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New Zealand - North Island |
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The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, the other being the South Island. The island is 113,729 square km in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island. It has a population of 3,148,400. Several important cities are in the North Island, notably New Zealand's largest city, Auckland, and Wellington, the capital, located at the northern extremity of the island. Approximately 76% of New Zealand's population lives in the North Island. |
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According to Maori mythology, the North and South Islands of New Zealand arose through the actions of the demigod Ma-ui. Ma-ui and his brothers were fishing from their canoe (the north Island) when he caught a great fish and pulled it from the sea. While he was not looking his brothers fought over the fish and chopped it up. This great fish became the North Island and thus the Maori name for the North Island is Te Ika-a-Ma-ui (The Fish of Ma-ui). The mountains and valleys are said to have been formed as a result of Ma-ui's brothers' hacking at the fish. | ||
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