List of functional urban areas in New Zealand

This is a list of functional urban areas in New Zealand, as defined by Statistics New Zealand.

Under the Statistical Standard for Geographic Areas 2023 and Statistical Standard for Geographic Areas 2018, a functional urban area is an urban area, rural settlement or rural statistical area where there is a major, large, medium or small urban core with more than 5,000 residents. They may also have urban cores, satellite urban areas, rural settlements and rural hinterland areas where at least 40% of workers commute to the urban core or associated secondary urban core for work. Functional urban areas are based on linkages between where people live and where they work, shop, access healthcare, and take part in recreation activities.

As of 2026, there are 55 functional urban areas in New Zealand. The sections below lists these areas, and give their estimated populations as of .

Dargaville and Waiheke West were added as functional urban areas in 2026.

Metropolitan areas Auckland () – Auckland, Hibiscus Coast, Pukekohe, Beachlands-Pine Harbour, Clarks Beach, Helensville, Kumeu-Huapai, Maraetai, Muriwai, Parakai, Patumāhoe, Pōkeno, Riverhead, Tuakau, Waimauku, Waiuku Christchurch () – Christchurch, Kaiapoi, Rangiora, Rolleston, Diamond Harbour, Leeston, Lincoln, Lyttelton, Pegasus, Prebbleton, West Melton, Woodend Wellington () – Wellington, Lower Hutt, Porirua, Upper Hutt, Featherston, Greytown Hamilton () – Hamilton, Ngāruawāhia Tauranga () – Tauranga, Ōmokoroa Dunedin () – Dunedin, Mosgiel, Brighton, Waikouaiti

Large regional centres Palmerston North () – Palmerston North, Ashhurst Whangārei () – Whangārei, Hikurangi, Ngunguru, One Tree Point, Ruakākā Nelson () – Nelson, Richmond, Brightwater, Hope, Māpua, Wakefield New Plymouth () – New Plymouth, Inglewood, Ōakura, Waitara Hastings () – Hastings, Havelock North, Clive Rotorua () – Rotorua, Ngongotahā Napier () Invercargill () Kāpiti Coast () – Paraparaumu, Waikanae, Paekākāriki Whanganui () Gisborne ()

Medium regional centres Timaru () – Timaru, Pleasant Point, Temuka Masterton () – Masterton, Carterton Queenstown () – Queenstown, Arrowtown, Arthurs Point, Lake Hayes Blenheim () Taupō () - Taupo, Kinloch Levin () – Levin, Shannon Cambridge () Ashburton () Whakatāne () – Whakatāne, Ōhope Te Awamutu () – Te Awamutu, Kihikihi, Pirongia Feilding () Wānaka () – Wānaka, Lake Hāwea Oamaru () Tokoroa () Greymouth () – Greymouth, Runanga

Small regional centres (population 5000+) Warkworth () – Warkworth, Snells Beach Kerikeri () Kaitaia () Hāwera () Te Puke () Morrinsville () Gore () – Gore, Mataura Cromwell () Motueka () Matamata () Alexandra () – Alexandra, Clyde Thames () Huntly () Waiheke West (8,160) Ōtaki () – Ōtaki, Ōtaki Beach Kawerau () Stratford () Dannevirke () Katikati () Whitianga () Marton () Waihi () Dargaville (5,170)

See also Cities in New Zealand List of populated places in New Zealand List of statistical areas in New Zealand

References