Auckland's population compared with the rest of NZ in stunning new map

More than one-in-three New Zealanders now call Auckland home.
More than one-in-three New Zealanders now call Auckland home. Photo credit: Infometrics / Getty

More than one-in-three New Zealanders now call Auckland home, and that's been illustrated in a striking new map of the city.

It divides the city into areas that contain the same population as the next 12 biggest Kiwi cities - Hamilton, Napier, Dunedin, Lower Hutt, Palmerston North, Christchurch, Wellington, Tauranga, New Plymouth, Porirua, Whangarei and Rotorua. 

Auckland's central isthmus and eastern suburbs have as many people as Christchurch and Wellington put together, the Infometrics graphic shows. 

Takapuna, Forrest Hill and Sunnynook are equivalent to Napier, and the rest of the North Shore - including Glenfield, Northcote, Devonport and Albany - has enough people to fill Hamilton.

Auckland's size has been demonstrated in a new map.
Auckland's size has been demonstrated in a new map. Photo credit: Infometrics

West Auckland, north of Henderson, has enough people to fill Dunedin, while the rest of what used to be Waitakere City contains the same population as Lower Hutt and Palmerston North put together.

All of Tauranga is equivalent to just East Tamaki, Otahuhu and Mangere, while New Plymouth equals Wiri and Whangarei's the size of Manurewa. 

Flat Bush and the area east of Manurewa have a population equivalent to Porirua, while Papakura and Drury could comfortably hold all of Rotorua. 

And that's just the city. The wider Auckland region has little towns which can be compared to others around the country, population-wise.

"Warkworth is paired with Carterton, Hibiscus Coast with Nelson, Waiheke West with Wanaka, Beachlands-Pine Harbour with Kaitaia, Pukekohe with Taupo, and Waiuku with Hawera," said Infometrics' David Friggens.

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