North Island

The North Island, also officially named Te Ika-a-Māui, is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but much less populous South Island by the Cook Strait. The island's area is 113,729 square kilometres, making it the world's 14th-largest island. It has a population of 3,896,200, accounting for approximately 77% of the total residents of New Zealand. Twelve main urban areas are in the North Island. From north to south, they are Whangārei, Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Napier, Hastings, Whanganui, Palmerston North, and New Zealand's capital city Wellington, which is located at the south-west tip of the island.

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Solving a Tectonic Puzzle: Explaining “Silent Earthquakes” Along New Zealand’s North Island

New study helps explain 'silent earthquakes' along New Zealand's North Island