List of cities in New Zealand - wikipedia List of cities in New Zealand Auckland Wellington Christchurch Hamilton Napier - Hastings Tauranga Dunedin Palmerston North Nelson Rotorua New Plymouth Whangarei Invercargill Whanganui Gisborne Map showing locations of urban areas in New Zealand The word `` city '' began to take on two meanings in New Zealand after the local government reforms of 1989. Before the reforms, a borough council with more than 20,000 people could be proclaimed a city. The boundaries of councils tended to follow the edge of the built - up area, so there was little difference between the urban area and the local government area. In 1989, the structure of the local government in New Zealand was significantly reorganised. The new district councils and city councils were nearly always much larger geographically, and they covered both urban land and the surrounding rural land. Many locations that once had had a `` city council '' are now governed by a `` district council ''. The word `` city '' is used in a general sense to describe the urban areas of New Zealand, independent of local body boundaries. This informal usage is jealously guarded. The district government of the town of Gisborne, for example, adamantly described itself as the first `` city '' in the world to see the new millennium. However, Gisborne is governed by a `` district council '', though its status as a city is not generally disputed in New Zealand. Similarly, there is no `` city council '' in Auckland, though its status as a city is not generally disputed due to its size. Today an urban area has to be at least 50,000 residents before it can be proclaimed as a city. Contents 1 Urban areas by population 2 City councils 2.1 Populations of present - day city ( and Auckland ) councils 2.2 Cities during provincialism, 1852 to 1876 2.3 Cities, 1877 to 1989 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 External links Urban areas by population The populations given in the table below are provisional New Zealand resident populations, June 2017, and they refer to the entire urban area, unless otherwise stated. Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand Antigua Boat Sheds on the Avon River, Central Christchurch Hamilton Tauranga Napier Dunedin Palmerston North Nelson Whangarei New Plymouth Rotorua from Mt. Ngongotaha Invercargill Whanganui from Durie Hill Gisborne Rank ( population ) Urban area Population Area ( km2 ) Population density ( people / km2 ) Notes Auckland 7006153470000000000 ♠ 1,534,700 7003108600000000000 ♠ 1,086 7003141320000000000 ♠ 1,413.2 Wellington 7005412500000000000 ♠ 412,500 7002444000000000000 ♠ 444 7002929100000000000 ♠ 929.1 Christchurch 7005396700000000000 ♠ 396,700 7002608000000000000 ♠ 608 7002652500000000000 ♠ 652.5 Hamilton 7005235900000000000 ♠ 235,900 7002877000000000000 ♠ 877 7002269000000000000 ♠ 269.0 5 Tauranga 7005137900000000000 ♠ 137,900 7002178000000000000 ♠ 178 7002774700000000000 ♠ 774.7 6 Napier - Hastings 7005133000000000000 ♠ 133,000 7002375000000000000 ♠ 375 7002354700000000000 ♠ 354.7 7 Dunedin 7005120200000000000 ♠ 120,200 7002255000000000000 ♠ 255 7002471400000000000 ♠ 471.4 8 Palmerston North 7004853000000000000 ♠ 85,300 7002178000000000000 ♠ 178 7002479200000000000 ♠ 479.2 9 Nelson 7004667000000000000 ♠ 66,700 7002146000000000000 ♠ 146 7002456800000000000 ♠ 456.8 10 Rotorua 7004588000000000000 ♠ 58,800 7001890000000000000 ♠ 89 7002660700000000000 ♠ 660.7 11 Whangarei 7004577000000000000 ♠ 57,700 7002133000000000000 ♠ 133 7002433800000000000 ♠ 433.8 12 New Plymouth 7004575000000000000 ♠ 57,500 7002112000000000000 ♠ 112 7002513400000000000 ♠ 513.4 13 Invercargill 7004508000000000000 ♠ 50,800 7002123000000000000 ♠ 123 7002413000000000000 ♠ 413.0 14 Whanganui 7004403000000000000 ♠ 40,300 7002105000000000000 ♠ 105 7002383800000000000 ♠ 383.8 15 Gisborne 7004366000000000000 ♠ 36,600 7001850000000000000 ♠ 85 7002430600000000000 ♠ 430.6 Notes : Kapiti Urban Area ( 42,300 ) is the only Statistics New Zealand main urban area not listed. It spans the towns of Otaki, Paekakariki, Paraparaumu, Raumati and Waikanae, and is not considered to be a city. It is part of the Greater Wellington Regional Council 's area -- though listed separately by Statistics New Zealand. Hundreds of people there commute daily to Wellington for work, and the suburban commuter rail network serves the Kapiti area. If Kapiti were added to Wellington the total population of the Wellington urban area would be approximately 450,000. The population for the Hamilton urban zone is 198,600, the Cambridge urban zone is 20,200 and the Te Awamutu urban zone is 17,250. The population for the Hastings urban zone is 70,000 and for the Napier urban zone is 63,100. Still widely referred to by its older spelling of Wanganui. Blenheim ( 31,300 ) is rarely referred to as a city. Pukekohe, a town not far south of Auckland, has an estimated population of 30,800. Timaru ( 29,000 ) once had a city council, but is now administered by a district council. It is classified as a secondary urban area by Statistics New Zealand. It is still considered a city and the principal centre of South Canterbury. Road signs state `` city centre '' rather than `` town centre ''. Taupō ( 24,500 ) is rarely referred to as a city. Masterton ( 21,800 ), the main centre in the Wairarapa, is rarely referred to as a city. Levin ( 20,900 ), the main centre in the Horowhenua district, is not considered to be a city. Tokoroa was long expected to become a city when its population continued to grow past 18,000 during the 1980s. However, with the fallback in the forestry industry, Tokoroa 's main industry, many jobs were lost and Tokoroa 's population declined. It now has 13,950 residents. City councils Populations of present - day city ( and Auckland ) councils The populations given are the latest ( June 2017 ) Statistics New Zealand estimated resident populations. Rank ( pop. ) City council Population First proclaimed Auckland 7006165720000000000 ♠ 1,657,200 1871 Christchurch 7005381500000000000 ♠ 381,500 1868 Wellington 7005212700000000000 ♠ 212,700 1870 Hamilton 7005165400000000000 ♠ 165,400 1936 5 Tauranga 7005131500000000000 ♠ 131,500 1963 6 Dunedin 7005128800000000000 ♠ 128,800 1865 7 Lower Hutt 7005104700000000000 ♠ 104,700 1941 8 Palmerston North 7004873000000000000 ♠ 87,300 1930 9 Napier 7004620000000000000 ♠ 62,000 1950 10 Porirua 7004561000000000000 ♠ 56,100 1965 11 Invercargill 7004548000000000000 ♠ 54,800 1930 12 Nelson 7004514000000000000 ♠ 51,400 1874 13 Upper Hutt 7004432000000000000 ♠ 43,200 1966 Many cities were reorganised into districts by the Local Government Commission in 1989 under the Local Government Act 1974, for example Timaru. Other urban areas that are no longer cities, such as Rotorua and Whangarei, have higher populations than some present cities. The most recently proclaimed city is Tauranga, which became a city, for the second time, from 1 March 2004. Christchurch ( 1862 and 1868 ) and Invercargill ( 1930 and 1991 ) have also been declared cities more than once. Under Section 27 of the Local Government Act 2002, a district may become a city by either a `` reorganisation scheme '' with the Local Government Commission, or under Section 27 ( 1 ) it may apply for a change in status under Schedule 3, Clause 7. The new city must have `` a population of not less than 50,000 persons '', be `` predominantly urban '' and `` a distinct entity and a major centre of activity within the region '' ( or regions ) that it is encompassed by. Existing cities are grandfathered under Schedule 2, Part 2 of the Act. The only new city council so far under this section is the Tauranga City Council, from 1 March 2004. Previously, under Section 37L of the Local Government Act 1974, new cities could only be formed from a `` reorganisation scheme ''. The same criteria were used. The last city to be constituted under this section was Invercargill, which was re-reorganised into a city in 1991. In 1991 the Lower Hutt City Council became the Hutt City Council by a special Act of Parliament ( 1 ) that which did not change the name ( 2 ) of the city of Lower Hutt ; the city 's coat of arms still refers to the `` City of Lower Hutt ''. Cities during provincialism, 1852 to 1876 During provincialism in New Zealand, from 1852 until abolition in 1876, there was no uniform system of local authorities in New Zealand. There is thus some argument over which of the following cities was the first. Nelson ( 1858, by Letters Patent ) Christchurch ( November 1862, revoked June 1868, both by provincial ordinance, and restored October 1868 by Act of Parliament ) Otago ( later Dunedin ) ( July 1865 ) The Municipal Corporations Act 1876 included the first schedule of cities, with the dates they were constituted. Dunedin was the first city in New Zealand to be described in an Act of Parliament as ' City of... ', something now automatic under the Local Government Act 2002. Dunedin ( 4 July 1865 ) Christchurch ( 28 May 1868 ) Wellington ( 16 September 1870 ) Auckland ( 24 April 1871 ) Nelson ( 30 March 1874 ) Cities, 1877 to 1989 Up to October 1989, the Local Government Commission under took reorganisations of local government. As a result, some cities were reorganised into other larger cities or changed to districts, and some of these areas are still considered cities by many New Zealanders. This is a list as at circa 1986. North Island Whangarei ( 1964 ) Auckland Auckland ( 1871 ) East Coast Bays Takapuna Birkenhead Waitemata ( 1974 ) Mt Albert Papatoetoe Manukau ( 1965 ) Papakura Tamaki Hamilton ( 1936 ) New Plymouth ( 1949 ) Tauranga ( 1963 ) ( lost city status 1989, regained 2004 ) Bethlehem Mount Maunganui Papamoa Welcome Bay Rotorua ( 1962, merged into Rotorua District, 1979 ) Gisborne ( 1955 ) Napier ( 1950 ) Hastings ( 1956 ) Wanganui ( 1924 ) ( merged with surrounding counties to become Whanganui District, 1989 ) Palmerston North ( 1930 ) Wellington Wellington ( 1870 ) Upper Hutt ( 1966 ) Lower Hutt ( 1941 ) Porirua ( 1965 ) South Island Nelson ( 1874 ) Christchurch ( 1868 ) Timaru ( 1948 ) Dunedin ( 1865 ) Invercargill ( 1930 ) See also List of towns in New Zealand List of New Zealand urban areas Territorial authorities of New Zealand List of cities and towns in the South Island List of cities and towns in the South Island by population City status in the United Kingdom Notes Jump up ^ `` Local Government Act 2002, Schedule 3 part 16, Cities ''. New Zealand Government. Retrieved 28 November 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` Subnational Population Estimates : At 30 June 2017 ( provisional ) ''. Statistics New Zealand. 24 October 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2017. For urban areas, `` Subnational population estimates ( UA, AU ), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996, 2001, 2006 - 16 ( 2017 boundary ) ''. Statistics New Zealand. 24 October 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2017. Jump up ^ `` Freedom from Crowding : Living Density Table 1 ''. Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 28 January 2010. ( Areas are based on 2001 boundaries. Water bodies of areas greater than 15 hectares are excluded ) References Gordon McLauchlan ( Editor ), Illustrated Encyclopedia of New Zealand, The, Auckland : David Bateman, 1989 ( second edition ) ( ISBN 1 - 86953 - 007 - 1 ) -- confirmation, pre-1989 dates External links Statistics New Zealand Subnational Population Estimates Tauranga status change, 2003 -- specific details Local Government ( Tauranga City Council ) Order 2003 ( Governor - General 's Order - in - Council, 2 October 2003 ) Local Government Commission press release ( PDF ) Local Government Commission decision full text ( PDF ) Tauranga 's city status returns ( The New Zealand Herald, 12 August 2003 ) Local Government Online Limited site -- confirmation, post-1989 council names Territorial authorities of New Zealand Cities North Island Auckland Hamilton Tauranga Napier Palmerston North Porirua Upper Hutt Lower Hutt Wellington South Island Nelson Christchurch Dunedin Invercargill Districts North Island Far North Whangarei Kaipara Thames - Coromandel Hauraki Waikato Matamata - Piako Waipa South Waikato Otorohanga Rotorua Waitomo Taupo Western Bay of Plenty Whakatane Kawerau Opotiki Gisborne Wairoa Hastings Central Hawke 's Bay New Plymouth Stratford South Taranaki Ruapehu Whanganui Rangitikei Manawatu Tararua Horowhenua Kapiti Coast Masterton Carterton South Wairarapa South Island Tasman Marlborough Buller Grey Westland Kaikoura Hurunui Waimakariri Selwyn Ashburton Timaru Mackenzie Waimate Waitaki Queenstown - Lakes Central Otago Clutha Gore Southland Other Chatham Islands Authorities in italics are unitary authorities New Zealand articles History Timeline Military history Treaty of Waitangi New Zealand Wars Women 's suffrage New Zealand and Antarctica Colony Dominion Independence Geography Biodiversity Caves Climate Earthquakes Environment Geology Islands North Island South Island Lakes Marine reserves National parks Rivers Time zones Cities Auckland Christchurch Dunedin Hamilton Invercargill New Plymouth Napier -- Hastings Nelson Palmerston North Rotorua Tauranga Wellington capital Subdivisions Regions Territorial authorities Politics Constitution Elections Electoral system Political parties Foreign relations Human rights Disability Intersex LGBT Transgender Judiciary Supreme Court Chief Justice Law enforcement Military Monarchy Parliament ( House of Representatives ) Government Cabinet Governor - General list Ministers Ministries Prime Minister list Economy Agriculture Companies Energy Rogernomics Taxation Telecommunications Tourism Transportation Society Citizenship Crime Demographics Education Immigration Languages Māori New Zealand English New Zealand Sign Language People `` Kiwi '' Māori Culture Architecture Art Cinema Cuisine Literature Māori culture Media Music National symbols Coat of arms Flag Public holidays Radio Religion Sport Television Outline Book Portal List of cities in Oceania Sovereign states Australia Federated States of Micronesia Fiji Kiribati Marshall Islands Nauru New Zealand Palau Papua New Guinea Samoa Solomon Islands Tonga Tuvalu Vanuatu Associated states of New Zealand Cook Islands Niue Dependencies and other territories American Samoa Christmas Island Cocos ( Keeling ) Islands Easter Island French Polynesia Guam Hawaii New Caledonia Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Pitcairn Islands Tokelau Wallis and Futuna Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_cities_in_New_Zealand&oldid=827285253 '' Categories : Populated places in New Zealand Lists of cities by country Lists of places in New Zealand Lists of cities by population Hidden categories : EngvarB from July 2016 Use dmy dates from July 2016 All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from December 2017 Articles with permanently dead external links Talk Contents About Wikipedia Languages Afrikaans Esperanto Français हिन्दी Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia Italiano ქართული Lietuvių Македонски മലയാളം მარგალური 日本 語 Norsk Polski Română Русский Српски / srpski Suomi Türkçe Українська Edit links This page was last edited on 23 February 2018, at 20 : 58. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: what is the most popular city in new zealand
Answer: Auckland