New Zealand consists of more than six hundred islands, mainly remnants of a larger land mass now beneath the sea. 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. Various Māori iwi sometimes use other names, with some preferring to call the South Island Te Waka o Aoraki. The two islands are separated by the Cook Strait. In general practice, the term mainland refers to the North Island and South Island. 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.
To the south of the South Island, Stewart Island 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. River delta islands such as Rakaia Island (25.7 km2 (9.9 sq mi)), 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).
| Rank | Name of island | Indigenous name | Area (km2)[citation needed] | Area (sq mi) | % of NZ area | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Island or Te Waipounamu | Te Wahi Pounamu, Te Waka a Māui, Te Waka o Aoraki | 150,437 | 58,084 | 56.2% | 1,256,700 |
| 2 | North Island or Te Ika-a-Māui | 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, Tau Moana | 209 | 81 | 0.1% | 0 |
| 8 | Rangitoto ki te Tonga / D'Urville Island | 150 | 58 | <0.1% | About 52 | |
| 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 |
Listed by highest point
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 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 | 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
- Bignell Reef
- Bishop and Clerks Islands
- Bland Rocks
- Blue Gum Island
- Blumine Island / Ōruawairua
- Boat Passage Islands
- Boom Rock
- Bragg Nugget
- Breaksea Island
- The Brothers
- Browne Island
- Browns Island (Motukorea)
- Bull and Cow Islands
- 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
- Kapiapia Rock
- 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
- Motuketekete Island
- 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
- 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
- Arran Island (in Lake Te Anau)
- Belle Vue Island (in Lake Manapouri)
- Birch Island (in the Clutha River / Mata-Au)
- Bird Island (in the Pōrangahau River)
- Black Jacks Island (in Lake Benmore)
- Budges Island (in Big Lagoon)
- Bull Island (in Lake Wānaka)
- Buncrana Island (in Lake Manapouri)
- Bute Island (in Lake Te Anau)
- Channel Islands (in Lake Manapouri)
- Cumbrae Island (in Lake Te Anau)
- Dome Islands (in Lake Te Anau)
- Doubtful Island (in Lake Te Anau)
- Centre Island
- Entrance Island (in Lake Te Anau)
- Erin Island (in Lake Te Anau)
- Fereday Island (in the Rakaia River delta)
- Harwich Island (in Lake Wānaka)
- Hidden Island (in Lake Wakatipu)
- Holmwood Island, (in Lake Manapouri)
- Inch Clutha (in the Clutha / Mata-Au 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)
- Lee Island (in Lake Te Anau)
- Mahara Island (in Lake Manapouri)
- 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 Taupō)
- Moutoa Island (in the Whanganui River)
- Mou Tapu (in Lake Wānaka)
- Mou Waho (in Lake Wānaka)
- Motutieke Island (in Waikato River delta)
- Namuheiriro Island (in Waikato River)
- Ngāhinapōuri 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)
- Rabbit Island (Canterbury) (in Rakaia River)
- Rakaia Island (in the Rakaia River delta)
- Rangitata Island (in the Rangitata River delta)
- Rona Island (in Lake Manapouri)
- Ruby Island (in Lake Wānaka)
- Silver Island (in Lake Hāwea)
- Stevensons Island/Te Peka Karara (in Lake Wānaka)
- 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 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.
- Chatham Islands
- Chatham Island
- Forty-Fours
- Little Mangere Island
- Mangere Island
- Pitt Island
- The Sisters
- Rabbit Island
- Rangatira Island
- Star Keys
- Kermadec Islands
- Cheeseman Island
- Curtis Island
- L'Esperance Rock
- Macauley Island
- Nugent Island
- Raoul Island
- Solander Islands
- Solander Island
- Little Solander Island
- Pierced Rock
- Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands
- Manawatāwhi / Great Island
- Oromaki / North East Island
- Farmer Rocks
- Moekawa / South West Island
- Princes Islands
- Ōhau / West Island
The New Zealand Subantarctic Islands are designated as a World Heritage Site.
- Antipodes Islands
- Antipodes Island
- Bollons Island
- Auckland Islands
- Adams Island
- Auckland Island
- Disappointment Island
- Enderby Island
- Ewing Island
- Rose Island
- Bounty Islands
- Campbell Island group
- Campbell Island
- Dent Island
- Folly Island (or Folly Islands)
- Jacquemart Island
- The Snares
- Broughton Island
- North East Island
- Western Chain
Realm of New Zealand
The following islands are part of the Realm of New Zealand, but not of the country itself:
- Cook Islands
- Aitutaki
- Atiu
- Mangaia
- Manihiki
- Manuae
- Mauke
- Mitiaro
- Nassau
- Palmerston Island
- Penrhyn Island/Tongareva
- Pukapuka
- Rakahanga
- Rarotonga
- Suwarrow
- Takutea
- Niue
- Tokelau
- Atafu
- Nukunonu
- Fakaofo
Territorial claims
New Zealand also claims the Ross Dependency in Antarctica, including:
- the Balleny Islands
- Buckle Island
- Sabrina Island
- Sturge Island
- Young Island
- 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
- List of islands
- Geography of New Zealand
- Extreme points of New Zealand
Notes
- One cultural guide advises against using the term due to sensitivity.
- 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. 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.
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