List of islands of New Zealand
New Zealand consists of a large number of islands. The two main islands, which are much larger than the rest and where most of the population lives, are the North Island, or Te Ika-a-Māui, and the South Island, or Te Waipounamu. The latter is often referred to as the "mainland", especially by its residents, because it is somewhat larger (but with a smaller population). However, in general practice, the mainland refers to both North Island and South Island as opposed to the smaller offshore islands. Stewart Island/Rakiura is by far the biggest of the smaller islands, although Waiheke Island has the largest population of the smaller ones.
The following is a list of some of the islands of New Zealand:
Listed by size
The following table lists the largest islands of New Zealand by size. The Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, and islands of the Ross Dependency are excluded. Delta islands such as Rakaia Island (25.7 km2),[1] Fereday Island, Rangitata Island, and Inch Clutha (approximately 15 km2, 30 km2, and 35 km2 respectively) are also currently omitted, as are temporary islands in braided river channels and tidal islands such as Rabbit Island, Nelson (17 km2). The country's largest island within a lake, Pomona Island, has an area of just 2.6 km2.[2]
Rank | English name | Māori name | km2 | % of NZ Area | Population |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | South Island | Te Waipounamu, Te Wahi Pounamu, Te Waka-a-Māui, Te Waka o Aoraki | 151,215 | 56.2% | 1,096,200 |
2 | North Island | Te Ika-a-Māui | 113,729 | 42.3% | 3,596,200 |
3 | Stewart Island | Rakiura, Te Punga o Te Waka-a-Māui | 1,746 | 0.6% | 400 |
4 | Chatham Island | Rekohu (Moriori); Wharekauri (Māori) | 900 | 0.3% | 600 |
5 | Auckland Island | Motu Maha | 510 | 0.2% | 0 |
6 | Great Barrier Island | Aotea | 285 | 0.1% | 850 |
7 | Resolution Island | Taumoana | 208 | 0.1% | 0 |
8 | D'Urville Island | Rangitoto Ki Te Tonga | 150 | <0.1% | About 52[3] |
9 | Campbell Island | Motu Ihupuku | 115 | <0.1% | 0 |
10 | Adams Island | 100 | <0.1% | 0 | |
11 | Waiheke Island | Waiheke | 92 | <0.1% | 9,150 |
12 | Secretary Island | Rangitoa | 81 | <0.1% | 0 |
13 | Arapaoa Island | Arapaoa | 75 | <0.1% | 50 |
14 | Pitt Island | Rangiaotea (Moriori) or Rangiauria (Maori) | 62 | <0.1% | 38 |
15 | Matakana Island | Matakana | 60 | <0.1% | 225 |
16 | Raoul Island | Rangitahua | 29.4 | <0.1% | 6 |
17 | Little Barrier Island | Hauturu | 28 | 0 | |
18 | Rangitoto Island | Rangitoto | 23.1 | 0 | |
19 | Antipodes Island | 20 | 0 | ||
20 | Kapiti Island | Kapiti | 19.7 | 0 | |
21 | Kawau Island | Kawau | 19 | 81 | |
22 | Long Island | Motu Roa | 18.8 | 0 | |
23 | Cooper Island | Ure Toto | 17.8 | 0 | |
24 | Ponui Island | Ponui | 17.7 | 0 | |
25 | Great Mercury Island | Ahuahu | 17.2 | 0 | |
26 | Ruapuke Island | Ruapuke | 16 | 0 | |
27 | Anchor Island | Puke Nui | 15.2 | 0 | |
28 | Motutapu Island | Motutapu | 15.1 | 0 | |
29 | Codfish Island | Whenua Hou | 14 | 0 | |
30 | Mayor Island | Tuhua | 13 | 0 | |
31 | Coal Island | Te Puka-Hereka | 11.6 | 0 | |
32 | Motiti Island | Motiti | 10 | 27 | |
33 | Big South Cape Island | Taukihepa | 9.4 | 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) height, which is about 333 metres (1,093 ft) above Lake Manapouri's sea level.
Rank | Name of island | Highest point | Name of peak | Type of peak |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | South Island | 3,754 m (12,316 ft) | 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 | 1,070 m (3,510 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 | 732 m (2,402 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 | 622 m (2,041 ft) | Tectonic | |
12 | Arapaoa Island | 559 m (1,834 ft) | Narawhia | Tectonic |
13 | Campbell Island | 558 m (1,831 ft) | Mount Honey | Volcanic |
14 | Cooper Island | 524 m (1,719 ft) | Tectonic | |
15 | Kapiti Island | 521 m (1,709 ft) | Tuteremoana | Tectonic |
16 | Bauza Island | 383 m (1,257 ft) | Tectonic | |
17 | Antipodes Island | 366 m (1,201 ft) | Mount Galloway | Volcanic |
18 | Mayor Island | 355 m (1,165 ft) | Opuahau | Volcanic |
19 | Moutohora Island (Whale Island) | 353 m (1,158 ft) | Motu Hara | Volcanic |
20 | White Island | 321 m (1,053 ft) | Mount Gisborne | Volcanic |
21 | Chatham Island | 299 m (981 ft) | Volcanic | |
22 | Rangitoto Island | 260 m (850 ft) | Rangitoto | Volcanic |
23= | Pitt Island | 231 m (758 ft) | Hapeka | Volcanic |
23= | Great Mercury Island | 231 m (758 ft) | Mount Mohi | Volcanic |
23= | Waiheke Island | 231 m (758 ft) | Maunganui | Tectonic |
26 | Red Mercury Island | 150 m (490 ft) | Volcanic | |
27 | Elizabeth Island | 117 m (384 ft) | Tectonic | |
28 | Portland Island | 110 m (360 ft) | Tectonic | |
29 | Bare Island | 106 m (348 ft) | Tectonic | |
In harbours and the open sea
- Adele Island
- Aiguilles Island
- Alderman Islands
- Allports Island
- Amerikiwhati Island
- Anatakupu Island
- Anchor Island
- Anchorage Island
- Aorangaia Island
- Araara Island
- Arakaninihi Island
- Arapaoa Island
- Aroha Island
- Awarua Rock
- Bare Island
- Bauza Island
- Bells Island
- Bench Island
- Bests Island
- Big South Cape Island
- Blumine Island
- Breaksea Island, New Zealand
- The Brothers
- Browns Island, Auckland
- Calliope Island, Whangarei Heads
- Cavalli Islands
- Chalky Island
- Codfish Island/Whenuahou
- Dog Island
- Cuvier Island
- D'Urville Island
- Dragon Island
- East Island/Whangaokeno
- Elizabeth Island
- Fisherman Island
- Forsyth Island
- Frenchman Island, Whangarei Heads
- Gannet Island
- Goat Island, Auckland
- Goat Island, Otago Harbour
- Goat Island/Te Mapoutahi
- Great Barrier Island/Aotea
- Green Island
- Guano Island, Whangarei Heads
- Hen and Chicken Islands
- High Island
- Herald Island, Waitemata Harbour
- Kaikoura Island
- Kapiti Island
- Kawau Island
- King Billy Island
- Kopuahingahinga Island, Manukau Harbour
- Little Barrier Island (Hauturu)
- Long Island, Marlborough
- Long Island, Southland
- Mahurangi Island (Goat Island)
- Makaro/Ward Island
- Mana Island
- Matakana Island
- Matiu/Somes Island
- Maud Island/Te Hoiere
- Mauitaha Island, Whangarei Heads
- Mayor Island/Tuhua
- Mercury Islands
- Mokohinau Islands
- Mokopuna Island
- Motiti Island
- Motueka Island (Pigeon Island)
- Motuhoa Island
- Motuihe Island
- Motukaroro Island
- Motukawao Islands
- Motukiore Island, Parua Bay
- Motunau Island
- Motuoroi Island
- Moturaka Island
- Moturata/Taieri Island
- Motutapu Island
- Native Island
- Ngarango Otainui Island, Manukau Harbour
- Ninepin Rock, Manukau Harbour
- Noble Island
- North Island
- Opahekeheke Island
- Open Bay Islands
- Pakatoa Island
- Pararekau Island, Manukau Harbour
- Pearl Island
- Pepin Island (a tied island connected to the mainland)
- Piercy Island
- Ponui Island
- Poor Knights Islands
- Portland Island
- Pourewa Island
- Puketutu Island, Manukau Harbour
- Putauhinu Island
- Quail Island
- Quarantine Island/Kamau Taurua
- Rabbit Island
- Rakino Island
- Rangitoto Island
- Rangitoto Islands, Marlborough
- Raratoka Island
- Resolution Island
- Ripapa Island
- Rotoroa Island
- Rurima Rocks, including Rurima Island
- Ruapuke Island
- Quarantine Island/Kamau Taurua
- Secretary Island
- Shark Island, Manukau Harbour
- Slipper Island
- South Island
- Stephens Island/Takapourewa
- Stewart Island/Rakiura
- Sugar Loaf Islands
- Takangaroa Island
- Tapu Te Ranga Motu
- Tarahiki Island
- Tarakanahi Island
- Tata Islands
- Tikitiki Island, (The Ninepin), Bay of Islands
- Tiritiri Matangi Island
- Titi/Muttonbird Islands
- Tonga Island
- Ulva Island
- Urupukapuka Island
- Waiheke Island
- Walker Island, New Zealand
- Watchman Island, Waitemata Harbour
- Whakaari/White Island
- Whale Island
- Whanganui Island
- White Island, Otago
- Wiroa Island, Manukau Harbour
In rivers and lakes
- Black Jacks Island (in Lake Benmore)
- Channel Islands (in Lake Manapouri)
- Dome Islands (in Lake Te Anau)
- Entrance Island (in Lake Te Anau)
- Fereday Island (in the Rakaia River delta)
- Harwich Island (in Lake Wanaka)
- Hidden Island (in Lake Wakatipu)
- Inch Clutha (in the Clutha River delta)
- Junction Island (in Lake Benmore)
- Karihoa Island (in Waikato River)
- Kaiwaka No.1 Island (in Waikato River delta)
- Kaiwaka No.2 Island (in Waikato River delta)
- Manutahi Island (in Waikato River)
- Mary Island (in Lake Hauroko)
- Mokoia Island (in Lake Rotorua)
- Motakorea Island (in Waikato River)
- Motuariki Island (in Lake Tekapo)
- Motukakako Island (in Waikato River delta)
- Motutaiko Island (in Lake Taupo)
- Moutoa Island (in the Whanganui River)
- Mou Tapu (in Lake Wanaka)
- Mou Waho (in Lake Wanaka)
- Motutieke Island (in Waikato River delta)
- Namuheiriro Island (in Waikato River)
- Ngahinapouri Island (in Waikato River delta)
- Opuawhanga Island (in Waikato River)
- Pigeon Island/Wāwāhi Waka (in Lake Wakatipu)
- Pig Island/Mātau (in Lake Wakatipu)
- Pomona Island (in Lake Manapouri)
- Puehunui Island (in Waikato River delta)
- Rakaia Island (in the Rakaia River delta)
- Rangitata Island (in the Rangitata River delta)
- Rona Island (in Lake Manapouri)
- Ruby Island (in Lake Wanaka)
- Silver Island (in Lake Hawea)
- Stevensons Island/Te Peka Karara (in Lake Wanaka)
- Tarahanga Island (in Waikato River)
- Tawanui Island (in Waikato River delta)
- Te Kopura Island (in Waikato River)
- Te Toki Island (in Waikato River)
- Te Weranga Okapu Island (in Waikato River delta)
- Tree Island (in Lake Wakatipu)
- Whatamakiri Island (in Waikato River delta)
Outlying
New Zealand also 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.
The New Zealand Subantarctic Islands are considered World Heritage Sites.
- Antipodes Islands
- Auckland Islands
- Bounty Islands
- Campbell Island group
- Campbell Island
- Dent Island
- Folly Island (or Folly Islands)
- Jacquemart Island
- The Snares
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:
- the Balleny Islands
- Scott Island
- Roosevelt Island
- Coulman Island
- the Ross Archipelago
- Ross Island
- Beaufort Island
- White Island
- Black Island
- the Dellbridge Islands
- Inaccessible Island
- Tent Island
- Big Razorback
- Little Razorback
See also
- New Zealand outlying islands
- New Zealand Subantarctic Islands
- Islands of the world
- Extreme points of New Zealand
References
- ↑ Taylor, Marie. Once-a-day milking next Turner challenge, 1 May 2004.
- ↑ Pomona Island Charitable Trust, Department of Conservation. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
- ↑ Gerard Hindmarsh (2006). Discovering D'Urville, Heritage New Zealand, Winter 2006.