New Zealand is the Pacific archipelago whose two principal islands are the North Island and the South Island. Together, they contain most of the country’s population, infrastructure, and well-known landscapes.
The South Island is the larger of the two, while the North Island is more populous. They are separated by Cook Strait, whose narrowest crossing is about 23 kilometres. Wellington, New Zealand’s capital, sits at the southwestern tip of the North Island, while Christchurch and Dunedin are major South Island cities.
The wording “two main islands” is important: New Zealand is not literally made up of only two islands. It includes hundreds of islands, among them Stewart Island, the Chatham Islands, Great Barrier Island, and Waiheke Island. North and South are simply the dominant and best-known members of the archipelago.
The islands also differ geologically. The South Island is dominated by the Southern Alps and extensive glaciers, while the North Island contains a major volcanic plateau and many geothermal areas. In Māori, the islands have traditional names: Te Ika-a-Māui for the North Island and Te Waipounamu for the South Island.