List of islands of New Zealand


consists of many islands, estimated around six hundred, mainly remnants of a larger land mass now beneath the sea. The following is a list of islands of New Zealand.
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. Various Māori iwi sometimes use different names, with some preferring to call the South Island Te Waka o Aoraki. The islands are separated by Cook Strait. The South Island is sometimes informally referred to as the "mainland", 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. River delta islands such as Rakaia Island, Fereday Island, Rangitata Island, and Inch Clutha are also omitted, as are temporary islands in braided river channels and tidal islands such as Rabbit Island, Nelson. The country's largest island within a lake, Pomona Island, has an area of just.
RankEnglish nameMāori nameArea Area % of NZ areaPopulation
1South IslandTe Waipounamu, Te Wahi Pounamu, Te Waka a Māui, Te Waka o Aoraki56.2%-
2North IslandTe Ika-a-Māui42.3%-
3Stewart IslandRakiura, Te Punga o Te Waka-a-Māui0.6%400-
4Chatham IslandRekohu ; Wharekauri 0.3%600-
5Auckland IslandMauka Huka0.2%0-
6Great Barrier IslandAotea0.1%850-
7Resolution IslandTau Moana0.1%0-
8D'Urville IslandRangitoto Ki Te Tonga<0.1%About 52-
9Campbell IslandMotu Ihupuku<0.1%0-
10Adams Island<0.1%0-
11Waiheke IslandWaiheke<0.1%-
12Secretary IslandKa Tu-waewae-o-Tu<0.1%0-
13Arapaoa IslandArapaoa<0.1%50-
14Pitt IslandRangiaotea or Rangiauria <0.1%38-
15Matakana IslandMatakana<0.1%225-
16Raoul IslandRangitahua<0.1%6-
17Little Barrier IslandHauturu~0.0%0-
18Rangitoto IslandRangitoto~0.0%0-
19Antipodes Island~0.0%0-
20Kapiti IslandKapiti~0.0%0-
21Kawau IslandKawau~0.0%81-
22Long Island, SouthlandMotu Roa~0.0%0-
23Cooper IslandUre Toto~0.0%0-
24Ponui IslandPonui~0.0%0-
25Great Mercury IslandAhuahu~0.0%0-
26Ruapuke IslandRuapuke~0.0%0-
27Motutapu IslandMotutapu~0.0%0-
28Codfish IslandWhenua Hou~0.0%0-
29Mayor IslandTuhua~0.0%0-
30Coal IslandTe Puka-Hereka~0.0%0-
31Anchor IslandPukenui~0.0%0-
32Motiti IslandMotiti~0.0%27-
33Big South Cape IslandTaukihepa~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 above sea level, which is about above Lake Manapouri's normal lake level.
RankName of islandHighest pointName of peakType of peak
1South IslandAoraki/Mount CookTectonic
2North IslandMount RuapehuVolcanic
3Secretary IslandMount GronoTectonic
4Resolution IslandMount ClerkeTectonic
5Stewart IslandMount AnglemTectonic
6D'Urville IslandAttempt HillTectonic
7Little Barrier IslandMount HauturuVolcanic
8Adams IslandMount DickVolcanic
9Auckland IslandCavern PeakVolcanic
10Great Barrier IslandMount HobsonTectonic
11Long Island, SouthlandTectonic
12Campbell IslandMount HoneyVolcanic
13Arapaoa IslandNarawhiaTectonic
14Cooper IslandTectonic
15Kapiti IslandTuteremoanaTectonic
16Raoul IslandMoumoukai PeakVolcanic
17=Anchor IslandTectonic
17=Taranga IslandThe PinnaclesTectonic
19Bauza IslandTectonic
20Maud Island/Te HoiereTectonic
21Antipodes IslandMount GallowayVolcanic
22Forsyth IslandTectonic
23Mayor IslandOpuahauVolcanic
24Moutohora Island/Whale IslandMotu HaraVolcanic
25Breaksea IslandTectonic
26Solander Island/HautereTectonic
27Whakaari / White IslandMount GisborneVolcanic
28Chatham IslandVolcanic
29Blumine IslandTectonic
30Manawatāwhi/Great Island Tectonic
31Mangere Island WhakapaTectonic
32Stephens Island/TakapourewaTectonic
33Rangitoto IslandRangitotoVolcanic
34Coal IslandTectonic
35Codfish IslandTectonic
36Nukuwaiata Island Tectonic
37Pitt Island/RangiauriaWaihereTectonic
38Macauley Island Mount HaszardVolcanic
39Taukihepa / Big South Cape IslandTectonic
40Whatupuke Island Tectonic
41=Great Mercury IslandMount MohiVolcanic
41=Waiheke IslandMaunganuiTectonic
43Jacquemart Island Volcanic
44Wakaterepapanui Island Tectonic
45South East Island/Rangatira Tectonic
46Rakitu IslandTectonic
47Aorangi IslandTectonic
48=Cuvier IslandTectonic
48=Little Mangere Island WhakapaTectonic
50Moekawa/South West Island Tectonic
51Bollons Island Volcanic
52Indian IslandTectonic
53Tawhiti Rahi Island Tectonic
54Tinui Island Tectonic
55Matapara / Pickersgill IslandTectonic
56=Great IslandTectonic
56=Kaikoura IslandMitre PeakTectonic
56=Pearl Island Tectonic
59Coppermine Island HuarewaTectonic
60Kawau IslandGrey HeightsTectonic
61Te Kakaho Island Tectonic
62Motukawanui IslandTectonic
63Ōhau/West Island Tectonic
64Motutapere Island Tectonic
65Ponui IslandPonuiTectonic
66Motuoruhi Island Tectonic
67Lady Alice Island Tectonic
68The Castle/Rangiwheau Tectonic
69Long Island, MarlboroughTectonic
70Noble Island Tectonic
71Chalky IslandTectonic
72=Red Mercury IslandVolcanic
72=Puangiangi Island Tectonic

In harbours and the open sea

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.
The New Zealand Subantarctic Islands are designated as a World Heritage Site.
The following islands are part of the Realm of New Zealand, but are not part of New Zealand proper:
New Zealand also claims the Ross Dependency in Antarctica, including: