Statistics New Zealand defines urban areas of New Zealand for statistical purposes (they have no administrative or legal basis). The urban areas comprise cities, towns and other conurbations (an aggregation of urban settlements) of a thousand people or more. In combination, the urban areas of the country constitute New Zealand's urban population. At the 2001 census, the urban population made up 86% of New Zealand's total population.
There are three classes of urban area:
Main urban areas, with a population of 30,000 or more. These 17 areas mostly correspond to the places known by New Zealanders as cities.
Secondary urban areas are the 14 urban areas with a population of 10,000 to 30,000.
Minor urban areas make up the remainder of the urban population of the country, towns with 1,000 to 10,000 people. There are 103 minor urban areas.
Statistics New Zealand also defines rural centres with a population of 300 to 999 people. While these do not fit the standard international definition of an urban population, they serve to distinguish between true rural dwellers and those in rural settlements or towns.
The current placement of urban areas into the three classes is based on populations at the 2013 census, and does not reflect population changes since then. Placements are revised after every census.
Description of main urban areas
The population figures shown are Statistics New Zealand's resident population estimates at the June 2016. For rankings in various criteria see the ranked list of New Zealand urban areas. Four main urban areas are subdivided into urban zones. The following cities are listed by location from north to south.
North Island
Whangarei (56,400): from Hikurangi to Portland.
Auckland (1,495,000) is divided into four urban zones:
Northern Auckland Urban Zone (307,900):
the part of Rodney District known as the Hibiscus Coast, from Waiwera south, including Orewa and the Whangaparaoa Peninsula
all of North Shore City
Western Auckland Urban Zone (231,300):
the part of Rodney District around Kumeu
the urban part of Waitakere City
Central Auckland Urban Zone (497,000): Auckland City, excluding the Hauraki Gulf islands
Southern Auckland Urban Zone (458,800):
the urban part of Manukau City
Papakura District
Whangapouri Creek and Runciman in Franklin District
Hamilton (230,000) is divided into three urban zones:
Hamilton Urban Zone (193,600): all of Hamilton City and neighbouring parts of Waikato and Waipa districts including Ngaruawahia, Taupiri and Ohaupo
Cambridge Urban Zone (19,600): includes Leamington
Te Awamutu Urban Zone (16,750): includes Kihikihi
Tauranga (134,400): Omokoroa to Papamoa Beach; and Mount Maunganui to Tauriko and Pyes Pa
Rotorua (57,800): Ngongotaha to Owhata
Gisborne (36,100): Makaraka to Okitu
Napier-Hastings (131,000) is a conurbation of two urban zones:
Napier (62,100): Includes Napier City, Taradale, Eskdale, Waiohiki, Meeanee and Bay View. From Bay View to Awatoto
Hastings (68,900): From Havelock North to Flaxmere, includes Te Awanga, Haumoana, Pakowhai and Pakipaki
New Plymouth (56,800): Oakura to Bell Block
Wanganui (39,600): Westmere to Marybank
Palmerston North (84,300):
Palmerston North City excluding rural areas in the Tararua foothills
Longburn, Kairanga and Stoney Creek in the Manawatu District
Kapiti (41,800): Pekapeka to Paekakariki
Wellington (405,000) is divided into four urban zones:
Upper Hutt (40,100): Te Marua to Pinehaven
Lower Hutt (102,700): includes Wainuiomata, Petone and the eastern bays, excludes farmland adjacent to Wainuiomata
Porirua (55,200): all of Porirua City except Paekakariki Hill and Mana Island; includes Pukerua Bay and Pauatahanui
Wellington City (206,900): from Linden south, includes Horokiwi but excludes Makara and Ohariu
South Island
Nelson (65,700): from Glenduan to the Wairoa River, includes Richmond but excludes Whangamoa
Blenheim (30,700): From Renwick to Riverlands and south to Wither Hills
Christchurch (389,700): Christchurch City, Kaiapoi, and up to the Waimakariri River, Prebbleton, Tai Tapu and Lyttelton Harbour including Diamond Harbour
Dunedin (118,500): from Mosgiel and Brighton to Pine Hill, Ravensbourne to Aramoana
Invercargill (50,700): Makarewa to Woodend and west to Otatara
The population figures shown are Statistics New Zealand's resident population estimates at the June 2016. The following towns are listed by location from north to south.
North Island
Pukekohe (29,800): From Paerata to Tuakau. Excludes Bombay.
Whakatane (19,600): From Coastlands to Ōhope Beach and south to Poroporo.
Tokoroa (13,700): From Tokoroa to Kinleith.
Taupo (24,100): From Wairakei to Taupo Airport.
Hawera (11,800): From Normanby to Mokoia.
Feilding (16,250): From Halcombe to Aorangi.
Levin (20,600): From Waitarere Beach to Ohau.
Masterton (21,200): From Opaki to Waingawa.
South Island
Greymouth (9,750): From Runanga to Southbeach and Camerons.
Rangiora (17,350): From the Ashley River to Flaxton
Ashburton (19,850): From Fairton to Winslow and Argyle Park.
Timaru (28,800): From Washdyke to Scarborough and west to Gleniti.
Queenstown (14,300): From Fernhill and Kelvin Heights to Frankton
Oamaru (13,850): From Pukeuri to Weston and Holmes Hill.
1992
Original classification
1996
No change
2001
Kapiti promoted from secondary to main urban area
Rolleston added as minor urban area
Pauanui Beach dropped to rural centre
2006
Edgecumbe Community renamed Edgecumbe
2013
Blenheim promoted from secondary to main urban area
Rangiora and Queenstown promoted from minor to secondary urban areas
Gore demoted from secondary to minor urban area
Ngunguru, Mangawhai Heads, Te Kauwhata, Ngatea, Mapua, Amberley, Methven, Rakaia and Waikouaiti added as minor urban areas
Russell, Mangakino, Manaia and Hanmer Springs dropped to rural centres
