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-largestisland 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]
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]
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.
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.
^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.co.nz. 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.