List of islands of New Zealand - wikipedia List of islands of New Zealand New Zealand 's South Island is largely mountainous. Seen here is Walter Peak. New Zealand consists of a large number of islands ; estimated around six hundred. The two main islands, which are much larger than the rest and where most of the population lives, are the North Island, or Te Ika - a-Māui, and the South Island, or Te Waipounamu. The latter is often referred to as the `` mainland '', especially by its residents, because it is somewhat larger ( but with a smaller population ). However, in general practice, the mainland refers to both North Island and South Island as opposed to the smaller offshore islands. Stewart Island / Rakiura, in the south, is by far the biggest of the smaller islands, although Waiheke Island has the largest population of the smaller ones. The following is a list of some of the islands of New Zealand : Contents 1 Listed by size 2 Listed by highest point 3 In harbours and the open sea 4 In rivers and lakes 5 Outlying 6 Realm of New Zealand 7 Territorial claims 8 See also 9 References Listed by size The following table lists the largest islands of New Zealand by size. The Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, and islands of the Ross Dependency are excluded. Delta islands such as Rakaia Island ( 25.7 km ), Fereday Island, Rangitata Island, and Inch Clutha ( approximately 15 km, 30 km, and 35 km respectively ) are also currently omitted, as are temporary islands in braided river channels and tidal islands such as Rabbit Island, Nelson ( 17 km ). The country 's largest island within a lake, Pomona Island, has an area of just 2.6 km. Rank English name Māori name km % of NZ Area Population South Island Te Waipounamu, Te Wahi Pounamu, Te Waka - a-Māui, Te Waka o Aoraki 151,215 56.2 % 1,115,800 North Island Te Ika - a-Māui 113,729 42.3 % 3,677,200 Stewart Island Rakiura, Te Punga o Te Waka - a-Māui 1,683 0.6 % 400 Chatham Island Rekohu ( Moriori ) ; Wharekauri ( Māori ) 900 0.3 % 600 5 Auckland Island Motu Maha 510 0.2 % 0 6 Great Barrier Island Aotea 285 0.1 % 850 7 Resolution Island Taumoana 208.87 0.1 % 0 8 D'Urville Island Rangitoto Ki Te Tonga 150 < 0.1 % About 52 9 Campbell Island Motu Ihupuku 115 < 0.1 % 0 10 Adams Island 100 < 0.1 % 0 11 Waiheke Island Waiheke 92 < 0.1 % 9,520 12 Secretary Island Rangitoa 81.4 < 0.1 % 0 13 Arapaoa Island Arapaoa 75 < 0.1 % 50 14 Pitt Island Rangiaotea ( Moriori ) or Rangiauria ( Maori ) 62 < 0.1 % 38 15 Matakana Island Matakana 60 < 0.1 % 225 16 Raoul Island Rangitahua 29.4 < 0.1 % 6 17 Little Barrier Island Hauturu 28 0 18 Rangitoto Island Rangitoto 23.1 0 19 Antipodes Island 20 0 20 Kapiti Island Kapiti 19.7 0 21 Kawau Island Kawau 19 81 22 Long Island, Southland Motu Roa 18.99 0 23 Cooper Island Ure Toto 17.79 0 24 Ponui Island Ponui 17.7 0 25 Great Mercury Island Ahuahu 17.2 0 26 Ruapuke Island Ruapuke 16 0 27 Motutapu Island Motutapu 15.1 0 28 Codfish Island Whenua Hou 14 0 29 Mayor Island Tuhua 13 0 30 Coal Island Te Puka - Hereka 11.6 0 31 Anchor Island Puke Nui 11.37 0 32 Motiti Island Motiti 10 27 33 Big South Cape Island Taukihepa 9.4 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 511 metres ( 1,677 ft ) above sea level, which is about 333 metres ( 1,093 ft ) above Lake Manapouri 's normal lake level. Rank Name of island Highest point Name of peak Type of peak South Island 3,754 m ( 12,316 ft ) Mount Cook Tectonic North Island 2,797 m ( 9,177 ft ) Mount Ruapehu Volcanic Secretary Island 1,196 m ( 3,924 ft ) Mount Grono Tectonic Resolution Island 1,069 m ( 3,507 ft ) Mount Clerke Tectonic 5 Stewart Island 980 m ( 3,220 ft ) Mount Anglem Tectonic 6 D'Urville Island 729 m ( 2,392 ft ) Attempt Hill Tectonic 7 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, Southland 620 m ( 2,030 ft ) Tectonic 12 Campbell Island 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 ) 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 ) Tectonic 17 = Taranga ( Hen ) Island 417 m ( 1,368 ft ) The Pinnacles Tectonic 19 Bauza Island 383 m ( 1,257 ft ) Tectonic 20 Maud Island / Te Hoiere 368 m ( 1,207 ft ) Tectonic 21 Antipodes Island 366 m ( 1,201 ft ) Mount Galloway Volcanic 22 Forsyth Island 356 m ( 1,168 ft ) Tectonic 23 Mayor Island 355 m ( 1,165 ft ) Opuahau Volcanic 24 Moutohora Island / Whale Island 353 m ( 1,158 ft ) Motu Hara Volcanic 25 Breaksea Island 350 m ( 1,150 ft ) Tectonic 26 Solander Island / Hautere 330 m ( 1,080 ft ) Tectonic 27 White Island 321 m ( 1,053 ft ) Mount Gisborne Volcanic 28 Chatham Island 299 m ( 981 ft ) Volcanic 29 Blumine Island 298 m ( 978 ft ) Tectonic 30 Manawatāwhi / Great Island ( Three Kings Islands ) 295 m ( 968 ft ) Tectonic 31 Mangere Island ( Chatham Islands ) 292 m ( 958 ft ) Whakapa Tectonic 32 Stephens Island / Takapourewa 283 m ( 928 ft ) Tectonic 33 Rangitoto Island 260 m ( 850 ft ) Rangitoto Volcanic 34 Coal Island 251 m ( 823 ft ) Tectonic 35 Codfish Island 250 m ( 820 ft ) Tectonic 36 Nukuwaiata Island ( Chetwode Islands ) 247 m ( 810 ft ) Tectonic 37 Pitt Island / Rangiauria 241 m ( 791 ft ) Waihere Tectonic 38 Macauley Island ( Kermadec Islands ) 238 m ( 781 ft ) Mount Haszard Volcanic 39 Taukihepa / Big South Cape Island 235 m ( 771 ft ) Tectonic 40 Whatupuke Island ( Hen and Chicken Islands ) 234 m ( 768 ft ) Tectonic 41 = Great Mercury Island 231 m ( 758 ft ) Mount Mohi Volcanic 41 = Waiheke Island 231 m ( 758 ft ) Maunganui Tectonic 43 Jacquemart Island ( Campbell Islands ) 229 m ( 751 ft ) Volcanic 44 Wakaterepapanui Island ( Rangitoto Islands ) 225 m ( 738 ft ) Tectonic 45 South East Island / Rangatira ( Chatham Islands ) 224 m ( 735 ft ) Tectonic 46 Rakitu Island 220 m ( 720 ft ) Tectonic 47 Aorangi Island 216 m ( 709 ft ) Tectonic 48 = Cuvier Island 214 m ( 702 ft ) Tectonic 48 = Little Mangere Island ( Chatham Islands ) 214 m ( 702 ft ) Whakapa Tectonic 50 Moekawa / South West Island ( Three Kings Islands ) 207 m ( 679 ft ) Tectonic 51 Bollons Island ( Antipodes Islands ) 202 m ( 663 ft ) Volcanic 52 Indian Island 196 m ( 643 ft ) Tectonic 53 Tawhiti Rahi Island ( Poor Knights Islands ) 191 m ( 627 ft ) Tectonic 54 Tinui Island ( Rangitoto Islands ) 190 m ( 620 ft ) Tectonic 55 Matapara / Pickersgill Island 186 m ( 610 ft ) Tectonic 56 = Great Island 185 m ( 607 ft ) Tectonic 56 = Kaikoura Island 185 m ( 607 ft ) Mitre Peak Tectonic 56 = Pearl Island ( off Stewart Island ) 185 m ( 607 ft ) Tectonic 59 Coppermine Island ( Hen and Chicken Islands ) 184 m ( 604 ft ) Huarewa Tectonic 60 Kawau Island 182 m ( 597 ft ) Grey Heights Tectonic 61 Te Kakaho Island ( Chetwode Islands ) 179 m ( 587 ft ) Tectonic 62 Motukawanui Island 177 m ( 581 ft ) Tectonic 63 Ōhau / West Island ( Three Kings Islands ) 177 m ( 581 ft ) Tectonic 64 Motutapere Island ( off Coromandel ) 175 m ( 574 ft ) Tectonic 65 Ponui Island 173 m ( 568 ft ) Ponui Tectonic 66 Motuoruhi Island ( off Coromandel ) 169 m ( 554 ft ) Tectonic 67 Lady Alice Island ( Hen and Chicken Islands ) 158 m ( 518 ft ) Tectonic 68 The Castle / Rangiwheau ( Chatham Islands ) 156 m ( 512 ft ) Tectonic 69 Long Island, Marlborough 152 m ( 499 ft ) Tectonic 70 Noble Island ( off Stewart Island ) 154 m ( 505 ft ) Tectonic 71 Chalky Island 151 m ( 495 ft ) Tectonic 72 = Red Mercury Island 150 m ( 490 ft ) Volcanic 72 = Puangiangi Island ( Rangitoto Islands ) 150 m ( 490 ft ) Tectonic In harbours and the open sea Adele Island Aiguilles Island Alderman Islands Allports Island Amerikiwhati Island Anatakupu Island Anchor Island Anchorage Island Aorangaia Island Araara Island Arakaninihi Island Arapaoa Island Aroha Island Awarua Rock Bare Island Bauza Island Bells Island Bench Island Bests Island Big South Cape Island Blumine Island Breaksea Island The Brothers Browns Island Calliope Island, Whangarei Heads Catherine Island, Charles Sound Cavalli Islands Chalky Island Coal Island Codfish Island / Whenuahou Cooper Island Dog Island Cuvier Island D'Urville Island Dragon Island East Island / Whangaokeno Eleanor Island, Charles Sound Elizabeth Island Fanny Island, Charles Sound Fisherman Island Forsyth Island Frenchman Island, Whangarei Heads Gannet Island Goat Island, Auckland Goat Island, Otago Harbour Goat Island / Te Mapoutahi Great Barrier Island / Aotea Great Island Green Island Guano Island, Whangarei Heads Hen and Chicken Islands High Island Herald Island, Waitematā Harbour Indian Island Kaikoura Island Kapiti Island Kawau Island King Billy Island Kopuahingahinga Island, Manukau Harbour Little Barrier Island ( Hauturu ) Long Island, Marlborough Long Island, Southland Mahurangi Island ( Goat Island ) Makaro / Ward Island Mana Island Matakana Island Matiu / Somes Island Maud Island / Te Hoiere Mauitaha Island, Whangarei Heads Mayor Island / Tuhua Mercury Islands Mokohinau Islands Mokopuna Island Motiti Island Motueka Island ( Pigeon Island ) Motuhoa Island Motuihe Island Motukaroro Island Motukawao Islands Motukiore Island, Parua Bay Motunau Island Motuoroi Island Moturaka Island Moturata / Taieri Island Motutapu Island Moutohora Island / Whale Island Native Island Ngarango Otainui Island, Manukau Harbour Ninepin Rock, Manukau Harbour Noble Island North Island Opahekeheke Island Open Bay Islands Pakatoa Island Pararekau Island, Manukau Harbour Pearl Island Pepin Island ( a tied island connected to the mainland ) Piercy Island Ponui Island Poor Knights Islands Portland Island Pourewa Island Puketutu Island, Manukau Harbour Putauhinu Island Quail Island Quarantine Island / Kamau Taurua Rabbit Island Rakino Island Rangitoto Island Rangitoto Islands, Marlborough Sounds Raratoka Island Resolution Island Ripapa Island Rotoroa Island Rurima Rocks, including Rurima Island Ruapuke Island Quarantine Island / Kamau Taurua Secretary Island Shark Island, Manukau Harbour Slipper Island South Island Stephens Island / Takapourewa Stewart Island / Rakiura Sugar Loaf Islands Takangaroa Island Tapu Te Ranga Motu Tarahiki Island Tarakanahi Island Tata Islands Tikitiki Island, ( The Ninepin ), Bay of Islands Tiritiri Matangi Island Titi / Muttonbird Islands Tonga Island Ulva Island Urupukapuka Island Waiheke Island Walker Island Watchman Island, Waitematā Harbour Whakaari / White Island Whanganui Island White Island ( Otago ) Wiroa Island, Manukau Harbour In rivers and lakes Black Jacks Island ( in Lake Benmore ) Channel Islands ( in Lake Manapouri ) Dome Islands ( in Lake Te Anau ) Entrance Island ( in Lake Te Anau ) Fereday Island ( in the Rakaia River delta ) Harwich Island ( in Lake Wanaka ) Hidden Island ( in Lake Wakatipu ) Inch Clutha ( in the Clutha River 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 ) 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 Taupo ) Moutoa Island ( in the Whanganui River ) Mou Tapu ( in Lake Wanaka ) Mou Waho ( in Lake Wanaka ) Motutieke Island ( in Waikato River delta ) Namuheiriro Island ( in Waikato River ) Ngahinapouri 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 ) Rakaia Island ( in the Rakaia River delta ) Rangitata Island ( in the Rangitata River delta ) Rona Island ( in Lake Manapouri ) Ruby Island ( in Lake Wanaka ) Silver Island ( in Lake Hawea ) Stevensons Island / Te Peka Karara ( in Lake Wanaka ) 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 also 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 / Rekohu Forty - Fours / Motuhara Little Mangere Island Mangere Island Pitt Island / Rangiauria The Sisters / Rangitatahi South East Island / Rangatira Star Keys / Motuhope Kermadec Islands Cheeseman Island Curtis Island Macauley Island Raoul Island Solander Islands Three Kings Islands Topographical map of Antipodes Islands The New Zealand Subantarctic Islands are considered World Heritage Sites. Antipodes Islands Auckland Islands Adams Island Auckland Island Disappointment Island Enderby Island Rose Island Bounty Islands Campbell Island group Campbell Island Dent Island Folly Island ( or Folly Islands ) Jacquemart Island The Snares Realm of New Zealand The following islands are part of the Realm of New Zealand, but are not part of New Zealand proper : 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 New Zealand outlying islands New Zealand Subantarctic Islands Islands of the world Extreme points of New Zealand References Jump up ^ McSaveney, Eileen ( 24 September 2007 ). `` Nearshore islands ''. Te Ara. Jump up ^ Taylor, Marie. Once - a-day milking next Turner challenge Archived 25 May 2012 at Archive.is, 1 May 2004. Jump up ^ Pomona Island Charitable Trust, Department of Conservation. Retrieved 22 November 2010. Jump up ^ Gerard Hindmarsh ( 2006 ). Discovering D'Urville, Heritage New Zealand, Winter 2006. 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Question: what are the two main islands of new zealand
Answer: the North Island, or Te Ika-a-Māui