Stewart Island, Rakiura, lies to the south of the South Island, te Wai Pounamu, and is separated from it by Foveaux Strait.
There are two main (principal) islands that form New Zealand. The North Island and the South Island. The North Island is home to such cities as Auckland and Rotorura and of course the capital Wellington. The South Island is home to such cities as Christchurch and Queenstown. The South Island is known for its adventure sports. Other well-known Islands are Stewart Island, Tiritiri Matangi and Rangitoto.
The second longest river in New Zealand is the Clutha in the South Island which is 322 km long. The Whanganui river (290 km, Nth Island) is third.
In 1840 the Islands of New Zealand were referred to as New Ulster (the North Island), New Munster (the South Island, also called the Middle Island then) and New Leinster (Stewart Island). In 1846 the name New Leinster was abandoned and Stewart Island was considered to be part of New Munster. These names only lasted until 1852 when New Zealand was further divided into a number of smaller provinces with more locally meaningful names.
New Zealand is made up of two main islands, the North Island, or Te Ika-a-Maui, and the South Island, or Te Waipounamu. Though larger than the North Island, the South Island is much less populous.
Te Wai Pounamu, the South Island.
te wai pounamu
Te Wai Pounamu or the South Island of New Zealand.
The North Island, te Ika a Maui; the South Island, te Wai Pounamu; and Stewart Island, Rakiura.
Stewart Island, Rakiura, lies to the south of the South Island, te Wai Pounamu, and is separated from it by Foveaux Strait.
Wai Pounamu
The strait between Te Wai Pounamu (South Island) and Rakiura (Stewart Island) is called Te Ara A Kiwa (Foveaux Strait).
The largest island in New Zealand is the South Island. This is why it is sometimes informally referred to as the Mainland. It has an area of approximately 151 200 km2 and is the 12th largest island in the world. It is also known as Te Wai Pounamu, Te Wahi Pounamu, and Te Waka a Maui. Approximately 25% of the population of New Zealand live in the South Island.
The South Island (known as Te Wai Pounamu or Te waka A Maui in Maori) is the name given to the largest of NZ's three main islands.
Pounamu are found in New Zealand. New Zealand is made up of two islands, the north and the south. Pounamu, or actually Te Wai Pounamu, is 'The South Island'. Green stones, also known as Jade, are found in New Zealand. The natives (Maori) people carved jade into weapons and necklaces called pounamu. The maori believed-and some still do-that Pounamu protects you from evil spirits, the more clear and pure (lighter) the pounamu (Jade stone) is, the more it will protect you.
Just the North Island, te Ika a Maui in Maori; and the South Island, te Wai Pounamu in Maori. Stewart Island, the third main island (but much smaller) is Rakiura in Maori.The Island names are..The North Island and the South Island
These rather unimaginative names are given to the two main islands of New Zealand (Aotearoa). There is a current proposal to replace them with Te ika a Maui for the North Island, and Te Wai Pounamu for the South Island. The original Maori names for these territories.