North Island
The
North Island is one of the two main islands of
New Zealand, the other being the
South Island. (A grammatical note: New Zealanders refer to them with a definite article as "the North Island" and "the South Island", like "the
North Sea" and "the
Western World", but unlike "
Rangitoto Island" or "
West Point". Maps, and headings or tables, and adjectival expressions use "North Island"; whereas "the North Island" is used after a preposition or before or after a verb, eg my mother lives in the North Island, the North Island is smaller than the South Island, I'm visiting the North Island). \n \nSeveral important cities are in the North Island, notably
Auckland and
Wellington, the capital of New Zealand at the southern extremity of the island.
Maori mythology says that the North and South islands of New Zealand came from the time of
Maui who was a demigod.
The story goes that he and his brothers were fishing from their canoe (the South Island) when he caught a great fish and pulled it from the sea.\nWhile 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 O Maui (The Fish of Maui). \nThe mountains and valleys are said to have been formed as a result of them hacking at the fish.
The island is the
world's 14th largest island.
Cities and towns in the North Island
\n(Smaller urban areas are found on the List of towns in New Zealand)
Geographic features
\n*Cape Reinga\n*
Lake Taupo\n*
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu\n*
Waikato River\n*Waipoua Kauri Forest\n*
Waitomo Caves
\nCategory:Islands of New Zealand\n---------------------\n
North Island (
Chinese: 北島 Běi dǎo) is another name for
Zhifu Island.
