The names of New Zealand's regions are of either English or Maori origin. In some cases, they are duplicated in both languages, which are considered official languages here. There are 17 regions in total in New Zealand, nine of which are on the North Island and seven on the South Island. One district belongs to the Chatham Archipelago, which is located as far as 680 kilometers southeast of the main islands. Chatham Island has the status of a special territorial unit.
The largest after the two main islands is Stewart Island, or Rakiura. It lies 30 kilometers south of South Island and is separated from it by the Foveaux Strait.
Regions of the North Island of New Zealand
Northland is an area inhabited by Maori tribes. The administrative center is the city of Fangarei. The region is bounded by the Tasman Sea to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east. The landscape is hilly.
Auckland is the most densely populated area of the country, and the most economically developed. The district's capital, Auckland, is visited for shopping.
Waikato is the largest city here, Hamilton. It is home to the largest lake, Lake Taupo. It is the source of New Zealand's longest river, the Waikato.
Bay of Plenty - the region is located on the shores of the picturesque Bay of Plenty. Tourism is concentrated in the towns of Tauranga, Rotorua, and Whakatane.
Gisborne - What makes this region special is that more than half of the population is Māori. The region is considered one of the best wine producers in the country. The town is home to a commercial port.
Taranaki - The largest town here is New Plymouth, and the region is also home to a volcano with the same name as the region. The Taranaki volcano is reminiscent of Mount Fuji in Japan.
Manawatu-Wanganui is a large region in the south of the North Island. Its capital is the city of Wanganui. It is hilly and flat and has some fairly large rivers.
Hawke's Bay is a major producer of world-famous New Zealand wines. The regional administration is based in the region's two main towns of Napier and Hastings.
Wellington is located in the far south of the North Island. It is home to the state capital, the city of Wellington.
Marlborough - due to its particularly soft climate, is one of the country's main wine-growing regions. The capital of the region is the town of Blenheim.
Nelson is a town and at the same time the smallest region by area in the north of the South Island.
Tasman is a region of interest to tourists. It is located on the shores of Tasman Bay. The western shore of the bay is relief, covered with dense forest. The western point of the bay, Cape Separaishen, is located within the Abel Tasman National Park. It separates Tasman Bay from neighboring Golden Bay. The eastern shore of the bay is steep and rocky. At the northeastern end of Tasman Bay is D'Urville Island.
Canterbury is the largest region of New Zealand by area. Its eastern coastline is washed by the Pacific Ocean, with the Southern Alps mountain range stretching to the west. The capital of the region is the town of Christchurch.
West Coast is the largest town here, Greymouth, and the region is known for its natural feature, the bush, a virtually undeveloped area of bushland with a distinctive fauna.
Otago - The largest city here is Dunedin, home to the country's oldest university, the University of Otago.
Southland is the country's most sparsely populated region. Its capital is the city of Invercargill. The region is bounded by the Tasman Sea to the west, the Pacific Ocean to the east, and the Southern Ocean to the south. The region also includes Stewart Island.
The central regions of each island in New Zealand have many pristine landscapes and are carefully maintained by the locals. All of the above cities in the New Zealand regions can be a good departure point and place to stay.
