<Tr> <Th> Population </Th> <Td> 3,596,200 (June 2016) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Pop . density </Th> <Td> 31.6 / km (81.8 / sq mi) </Td> </Tr> <P> The North Island or Te Ika - a-Māui (Māori) is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the slightly larger but much less populous South Island by Cook Strait . The island's area is 113,729 square kilometres (43,911 sq mi), making it the world's 14th - largest island . It has a population of 3,596,200 (June 2016). </P> <P> Twelve main urban areas (half of them officially cities) are in the North Island . From north to south, they are Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Napier, Hastings, Whanganui, Palmerston North, and Wellington, the capital, located at the south - west extremity of the island . About 77% of New Zealand's population lives in the North Island . </P>

Population of the north island of new zealand