North Island
Te Ika-a-Māui (Māori) | |
|---|---|
Satellite photo, 2002 | |
North Island | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Oceania |
| Coordinates | 39°S 176°E / 39°S 176°E |
| Archipelago | New Zealand |
| Major islands | North Island |
| Area | 113,729 km2 (43,911 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 14th |
| Highest elevation | 2,797 m (9177 ft) |
| Highest point | Mount Ruapehu |
| Administration | |
New Zealand | |
| Regions | 9 |
| Territorial authorities | 43 |
| Largest settlement | Auckland (pop. 1,547,200) |
| Demographics | |
| Demonym | North Islander |
| Population | 4,067,400 (June 2025) |
| Pop. density | 35.8/km2 (92.7/sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups |
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The North Island (co-officially Te Ika-a-Māui from Māori) is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but less populous South Island by Cook Strait. With an area of 113,729 km2 (43,911 sq mi), it is the world's 14th-largest island, constituting 43% of New Zealand's land area. It has a population of 4,067,400 (June 2025), which is 76% of New Zealand's residents, making it the most populous island in Polynesia and the 28th-most-populous island in the world.
Twelve main urban areas are in the North Island. From north to south, they are Whangārei, Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Napier, Hastings, Whanganui, Palmerston North, and New Zealand's capital city Wellington, which is located at the south-west tip of the island.