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] As of June 2018, the urban population made up 87.2% of New Zealand's total population.
The current standard for urban areas is the Statistical Standard for Geographic Areas 2018 (SSGA18), which replace the earlier NZSAC92 standard in 2018.[2]
There are four classes of urban area under SSGA18:
- Major urban areas, with a population of 100,000 or more. There are seven major urban areas.
- Large urban areas, with a population of 30,000 to 99,999. There are 13 large urban areas.
- Medium urban areas, with a population of 10,000 to 29,999. There are 22 medium urban areas.
- Small urban areas, with a population of 1,000 to 9,999. There are 136 small urban areas.
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).
Statistics New Zealand also defines rural settlements with a population of 300 to 999 people.[3][4] 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.
Statistical Standard for Geographic Areas 2018
The following shows the urban areas as classified under SSGA18.[5]
Major urban areas
- Auckland (1,531,400)
- Hamilton (192,000)
- Tauranga (162,800)
- Lower Hutt (114,500)
- Wellington (214,200)
- Christchurch (403,300)
- Dunedin (106,700)
Large urban areas
- Whangārei (56,800)
- Hibiscus Coast (67,800)
- Rotorua (58,800)
- Gisborne (38,800)
- Hastings (52,200)
- Napier (67,500)
- New Plymouth (60,100)
- Whanganui (42,500)
- Palmerston North (83,100)
- Porirua (60,600)
- Upper Hutt (45,000)
- Nelson (51,300)
- Invercargill (51,700)
Medium urban areas
- Pukekohe (28,000)
- Cambridge (22,500)
- Te Awamutu (14,150)
- Tokoroa (14,650)
- Taupō (27,000)
- Whakatāne (16,650)
- Havelock North (14,900)
- Feilding (18,250)
- Levin (20,100)
- Waikanae (13,150)
- Paraparaumu (30,300)
- Masterton (23,200)
- Richmond (19,750)
- Blenheim (30,600)
- Rangiora (19,400)
- Kaiapoi (13,700)
- Rolleston (31,600)
- Ashburton (21,700)
- Timaru (29,600)
- Oamaru (14,350)
- Queenstown (27,700)
- Mosgiel (15,150)
Small urban areas
- Kaitaia (6,380)
- Kerikeri (8,360)
- Kaikohe (4,890)
- Haruru (1,230)
- Paihia (1,690)
- Opua (1,290)
- Moerewa (2,100)
- Kawakawa (1,630)
- Hikurangi (1,800)
- Ngunguru (1,240)
- One Tree Point (3,390)
- Ruakākā (2,990)
- Waipu (1,350)
- Dargaville (5,230)
- Mangawhai Heads (2,850)
- Wellsford (2,240)
- Warkworth (6,730)
- Snells Beach (3,750)
- Parakai (1,150)
- Helensville (3,420)
- Waimauku (1,320)
- Muriwai (1,330)
- Kumeū-Huapai (7,330)
- Riverhead (3,700)
- Waiheke West (8,020)
- Clarks Beach (1,560)
- Beachlands-Pine Harbour (8,340)
- Maraetai (2,770)
- Waiuku (9,930)
- Patumahoe Village ()
- Coromandel (1,870)
- Whitianga (6,540)
- Thames (7,440)
- Tairua (1,610)
- Pauanui (1,170)
- Whangamatā (4,420)
- Ngatea (1,640)
- Paeroa (4,740)
- Waihi (6,020)
- Tuakau (6,180)
- Pōkeno (6,860)
- Te Kauwhata (3,440)
- Huntly (8,850)
- Raglan (4,040)
- Ngāruawāhia (8,540)
- Morrinsville (9,710)
- Te Aroha (4,700)
- Matamata (9,610)
- Pirongia (1,420)
- Kihikihi (3,620)
- Otorohanga (3,360)
- Putāruru (4,670)
- Te Kuiti (4,890)
- Turangi (3,840)
- Waihi Beach-Bowentown (2,860)
- Katikati (5,920)
- Omokoroa (5,450)
- Te Puke (10,500)
- Ngongotahā (5,180)
- Edgecumbe (1,750)
- Ōhope (3,250)
- Murupara (2,040)
- Kawerau (7,610)
- Ōpōtiki (5,180)
- Wairoa (4,940)
- Clive (2,120)
- Waipawa (2,540)
- Waipukurau (4,850)
- Oakura (1,720)
- Waitara (7,680)
- Inglewood (3,960)
- Stratford (6,510)
- Ōpunake (1,490)
- Eltham (2,140)
- Hāwera (10,550)
- Patea (1,290)
- Taumarunui (4,950)
- Raetihi (1,130)
- Ohakune (1,570)
- Taihape (1,810)
- Marton (5,740)
- Bulls (2,380)
- Ashhurst (3,440)
- Woodville (1,680)
- Dannevirke (5,680)
- Pahiatua (2,860)
- Foxton Beach (2,150)
- Foxton (3,350)
- Shannon (1,610)
- Ōtaki Beach (2,120)
- Ōtaki (5,270)
- Paekākāriki (1,800)
- Carterton (5,980)
- Featherston (2,760)
- Greytown (2,940)
- Martinborough (2,050)
- Tākaka (1,420)
- Motueka (8,300)
- Mapua (1,710)
- Wakefield (2,680)
- Brightwater (2,390)
- Hope (900)
- Picton (4,890)
- Renwick (2,650)
- Kaikōura (2,470)
- Westport (4,680)
- Reefton (980)
- Runanga (1,270)
- Greymouth (8,640)
- Hokitika (3,250)
- Amberley (2,770)
- Oxford (2,350)
- Woodend (5,140)
- Pegasus (4,160)
- Lyttelton (3,310)
- Diamond Harbour (1,720)
- Darfield (3,400)
- West Melton (2,710)
- Prebbleton (5,690)
- Leeston (2,530)
- Lincoln (11,600)
- Methven (2,080)
- Rakaia (1,730)
- Geraldine (3,120)
- Pleasant Point (1,520)
- Temuka (4,840)
- Twizel (1,890)
- Waimate (3,740)
- Cromwell (7,440)
- Clyde (1,290)
- Alexandra (6,150)
- Arthurs Point ()
- Wanaka (13,600)
- Lake Hāwea (2,190)
- Arrowtown (2,930)
- Lake Hayes ()
- Waikouaiti (1,330)
- Brighton (1,580)
- Balclutha (4,430)
- Milton (2,270)
- Te Anau (3,210)
- Winton (2,550)
- Riverton (1,680)
- Gore (8,290)
- Mataura (1,770)
- Bluff (1,840)
New Zealand Standard Areas Classification 1992 (NZSAC92)
Under the New Zealand Standard Areas Classification 1992 (NZSAC92), there are three classes of urban area:[6][3]
- 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.
Description of main urban areas
The population figures shown are Statistics New Zealand's resident population estimates at the June 2018.[7] 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
- Whangārei (58,700): from Hikurangi to Portland.
- Auckland (1,570,100) is divided into four urban zones:
- Northern Auckland Urban Zone (323,500):
- 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 (242,300):
- the part of Rodney District around Kumeū
- the urban part of Waitakere City
- Central Auckland Urban Zone (525,900): Auckland City, excluding the Hauraki Gulf islands
- Southern Auckland Urban Zone (478,400):
- the urban part of Manukau City
- Papakura District
- Whangapouri Creek and Runciman in Franklin District
- Northern Auckland Urban Zone (323,500):
- Hamilton (241,200) is divided into three urban zones:
- Hamilton Urban Zone (203,100): all of Hamilton City and neighbouring parts of Waikato and Waipa districts including Ngāruawāhia, Taupiri and Ohaupo
- Cambridge Urban Zone (20,600): includes Leamington
- Te Awamutu Urban Zone (17,500): includes Kihikihi
- Tauranga (141,600): Omokoroa to Papamoa Beach; and Mount Maunganui to Tauriko and Pyes Pa
- Rotorua (59,500): Ngongotahā to Owhata
- Gisborne (37,200): Makaraka to Okitu
- Napier-Hastings (134,500) is a conurbation of two urban zones:
- New Plymouth (58,300): Oakura to Bell Block
- Wanganui (40,900): Westmere to Marybank
- Palmerston North (86,600): Including Longburn, Kairanga and Stony Creek, but excluding Ashhurst and rural areas in the Tararua foothills
- Kapiti (42,700): Pekapeka to Paekākāriki
- Wellington (418,500) is divided into four urban zones:
- Upper Hutt (41,200): Te Marua to Pinehaven
- Lower Hutt (105,200): includes Wainuiomata, Petone and the eastern bays, excludes farmland adjacent to Wainuiomata
- Porirua (56,700): all of Porirua City except Paekākāriki Hill and Mana Island; includes Pukerua Bay and Pauatahanui
- Wellington City (215,400): from Linden south, includes Horokiwi but excludes Mākara and Ohariu
South Island
- Nelson (67,500): from Glenduan to the Wairoa River, includes Richmond but excludes Whangamoa
- Blenheim (31,600): From Renwick to Riverlands and south to Wither Hills
- Christchurch (404,500): Christchurch City, Kaiapoi, and up to the Waimakariri River, Prebbleton, Tai Tapu and Lyttelton Harbour including Diamond Harbour
- Dunedin (122,000): from Mosgiel and Brighton to Pine Hill, Ravensbourne to Aramoana
- Invercargill (51,200): Makarewa to Woodend and west to Otatara
Description of secondary urban areas
The population figures shown are Statistics New Zealand's resident population estimates at the June 2018.[7] The following towns are listed by location from north to south.
North Island
- Pukekohe (31,400): From Paerata to Tuakau. Excludes Bombay.
- Whakatāne (19,750): From Coastlands to Ōhope and south to Poroporo.
- Tokoroa (14,050): From Tokoroa to Kinleith.
- Taupō (24,700): From Wairakei to Taupō Airport.
- Hāwera (12,150): From Normanby to Mokoia.
- Feilding (16,850): From Halcombe to Aorangi.
- Levin (21,200): From Waitarere Beach to Ohau.
- Masterton (22,200): From Opaki to Waingawa.
South Island
- Greymouth (9,700): From Runanga to Southbeach and Camerons.
- Rangiora (18,300): From the Ashley River to Flaxton
- Ashburton (20,200): From Fairton to Winslow and Argyle Park.
- Timaru (29,100): From Washdyke to Scarborough and west to Gleniti.
- Queenstown (15,850): From Fernhill and Kelvin Heights to Frankton
- Oamaru (13,950): From Pukeuri to Weston and Holmes Hill.
Minor urban areas
North Island
- Taipa Bay-Mangonui (2,050)
- Kaitaia (5,860)
- Kerikeri (7,520)
- Paihia (2,010)
- Kawakawa (1,520)
- Moerewa (1,680)
- Kaikohe (4,560)
- Dargaville (5,180)
- Ngunguru (1,810)
- Mangawhai Heads (1,530)
- Wellsford (2,100)
- Warkworth (4,890)
- Snells Beach (5,040)
- Helensville (3,150)
- Waiheke Island (9,770)
- Waiuku (9,780)
- Coromandel (1,750)
- Whitianga (5,080)
- Tairua (1,430)
- Thames (7,350)
- Whangamatā (3,960)
- Ngatea (1,420)
- Paeroa (4,410)
- Waihi (5,150)
- Te Kauwhata (1,820)
- Huntly (8,150)
- Raglan (3,310)
- Otorohanga (2,750)
- Te Kuiti (4,640)
- Te Aroha (4,350)
- Morrinsville (7,870)
- Matamata (7,920)
- Putaruru (4,100)
- Turangi (3,320)
- Waihi Beach (2,220)
- Katikati Community (4,710)
- Te Puke Community (8,350)
- Edgecumbe (1,780)
- Kawerau (7,080)
- Murupara (1,780)
- Ōpōtiki (4,320)
- Wairoa (4,290)
- Waipawa (2,160)
- Waipukurau (4,220)
- Waitara (7,040)
- Inglewood (3,630)
- Stratford (5,740)
- Eltham (2,070)
- Opunake (1,360)
- Patea (1,160)
- Taumarunui (4,720)
- Ohakune (1,160)
- Raetihi (1,140)
- Waiouru (930)
- Taihape (1,730)
- Marton (4,950)
- Bulls (1,770)
- Dannevirke (5,360)
- Woodville (1,500)
- Pahiatua (2,570)
- Foxton Community (4,720)
- Shannon (1,390)
- Ōtaki (6,410)
- Carterton (5,320)
- Greytown (2,380)
- Featherston (2,480)
- Martinborough (1,680)
South Island
- Tākaka (1,330)
- Motueka (8,450)
- Mapua (2,270)
- Brightwater (2,040)
- Wakefield (2,360)
- Picton (4,350)
- Westport (3,960)
- Reefton (990)
- Hokitika (3,590)
- Kaikōura (2,150)
- Amberley (1,790)
- Oxford (2,170)
- Woodend (3,110)
- Darfield (2,230)
- Rolleston (16,250)
- Lincoln (6,100)
- Leeston (1,870)
- Methven (1,880)
- Rakaia (1,240)
- Geraldine (2,500)
- Temuka (4,370)
- Pleasant Point (1,390)
- Twizel Community (1,280)
- Waimate (2,890)
- Wanaka (8,890)
- Arrowtown (2,950)
- Cromwell (5,160)
- Alexandra (5,510)
- Waikouaiti (1,170)
- Milton (1,950)
- Balclutha (3,990)
- Te Anau (2,140)
- Gore (9,910)
- Winton (2,370)
- Riverton (1,490)
- Bluff (1,870)
Changes to classification
- 1992
Original classification
- 1996
No change
- 2001
- Kapiti promoted from secondary to main urban area
- Rolleston added as minor urban area
- Pauanui Beach dropped to rural centre
- 2006
- Edgecumbe Community renamed Edgecumbe
- 2013
- Blenheim promoted from secondary to main urban area
- Rangiora and Queenstown promoted from minor to secondary urban areas
- Gore demoted from secondary to minor urban area
- Ngunguru, Mangawhai Heads, Te Kauwhata, Ngatea, Mapua, Amberley, Methven, Rakaia and Waikouaiti added as minor urban areas
- Russell, Mangakino, Manaia and Hanmer Springs dropped to rural centres
Related lists
- List of New Zealand urban areas by population – a simplified ranked list
- List of towns in New Zealand
- List of cities in New Zealand
References
- ^ a b "Urban area". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
- ^ "Statistical standard for geographic areas 2018". archive.stats.govt.nz. Statistics New Zealand. 7 December 2017.
- ^ a b "Geographic definitions". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
- ^ "Defining urban and rural New Zealand". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
- ^ "Ariā SNZ". aria.stats.govt.nz.
- ^ "Subnational Population Estimates Geographic Areas". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
- ^ a b "Subnational Population Estimates: At 30 June 2019". Statistics New Zealand. 22 October 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2020. For urban areas, "Subnational population estimates (UA, AU), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996, 2001, 2006–18 (2017 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. 23 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.