South Island

South Island

One of the two main New Zealand islands

The South Island is the larger of the two main islands of New Zealand by surface area, the other being the smaller but more populous North Island. With a population of 1,256,700 as of June 2025, the South Island is home to 24% of New Zealand's 5.3 million inhabitants. The most populous cities are Christchurch, Dunedin, Nelson and Invercargill.

Also known as...The Mainland, Southern Island, and Te Waipounamu