Urban areas of New Zealand

Statistics New Zealand defines urban areas of New Zealand for statistical purposes (they have no administrative or legal basis).[1] 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.[1] At the 2001 census, the urban population made up 86% of New Zealand's total population.

There are three classes of urban area:[1]

Statistics New Zealand also defines rural centres with a population of 300 to 999 people.[2] 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.[1]

Description of main urban areas

The population figures shown are Statistics New Zealand's resident population estimates at the June 2014 estimate.[3] 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

Auckland's skyline
Wellington City

South Island

Description of secondary urban areas

The population figures shown are Statistics New Zealand's resident population estimates at the June 2014 estimate.[3] The following towns are listed by location from north to south.

North Island

South Island

Minor urban areas

North Island

South Island

Changes to classification

1992

Original classification

1996

No change

2001
2006
2013

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Urban area: Definition". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Defining urban and rural New Zealand". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Subnational Population Estimates: At 30 June 2014 (provisional)". Statistics New Zealand. 22 October 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014. Also "Infoshare; Group: Population Estimates - DPE; Table: Estimated Resident Population for Urban Areas, at 30 June (1996+) (Annual-Jun)". Statistics New Zealand. 22 October 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.