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:
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 km2), Fereday Island, Rangitata Island, and Inch Clutha (approximately 15 km2, 30 km2, and 35 km2 respectively) are also currently omitted, as are temporary islands in braided river channels and tidal islands such as Rabbit Island, Nelson (17 km2). The country's largest island within a lake, Pomona Island, has an area of just 2.6 km2.
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) height, which is about 333 metres (1,093 ft) above Lake Manapouri's sea level.
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, New Zealand
The Brothers
Browns Island, Auckland
Calliope Island, Whangarei Heads
Cavalli Islands
Chalky Island
Codfish Island/Whenuahou
Dog Island
Cuvier Island
D'Urville Island
Dragon Island
East Island/Whangaokeno
Elizabeth Island
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
Green Island
Guano Island, Whangarei Heads
Hen and Chicken Islands
High Island
Herald Island, Waitemata Harbour
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
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
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, New Zealand
Watchman Island, Waitemata Harbour
Whakaari/White Island
Whale 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)
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
The New Zealand Subantarctic Islands are considered World Heritage Sites.
Antipodes Islands
Auckland Islands
Adams Island
Auckland 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
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
