Urban areas of New Zealand

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 they constitute New Zealand's urban population, which makes up % of New Zealand's total population, as of .

The current standard for urban areas is the Statistical Standard for Geographic Areas 2023 (SSGA23), an update of SSGA18, which had replaced the New Zealand Standard Areas Classification 1992 (NZSAC92) in 2018. There are four classes of urban area under SSGA23 and SSGA18 – major, large, medium and small. Each urban area consists of one or more level-2 statistical areas (SA2s). Urban areas under SSGA18 do not cross territorial authority boundaries, with one exception (Richmond, which lies in the Tasman District but includes the Daelyn SA2 area from neighbouring Nelson City).

Under SSGA18, details of the four classes were: Major urban areas have a population of 100,000 or more. There are seven of them, with a combined population of (% of the total population). Large urban areas have a population of 30,000 to 99,999. There are 13 of them, with a combined population of (% of the total population). Medium urban areas have a population of 10,000 to 29,999. There are 23 of them, with a combined population of (% of the total population). Small urban areas have a population of 1,000 to 9,999. There are 152 of them, with a combined population of (% of the total population).

Statistics New Zealand also defines rural settlements with a population of 200 to 999 people or at least 40 dwellings. 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. There are 402 rural settlements which combined have a population of (% of the total population).

While SSGA23 is similar to SSGA18, it added a new geographical area (SA3), upgraded Wānaka to a medium urban area, upgraded seven rural settlements to small urban areas, and created thirteen new rural settlements.

Statistical Standard for Geographic Areas 2018 The following shows the urban areas as classified under SSGA18 (adjusted according to SSGA23 update).

Major urban areas Auckland () Hamilton () Tauranga () Lower Hutt () Wellington () Christchurch () Dunedin ()

Large urban areas Whangārei () Hibiscus Coast () Rotorua () Gisborne () Hastings () Napier () New Plymouth () Whanganui () Palmerston North () Porirua () Upper Hutt () Nelson () Invercargill ()

Medium urban areas

Pukekohe () Cambridge () Te Awamutu () Tokoroa () Taupō () Whakatāne () Havelock North () Feilding () Levin () Waikanae () Paraparaumu () Masterton () Richmond () Blenheim () Rangiora () Kaiapoi () Rolleston () Ashburton () Timaru () Oamaru () Wānaka () Queenstown () Mosgiel ()

Small urban areas

Ahipara () Kaitaia () Kerikeri () Kaikohe () Haruru () Paihia () Opua () Moerewa () Kawakawa () Hikurangi () Ngunguru () One Tree Point () Ruakākā () Waipu () Dargaville () Mangawhai Heads () Mangawhai () Wellsford () Warkworth () Parakai () Snells Beach () Helensville () Waimauku () Muriwai () Kumeū-Huapai () Riverhead () Waiheke West () Clarks Beach () Beachlands-Pine Harbour () Maraetai () Waiuku () Patumāhoe () Coromandel () Whitianga () Thames () Tairua () Pauanui () Whangamatā () Ngatea () Paeroa () Waihi () Tuakau () Pōkeno () Te Kauwhata () Huntly () Raglan () Ngāruawāhia () Morrinsville () Te Aroha () Matamata () Pirongia () Kihikihi () Ōtorohanga () Putāruru () Te Kūiti () Kinloch () Tūrangi () Waihi Beach-Bowentown () Katikati () Ōmokoroa () Te Puke () Maketu () Ngongotahā () Edgecumbe () Ōhope () Murupara () Kawerau () Ōpōtiki () Wairoa () Clive () Haumoana () Waipawa () Waipukurau () Ōakura () Waitara () Inglewood () Stratford () Ōpunake () Eltham () Normanby () Hāwera () Pātea () Taumarunui () Raetihi () Ohakune () Taihape () Marton () Bulls () Ashhurst () Woodville () Dannevirke () Pahiatua () Foxton Beach () Foxton () Shannon () Ōtaki Beach () Ōtaki () Paekākāriki () Carterton () Featherston () Greytown () Martinborough () Tākaka () Motueka () Māpua () Wakefield () Brightwater () Hope () Picton () Renwick () Kaikōura () Westport () Reefton () Runanga () Greymouth () Hokitika () Hanmer Springs () Amberley () Oxford () Waikuku Beach () Woodend () Pegasus () Lyttelton () Diamond Harbour () Darfield () West Melton () Burnham Camp () Prebbleton () Leeston () Lincoln () Methven () Rakaia () Geraldine () Pleasant Point () Temuka () Twizel () Waimate () Cromwell () Clyde () Alexandra () Lake Hāwea () Arrowtown () Waikouaiti () Brighton () Balclutha () Milton () Te Anau () Winton () Riverton / Aparima () Gore () Mataura () Bluff ()

Rural settlements North Island

Pukenui () Kaimaumau () Tokerau Beach () Karikari () Awanui () Taipa () Cable Bay () Coopers Beach () Hihi () Mangōnui () Whangaroa () Kaeo () Kohukohu () Rawene () Opononi () Ōmāpere () Ōkaihau () Waipapa () Rangitane () Kerikeri Inlet () Ōhaeawai () Ngawha Springs () Waitangi, Northland () Russell () Okiato () Oakura-Whangaruru South () Maungatapere () Matapouri () Tutukaka () Pataua () Parua Bay () Whangārei Heads () Waipu Cove-Langs Beach () Baylys Beach () Te Kōpuru () Ruawai () Paparoa () Pahi () Maungaturoto () Kaiwaka () Port Albert () Te Hana () Kaipara Flats () Shelly Beach () Matakana () Whangateau () Point Wells () Leigh () Ti Point () Rainbows End () Ōmaha () Sandspit () Baddeleys Beach-Campbells Beach () Kaukapakapa () Puhoi () Scotts Landing-Mahurangi East () Algies Bay () Mahurangi West () Waiwera () Kawau Island () Stillwater () Te Henga / Bethells Beach () Ōkura () Pāremoremo () Piha () Karekare () Huia () Parau () Medlands Beach () Tryphena () Big Bay-Grahams Beach () Matakawau Point () Ōmiha () Glenbrook Beach () Waiau Pa () Kingseat () Clevedon, New Zealand () Paerata () Kawakawa Bay () Ōrere Point () Bombay () Whangapoua () Matarangi () Rings Beach () Kūaotunu () Tapu () Cooks Beach-Ferry Landing () Waiomu () Te Puru () Thornton Bay-Ngarimu Bay () Hahei () Puriri () Onemana () Kaiaua () Turua () Kerepehi () Karangahake () Whiritoa () Waikino () Port Waikato () Meremere () Taupiri () Horotiu () Te Kowhai () Whatawhata () Waitoa () Waihou () Waharoa () Ngāhinapōuri () Rukuhia () Ōhaupō () Karapiro Village () Kawhia () Tīrau () Arapuni () Taharoa () Mōkau () Piopio () Maniaiti/Benneydale () Mangakino () Whakamaru () Ātiamuri () Kuratau () Wairakei Village () Ōmori () Motuoapa () Oruatua-Te Rangiita-Waitetoko () Five Mile Bay-Waitahanui () Athenree () Tanners Point () Ongare Point-Kauri Point () Fairview () Plummers Point () Te Puna West () Paengaroa () Pukehina Beach () Mamaku () Hamurana () Okere Falls () Mourea () Tikitere () Rotoiti () Lake Ōkareka () Lake Tarawera () Rotoma () Kaingaroa () Matatā () Te Teko () Tāneatua () Ōhiwa () Te Kaha () Hicks Bay () Te Araroa () Ruatoria () Te Karaka () Tokomaru Bay () Pātūtahi () Manutūkē () Tolaga Bay () Tuai () Frasertown () Nūhaka () Mahia Beach () Whirinaki () Whakatu () Te Awanga () Waimārama () Tikokino () Ongaonga () Takapau () Ōtāne () Pōrangahau () Ōkato () Lepperton () Egmont Village () Onaero Beach () Urenui () Midhirst () Kaponga () Manaia () Ohawe () Waverley () Waitōtara () Waiinu Beach () Ōhura () Ōwhango () Raurimu () National Park () Rangataua () Waiouru () Kai Iwi () Rātana Pā () Koitiata () Hunterville () Mangaweka () Tangimoana () Ohakea () Halcombe () Sanson () Himatangi Beach () Rongotea () Kimbolton () Pohangina () Hiwinui () Bunnythorpe () Longburn () Norsewood () Ormondville () Eketāhuna () Pongaroa () Waitarere Beach () Hokio Beach () Waikawa Beach () Ōhau () Tokomaru () Manakau () Mangaore () Te Horo Beach () Castlepoint () Matauri Bay () Maungakaramea () Buckleton Beach () Okupu () Weiti Village () Waitakere Village () Orua Bay () Orapiu () Whitford () Hunua () Tahuna () Marokopa () Pukawa () Whareroa Village () Hatepe () Minginui () Waiotahe () Omahu () Waiohiki () Riversdale Beach ()

South Island

Collingwood () Parapara () Ligar Bay () Pohara () Marahau () Kaiteriteri () Riwaka () Tasman () Tapawera () Ruby Bay () Murchison () St Arnaud () Okiwi Bay () Rai Valley () Havelock () Anakiwa () Wairau Valley () Ngākuta Bay () Tuamarina () Woodbourne () Spring Creek () Marlborough Ridge () Rarangi () Grovetown () Seddon () Ward () Karamea () Carters Beach () Ngakawau () Granity () Waimangaroa () Blackball () Dobson () Ahaura () Moana () Gloriavale () Haast () Kaniere () Ross () Kumara () Fox Glacier () Franz Josef () Harihari () Rotherham () Culverden () Hawarden () Waiau () Waikari () Waipara () Leithfield () Amberley Beach () Cheviot () Leithfield Beach () Cust () Ashley () Sefton () Waikuku () Woodend Beach () The Pines Beach () Spencerville () Governors Bay () Birdling's Flat () Little River () Duvauchelle () Takamatua () Akaroa () Arthur's Pass () Castle Hill () Springfield () Malvern Hills-Whitecliffs () Sheffield and Waddington () Glentunnel () Coalgate () Hororata () Kirwee () Dunsandel () Springston () Doyleston () Southbridge () Selwyn Huts () Tai Tapu () Mount Somers () Hinds () Lake Hood () Woodbury () Cave () Orari () Winchester () Waipopo () Milford Huts () Pareora () Mount Cook Village () Tekapo () Fairlie () St Andrews () Makikihi () Glenavy () Omarama () Otematata () Kurow () Duntroon () Maheno () Herbert () Kakanui () Hampden () Moeraki () Palmerston () Pisa Moorings () Bannockburn () Omakau () Lake Roxburgh Village () Roxburgh () Naseby () Ranfurly () Ettrick () Millers Flat () Glenorchy () Millbrook () Hāwea Flat () Luggate () Kingston () Middlemarch () Outram () Karitane () Allanton () Warrington () Waitati-Doctors Point () Pūrākaunui () Aramoana () Harwood () Ōtākou-Harington Point () Tapanui () Lawrence () Clinton () Waihola () Benhar () Stirling () Kaitangata () Taieri Mouth () Owaka () Kaka Point () Pounawea () Manapouri () Mossburn () Ohai () Tuatapere () Nightcaps () Lumsden () Otautau () Balfour () Waikaia () Riversdale () Wallacetown () Woodlands () Edendale () Wyndham () Kennington () Gore Bay () Motunau Beach () Fernside () Kainga ()

Offshore islands Oban, Stewart Island (320) Waitangi, Chatham Islands (210)

New Zealand Standard Areas Classification 1992 Under the New Zealand Standard Areas Classification 1992 (NZSAC92), 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 29,999. Minor urban areas make up the remainder of the urban population of the country, towns with 1,000 to 9,999 people. There are 103 minor urban areas.

Main urban areas The population figures shown are Statistics New Zealand's resident population estimates at For rankings in various criteria see the ranked list of New Zealand urban areas by population. Four main urban areas are subdivided into urban zones. The following cities are listed by location from north to south.

North Island

Whangārei (): from Hikurangi to Portland. Auckland () is divided into four urban zones: Northern Auckland Urban Zone (): 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 (): the part of Rodney District around Kumeū the urban part of West Auckland Central Auckland Urban Zone (): Auckland isthmus, including the Auckland CBD and inner suburbs Southern Auckland Urban Zone (): the urban part of Manukau City