New Zealand: Main Islands, Regions, Major Urban Areas & Urban Areas - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information

Main Islands & Regions

The population of the main islands and regions (Regional Council Areas) of New Zealand according to official population estimates.

Name	Abbr.	Status	Area A-L (km²)	Population Estimate (E) 1996-06-30	Population Estimate (E) 2001-06-30	Population Estimate (E) 2006-06-30	Population Estimate (E) 2013-06-30	Population Estimate (E) 2018-06-30	Population Estimate (E) 2023-06-30
Northland	NL	Reg	12,508	140,700	144,400	152,700	164,700	185,800	198,500	1250800
Auckland	AU	Reg	4,941	1,115,800	1,218,300	1,373,000	1,493,200	1,654,800	1,755,200	494100
Waikato	WA	Reg	23,901	358,800	368,400	393,200	424,600	475,600	516,800	2390100
Bay of Plenty	BP	Reg	12,072	230,600	246,900	265,300	279,700	320,800	346,500	1207200
Gisborne	GI	Reg	8,385	47,200	45,500	46,000	47,000	49,500	52,300	838500
Hawke's Bay	HB	Reg	14,139	146,600	147,300	152,100	158,000	172,400	179,000	1413900
Taranaki	TA	Reg	7,254	109,000	105,700	107,300	113,600	121,200	129,400	725400
Manawatū-Wanganui	MW	Reg	22,221	234,500	227,500	229,400	231,200	247,500	257,800	2222100
Wellington	WE	Reg	8,049	426,900	440,200	466,300	486,700	525,900	538,000	804900
North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui)	NI	Isl	113,471	2,810,100	2,944,300	3,185,100	3,398,700	3,753,700	3,973,400	11347100
West Coast	WC	Reg	23,246	33,200	31,100	32,100	33,000	32,400	32,700	2324600
Canterbury	CB	Reg	44,504	480,400	496,700	540,000	562,900	622,800	655,000	4450400
Otago	OT	Reg	31,186	189,300	188,300	199,800	208,800	235,000	246,000	3118600
Southland	SL	Reg	31,196	99,000	93,300	93,200	96,000	100,500	102,400	3119600
Tasman	TS	Reg	9,616	38,800	42,400	45,800	48,800	54,000	58,700	961600
Nelson	NE	Reg	422	41,200	42,900	44,300	48,700	52,700	54,500	42200
Marlborough	MB	Reg	10,458	39,200	40,700	43,600	44,700	48,700	51,900	1045800
South Island (Te Waipounamu)	SI	Isl	150,629	921,100	935,400	998,800	1,042,800	1,146,200	1,226,100	15062900
Chatham Islands (Rēkohu, Wharekauri)	CI	Terr	794	760	750	650	600	690	600	79400
Kermadec Islands		Isl	34	...	...	10	...	...	...	3400
Subantarctic Islands		Isl	765	...	...	...	...	...	...	76500
Three Kings Islands		Isl	7	...	...	...	...	...	...	700
Offshore Islands	OI	Isl	1,600	770	750	660	600	690	620	160000
New Zealand	NZL		265,700	3,732,000	3,880,500	4,184,600	4,442,100	4,900,600	5,124,100		→

Population estimates for 2023 are based on the results of the 2023 census.
Statistics New Zealand / Te Tari Tatau.

Major Urban Areas

	Name	Adm.	Population Estimate (E) 2023-06-30
1	Auckland	AU	1,491,800
2	Christchurch	CB	396,100
3	Wellington	WE	208,800
4	Hamilton	WA	184,100
5	Tauranga	BP	158,900
6	Lower Hutt	WE	110,500
7	Dunedin	OT	103,000
8	Palmerston North	MW	80,500
9	Napier	HB	66,200
10	Hibiscus Coast	AU	65,600

Contents: Urban Areas

The population of all urban areas in New Zealand with more than 2,500 inhabitants according to official population estimates.

Name	Adm.	Population Estimate (E) 1996-06-30	Population Estimate (E) 2001-06-30	Population Estimate (E) 2006-06-30	Population Estimate (E) 2013-06-30	Population Estimate (E) 2018-06-30	Population Estimate (E) 2023-06-30	Area
Alexandra	OT	4,690	4,480	4,940	4,920	5,630	5,800	976	→
Amberley	CB	1,050	1,160	1,340	1,630	2,120	2,560	370	→
Arrowtown	OT	1,490	1,790	2,290	2,600	3,010	2,950	361	→
Ashburton	CB	15,750	15,700	16,650	18,650	19,950	21,000	3999	→
Ashhurst	MW	2,530	2,520	2,510	2,750	3,030	3,320	421	→
Auckland	AU	976,800	1,063,400	1,195,400	1,292,700	1,420,300	1,491,800	60725	→
Balclutha	OT	4,280	4,250	4,210	4,050	4,190	4,400	755	→
Beachlands - Pine Harbour	AU	2,740	2,960	3,560	4,790	6,480	8,100	892	→
Blenheim	MB	22,000	23,200	24,900	26,000	28,500	29,800	2746	→
Cambridge	WA	12,200	13,050	14,300	16,800	19,350	22,000	2735	→
Carterton	WE	4,280	4,230	4,250	4,860	5,500	5,950	530	→
Christchurch	CB	315,800	324,800	350,300	345,500	372,500	396,100	29443	→
Clive	HB	1,380	1,380	1,600	1,840	1,940	2,040	335	→
Cromwell	OT	2,760	2,840	3,860	4,500	5,840	7,060	1563	→
Dannevirke	MW	5,720	5,560	5,690	5,240	5,670	5,670	682	→
Darfield	CB	1,560	1,870	2,080	2,570	2,890	3,360	1758	→
Dargaville	NL	4,620	4,700	4,610	4,640	4,980	5,110	1286	→
Dunedin	OT	98,500	96,800	98,600	98,600	104,200	103,000	9134	→
Featherston	WE	2,490	2,390	2,400	2,320	2,570	2,860	319	→
Feilding	MW	14,100	13,750	14,000	15,000	16,450	17,300	2359	→
Foxton	MW	3,120	3,030	3,020	2,980	3,260	3,430	1058	→
Geraldine	CB	2,380	2,370	2,470	2,560	2,930	3,090	322	→
Gisborne	GI	32,600	31,800	32,400	33,700	36,200	37,800	3746	→
Gore	SL	8,460	8,010	7,930	7,910	8,150	8,290	1376	→
Greymouth	WC	8,760	8,150	8,410	8,320	8,230	8,440	2794	→
Greytown	WE	2,030	2,110	2,150	2,300	2,530	2,830	507	→
Hamilton	WA	113,500	121,200	134,800	150,200	168,600	184,100	11037	→
Hastings	HB	39,800	40,000	40,800	42,000	47,200	49,100	2629	→
Havelock North	HB	10,200	10,700	12,600	13,800	14,750	15,250	2312	→
Hāwera	TA	9,470	9,180	9,050	9,430	10,100	10,600	2518	→
Helensville	AU	2,150	2,320	2,650	2,790	2,940	3,410	405	→
Hibiscus Coast	AU	26,900	31,800	38,200	44,900	55,800	65,600	4872	→
Hokitika	WC	3,660	3,330	3,350	3,270	3,160	3,350	1178	→
Huntly	WA	7,270	7,070	7,090	7,260	8,270	8,510	1657	→
Inglewood	TA	3,280	3,030	3,200	3,370	3,650	3,890	318	→
Invercargill	SL	48,200	45,400	45,700	46,900	49,300	50,300	6475	→
Kaiapoi	CB	8,530	9,830	10,900	9,890	12,200	13,350	1465	→
Kaikohe	NL	4,230	4,190	4,220	4,310	4,680	4,670	592	→
Kaitāia	NL	5,460	5,350	5,390	5,290	6,120	6,110	848	→
Katikati	BP	2,870	3,130	3,770	4,300	5,320	5,850	997	→
Kawerau	BP	8,120	7,290	7,150	6,660	7,460	7,640	2880	→
Kerikeri	NL	4,030	4,670	5,620	6,510	7,450	8,240	2205	→
Kihikihi	WA	2,130	2,250	2,390	2,530	2,840	3,560	880	→
Kumeū - Huapai	AU	1,240	1,370	1,470	1,510	3,630	7,360	684	→
Leeston	CB	1,300	1,270	1,370	1,600	2,290	2,340	244	→
Levin	MW	16,550	16,450	16,450	16,850	18,450	20,000	2291	→
Lincoln	CB	2,440	2,450	2,940	4,070	6,850	11,150	990	→
Lower Hutt	WE	97,900	98,200	100,300	100,200	107,500	110,500	7867	→
Lyttelton	CB	3,120	3,050	3,100	2,900	3,100	3,220	457	→
Mangawhai Heads	NL	750	770	950	1,330	2,100	2,740	699	→
Maraetai	AU	1,490	1,590	1,940	2,300	2,440	2,650	688	→
Marton	MW	5,660	5,100	5,010	4,920	5,340	5,680	1099	→
Masterton	WE	18,650	18,400	18,250	18,800	20,600	22,100	2245	→
Matamata	WA	6,130	6,390	6,580	7,550	8,250	9,390	959	→
Morrinsville	WA	6,110	6,420	6,830	7,370	8,110	9,280	1028	→
Mosgiel	OT	11,050	11,200	11,900	12,550	13,950	14,750	1728	→
Motueka	TS	6,250	6,530	6,810	7,300	8,260	8,400	1274	→
Napier	HB	54,900	55,200	56,800	59,600	64,200	66,200	10522	→
Nelson	NE	39,900	41,400	42,600	46,400	49,800	50,900	5484	→
New Plymouth	TA	47,700	46,700	48,400	52,100	56,100	60,000	7479	→
Ngāruawāhia	WA	5,800	5,580	5,800	6,030	7,300	8,230	1186	→
Ngongotahā	BP	4,220	4,230	4,190	4,450	5,030	5,240	1291	→
Oamaru	OT	13,000	12,350	12,250	12,600	13,400	14,050	2021	→
Ōhope (Ohope Beach)	BP	2,760	2,820	2,930	2,980	3,280	3,100	633	→
Ōmokoroa	BP	1,690	1,870	2,090	2,500	3,400	5,600	524	→
One Tree Point (Marsden Bay)	NL	980	920	1,010	1,610	2,320	3,050	307	→
Ōpōtiki	BP	4,650	4,550	4,530	4,220	5,010	4,880	860	→
Ōtaki	WE	3,890	3,980	3,900	4,290	4,760	5,160	1262	→
Ōtorohanga	WA	2,770	2,780	2,730	2,770	3,150	3,240	507	→
Oxford	CB	1,530	1,640	1,780	2,010	2,280	2,270	1182	→
Paeroa	WA	4,110	3,920	3,990	3,980	4,400	4,550	687	→
Pahiatua	MW	2,760	2,660	2,610	2,480	2,760	2,880	388	→
Palmerston North	MW	70,800	70,700	73,600	75,500	79,700	80,500	7705	→
Paraparaumu (Kapiti)	WE	20,400	23,000	25,900	27,700	29,500	29,800	2838	→
Pegasus	CB	30	20	20	1,080	2,770	4,050	634	→
Picton	MB	4,100	4,200	4,270	4,240	4,730	4,890	981	→
Pōkeno	WA	450	530	670	730	2,780	6,530	926	→
Porirua	WE	47,300	48,500	49,400	52,300	57,500	59,900	6125	→
Prebbleton	CB	970	1,050	2,080	2,910	4,680	5,600	530	→
Pukekohe	AU	13,000	14,800	17,800	21,400	24,900	28,500	3103	→
Putāruru	WA	4,380	4,040	4,000	4,110	4,450	4,560	681	→
Queenstown (incl. Lake Hayes Estate)	OT	8,130	9,430	12,350	15,100	22,400	27,600	8661	→
Raglan	WA	2,730	2,790	2,750	2,900	3,440	3,830	722	→
Rangiora	CB	10,150	11,250	12,550	15,750	18,450	19,300	1770	→
Renwick	MB	1,800	1,890	2,020	2,320	2,480	2,490	232	→
Richmond	TS	9,650	11,550	12,800	13,950	15,800	18,850	1755	→
Riverhead	AU	1,020	1,140	1,250	1,350	2,840	3,720	216	→
Rolleston	CB	1,560	2,830	5,220	10,050	18,400	30,300	2371	→
Rotorua	BP	50,300	50,300	51,300	51,300	56,500	57,400	4606	→
Ruakākā	NL	1,730	1,720	1,980	2,190	2,660	2,880	1559	→
Snells Beach	AU	2,360	2,700	2,810	3,050	3,540	3,790	383	→
Stratford	TA	5,810	5,390	5,510	5,640	6,020	6,420	890	→
Taumarunui	MW	5,970	5,270	5,160	4,660	4,850	4,950	1365	→
Taupō	WA	19,000	20,400	21,300	22,300	24,500	26,200	4209	→
Tauranga	BP	80,000	93,800	107,300	120,200	142,500	158,900	14215	→
Te Ānau	SL	1,870	1,970	2,000	2,070	2,670	2,850	666	→
Te Aroha	WA	3,940	3,810	3,890	4,160	4,650	4,770	1096	→
Te Awamutu	WA	9,980	9,880	10,650	11,350	12,950	13,750	1418	→
Te Kauwhata	WA	1,070	1,150	1,270	1,580	2,190	3,400	890	→
Te Kūiti	WA	4,790	4,580	4,620	4,470	4,750	4,760	840	→
Temuka	CB	4,240	4,250	4,340	4,400	4,600	4,700	834	→
Te Puke	BP	6,530	6,820	7,170	7,650	9,120	9,910	1213	→
Thames	WA	7,090	7,040	7,150	7,290	7,520	7,290	1702	→
Timaru	CB	27,000	26,600	26,700	27,200	28,300	29,100	3412	→
Tokoroa	WA	15,700	14,600	13,550	13,000	14,050	14,350	1565	→
Tuakau	WA	2,970	3,150	3,810	4,590	5,310	5,950	831	→
Tūrangi	WA	3,890	3,580	3,370	3,140	3,580	3,870	753	→
Upper Hutt	WE	36,000	35,700	37,400	38,800	42,600	44,200	5116	→
Waiheke West	AU	5,920	6,670	7,220	7,620	8,230	8,250	2458	→
Waihī	WA	4,960	4,760	4,730	4,880	5,580	5,810	955	→
Waihī Beach - Bowentown	BP	2,330	2,330	2,110	2,240	2,570	2,620	631	→
Waikanae	WE	8,620	9,540	10,450	10,900	12,350	13,300	1959	→
Waimate	CB	3,530	3,290	3,370	3,390	3,580	3,620	801	→
Waipukurau	HB	4,340	4,230	4,290	4,080	4,560	4,780	870	→
Wairoa	HB	5,230	4,640	4,440	4,320	4,730	4,740	757	→
Waitangi	CI	230	240	210	170	190	140	486	→
Waitara	TA	6,740	6,490	6,570	6,790	7,240	7,670	609	→
Waiuku	AU	6,060	6,750	7,750	8,750	9,610	9,820	787	→
Wakefield	TS	1,470	1,620	2,050	2,390	2,510	2,740	992	→
Wānaka	OT	2,600	3,450	5,280	6,820	10,250	12,600	2861	→
Warkworth	AU	2,680	3,070	3,570	4,460	5,820	6,880	1558	→
Wellington	WE	162,700	170,400	186,900	196,600	210,200	208,800	11285	→
West Melton	CB	170	220	230	700	2,090	2,470	299	→
Westport	WC	4,980	4,530	4,620	4,850	4,520	4,590	1168	→
Whakatāne	BP	14,500	14,850	15,200	15,000	16,400	16,900	2479	→
Whangamatā	WA	3,870	4,070	3,650	3,680	4,180	4,300	851	→
Whanganui (Wanganui)	MW	40,900	39,300	38,800	37,900	41,100	42,400	4105	→
Whangārei	NL	43,700	43,700	46,300	48,800	53,800	55,500	6353	→
Whitianga	WA	3,100	3,190	3,920	4,600	5,630	6,140	1739	→
Winton	SL	2,240	2,150	2,140	2,270	2,400	2,510	308	→
Woodend	CB	1,670	2,390	2,780	2,890	2,910	4,720	599	→

Urban areas in 2025 boundaries. Population estimates for 2023 are based on the results of the 2023 census.
Statistics New Zealand / Te Tari Tatau.