List of islands of New Zealand

New Zealand consists of many islands, estimated around six hundred,[1] mainly remnants of a larger land mass now beneath the sea. The following is a list of islands of New Zealand.

Rangitoto Island is a volcanic island in the Hauraki Gulf near Auckland.
Whakaari / White Island in the Bay of Plenty

Each of the two larger main islands – where most of the population lives – has two official names, in 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 different names, with some preferring to call the South Island Te Waka o Aoraki.[3] The islands are separated by Cook Strait. The South Island is sometimes informally referred to as the "mainland",[4] especially by its residents, because it is somewhat larger, albeit with a smaller population. However, in general practice, the "mainland" refers to the North Island and South Island collectively, in contrast with the smaller offshore islands.

Stewart Island or Rakiura, in the south, is the largest of the smaller islands, although 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 by size. (The associated Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, and islands of the Antarctic Ross Dependency are excluded.) River delta islands such as Rakaia Island (25.7 km2 (9.9 sq mi)),[5] Fereday Island, Rangitata Island, and Inch Clutha (approximately 15 km2 (5.8 sq mi), 30 km2 (12 sq mi), and 35 km2 (14 sq mi) respectively) are also 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).[6]

Rank English name Māori name Area (km2) Area (sq mi) % of NZ area Population
1 South Island Te Waipounamu, Te Wahi Pounamu, Te Waka a Māui, Te Waka o Aoraki 150,437 58,084 56.2% 1,187,300
2 North Island Te Ika-a-Māui 113,729 43,911 42.3% 3,896,200
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 285 110 0.1% 850
7 Resolution Island Tau Moana 208.87 80.65 0.1% 0
8 D'Urville Island Rangitoto Ki Te Tonga 150 58 <0.1% About 52[7]
9 Campbell Island Motu Ihupuku 115 44 <0.1% 0
10 Adams Island 100 39 <0.1% 0
11 Waiheke Island Waiheke 92 36 <0.1% 9,660
12 Secretary Island Ka Tu-waewae-o-Tu 81.4 31.4 <0.1% 0
13 Arapaoa Island Arapaoa 75 29 <0.1% 50
14 Pitt Island Rangiaotea (Moriori) or Rangiauria (Maori) 62 24 <0.1% 38
15 Matakana Island Matakana 60 23 <0.1% 225
16 Raoul Island Rangitahua 29.4 11.4 <0.1% 6
17 Little Barrier Island Hauturu 28 11 ~0.0% 0
18 Rangitoto Island Rangitoto 23.1 8.9 ~0.0% 0
19 Antipodes Island 20 7.7 ~0.0% 0
20 Kapiti Island Kapiti 19.7 7.6 ~0.0% 0
21 Kawau Island Kawau 19 7.3 ~0.0% 81
22 Long Island, Southland Motu Roa 18.99 7.33 ~0.0% 0
23 Cooper Island Ure Toto 17.79 6.87 ~0.0% 0
24 Ponui Island Ponui 17.7 6.8 ~0.0% 0
25 Great Mercury Island Ahuahu 17.2 6.6 ~0.0% 0
26 Ruapuke Island Ruapuke 16 6.2 ~0.0% 0
27 Motutapu Island Motutapu 15.1 5.8 ~0.0% 0
28 Codfish Island Whenua Hou 14 5.4 ~0.0% 0
29 Mayor Island Tuhua 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 Motiti Island Motiti 10 3.9 ~0.0% 27
33 Big South Cape Island Taukihepa 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 3,754 m (12,316 ft) Aoraki/Mount Cook Tectonic
2 North Island 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 Tectonic
6 D'Urville Island 729 m (2,392 ft) Attempt Hill Tectonic
7 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, Southland 620 m (2,030 ft) Tectonic
12 Campbell Island 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) 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) Tectonic
17= Taranga (Hen) Island 417 m (1,368 ft) The Pinnacles Tectonic
19 Bauza Island 383 m (1,257 ft) Tectonic
20 Maud Island/Te Hoiere 368 m (1,207 ft) Tectonic
21 Antipodes Island 366 m (1,201 ft) Mount Galloway Volcanic
22 Forsyth Island 356 m (1,168 ft) Tectonic
23 Mayor Island 355 m (1,165 ft) Opuahau Volcanic
24 Moutohora Island/Whale Island 353 m (1,158 ft) Motu Hara Volcanic
25 Breaksea Island 350 m (1,150 ft) Tectonic
26 Solander Island/Hautere 330 m (1,080 ft) Tectonic
27 Whakaari / White Island 321 m (1,053 ft) Mount Gisborne Volcanic
28 Chatham Island 299 m (981 ft) Volcanic
29 Blumine Island 298 m (978 ft) Tectonic
30 Manawatāwhi/Great Island (Three Kings Islands) 295 m (968 ft) Tectonic
31 Mangere Island (Chatham Islands) 292 m (958 ft) Whakapa Tectonic
32 Stephens Island/Takapourewa 283 m (928 ft) Tectonic
33 Rangitoto Island 260 m (850 ft) Rangitoto Volcanic
34 Coal Island 251 m (823 ft) Tectonic
35 Codfish Island 250 m (820 ft) Tectonic
36 Nukuwaiata Island (Chetwode Islands) 247 m (810 ft) Tectonic
37 Pitt Island/Rangiauria 241 m (791 ft) Waihere Tectonic
38 Macauley Island (Kermadec Islands) 238 m (781 ft) Mount Haszard Volcanic
39 Taukihepa / Big South Cape Island 235 m (771 ft) Tectonic
40 Whatupuke Island (Hen and Chicken Islands) 234 m (768 ft) Tectonic
41= Great Mercury Island 231 m (758 ft) Mount Mohi Volcanic
41= Waiheke Island 231 m (758 ft) Maunganui Tectonic
43 Jacquemart Island (Campbell Islands) 229 m (751 ft) Volcanic
44 Wakaterepapanui Island (Rangitoto Islands) 225 m (738 ft) Tectonic
45 South East Island/Rangatira (Chatham Islands) 224 m (735 ft) Tectonic
46 Rakitu Island 220 m (720 ft) Tectonic
47 Aorangi Island 216 m (709 ft) Tectonic
48= Cuvier Island 214 m (702 ft) Tectonic
48= Little Mangere Island (Chatham Islands) 214 m (702 ft) Whakapa Tectonic
50 Moekawa/South West Island (Three Kings Islands) 207 m (679 ft) Tectonic
51 Bollons Island (Antipodes Islands) 202 m (663 ft) Volcanic
52 Indian Island 196 m (643 ft) Tectonic
53 Tawhiti Rahi Island (Poor Knights Islands) 191 m (627 ft) Tectonic
54 Tinui Island (Rangitoto Islands) 190 m (620 ft) Tectonic
55 Matapara / Pickersgill Island 186 m (610 ft) Tectonic
56= Great Island 185 m (607 ft) Tectonic
56= Kaikoura Island 185 m (607 ft) Mitre Peak Tectonic
56= Pearl Island (off Stewart Island) 185 m (607 ft) Tectonic
59 Coppermine Island (Hen and Chicken Islands) 184 m (604 ft) Huarewa Tectonic
60 Kawau Island 182 m (597 ft) Grey Heights Tectonic
61 Te Kakaho Island (Chetwode Islands) 179 m (587 ft) Tectonic
62 Motukawanui Island 177 m (581 ft) Tectonic
63 Ōhau/West Island (Three Kings Islands) 177 m (581 ft) Tectonic
64 Motutapere Island (off Coromandel) 175 m (574 ft) Tectonic
65 Ponui Island 173 m (568 ft) Ponui Tectonic
66 Motuoruhi Island (off Coromandel) 169 m (554 ft) Tectonic
67 Lady Alice Island (Hen and Chicken Islands) 158 m (518 ft) Tectonic
68 The Castle/Rangiwheau (Chatham Islands) 156 m (512 ft) Tectonic
69 Long Island, Marlborough 152 m (499 ft) Tectonic
70 Noble Island (off Stewart Island) 154 m (505 ft) Tectonic
71 Chalky Island 151 m (495 ft) Tectonic
72= Red Mercury Island 150 m (490 ft) Volcanic
72= Puangiangi Island (Rangitoto Islands) 150 m (490 ft) Tectonic

In harbours and the open sea

In rivers and lakes

Outlying
Main article: New Zealand outlying islands

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 are not part of New Zealand proper:

Territorial claims

New Zealand also claims the Ross Dependency in Antarctica, including:

See also

References
  1. McSaveney, Eileen (24 September 2007). "Nearshore islands". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
  2. "Two official options for NZ island names". The New Zealand Herald. 10 October 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  3. Mein Smith, Philippa (2005). A Concise History of New Zealand. Australia: Cambridge University Press. p. 6. ISBN 0-521-54228-6.
  4. Meier, Cecile (10 September 2015). "South Island the true Mainland: Cecile Meier". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  5. Taylor, Marie. Once-a-day milking next Turner challenge Archived 25 May 2012 at Archive.today, 1 May 2004.
  6. Pomona Island Charitable Trust, Department of Conservation. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
  7. Gerard Hindmarsh (2006). Discovering D'Urville, Heritage New Zealand, Winter 2006.
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