012 at archive.today , 1 May 2004.
^ Pomona Island Charitable Trust , Department of Conservation. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
^ "NZGB Gazetteer" . Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 20 August 2021 .
^ "Kā Huru Manu" . Ngāi Tahu. Retrieved 21 August 2021 .
^ Gerard Hindmarsh (2006). Discovering D'Urville , Heritage New Zealand , Winter 2006.
Sovereign states Associated states of New Zealand Dependencies and other territories