New Zealands Main Cities

New Zealand is a country full of history and beauty, with history even as it seems within the controversy of what a city actually was. Before 1989 the term city took on two meanings. Before this time a borough council with any more then 20,000 people was considered a city. However after 1989 the government decided on a new system where city councils where bought in aswell as districts, this has made the system alot easier.

There was also some controversy from 1852 and 1876 due to no formal documentation showing which of the cities Nelson, Christchurch or Otago was considered New Zealands first city. After this in 1876 when the Municipal Corporations Act was developed and contained the schedule of cities with dates each was constituted, it was found that Dunedin was to be New Zealands oldest or first city.

New Zealand is split into two islands each with its many big and interesting cities, however Wellington was to become the capital situation on New Zealands North Island.
Wellington has a population of only 381,900 people on an are of only 444 square kilometers. Wellington may be the capital but it is certainly not the biggest.

The largest cities run in this order: Auckland as number one also on the North Island with a population of 1,313,200 people on an area of 1,086 square kilometers, second is Christchurch on the South Island with a population of 382,200 people and an area of 608 square kilometers and then coming in third is the capital city of Wellington. They are followed by Hamilton, Tauranga, Dunedin, Parlmerston North, Hastings, Nelson and Napier as the top ten largest cities in New Zealand.

There are many cities to visit in New Zealand though all with their own individual beauty and interesting qualities.

On the North Island there is Auckland, Whangarei, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Tauranga, Rotorua, Gisborne, Napier, Hastings, Wanganui, Palmerston North and of course Wellington.

On the South Island there is Nelson, Christchurch, Timaru, Dunedin and Invercargill.

Of course these are only the major cities, there is so much more to see in New Zealand. What a fantastic place for a visit.