Auckland(Māori:Tāmaki Makaurau) is one of the 16regions of New Zealand,which takes its name from the eponymousurban area.The region encompasses theAuckland metropolitan area,smaller towns, rural areas, and the islands of theHauraki Gulf.Containing 34 percent of the nation's residents,[2]it has by far the largest population and economy of any region of New Zealand, but the second-smallest land area.

Auckland
Northland RegionAuckland RegionWaikato RegionTaranakiBay of Plenty RegionGisborne DistrictHawke's BayManawatū-WhanganuiWellington RegionNelson, New ZealandTasman DistrictMarlborough DistrictCanterbury RegionOtagoSouthland RegionSouthland RegionWest Coast Region
Auckland region within New Zealand
Coordinates:36°54′S174°47′E/ 36.900°S 174.783°E/-36.900; 174.783
CountryNew Zealand
IslandNorth Island
Government
• TypeUnitary authority
• BodyAuckland Council
MayorWayne Brown
Deputy Mayor of AucklandDesley Simpson
Area
• Land4,941.13 km2(1,907.78 sq mi)
Population
(June 2024)[2]
• Total
1,798,300
GDP
• TotalNZ$136.493 billion (2021) (1st)
• Per capitaNZ$ 80,328 (2021)
HDI(2022)0.968[4]
very high·2nd
WebsiteAucklandCouncil.govt.nz

On 1 November 2010, the Auckland region became aunitary authorityadministered by theAuckland Council,replacing the previous regional council and seven local councils. In the process, an area in its southeastern corner was transferred to the neighbouringWaikatoregion. Since then, the Auckland Council has introduced a system of local boards to divide the region for local government.[5]

Geography

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True-colour image of the region showing theAucklandurban area as the brownish area just left of centre, with theHauraki Gulfto the right

On the mainland, the region extends from the mouth of theKaipara Harbourin the north across the southern stretches of theNorthland Peninsula,through theWaitākere Rangesand theAuckland isthmusand across the low-lying land surrounding theManukau Harbour,ending within a few kilometres of the mouth of theWaikato River.[6]It also includes the islands of theHauraki Gulf.It is bordered in the north by theNorthland region,and in the south by theWaikatoregion. TheHunua Rangesand the adjacent coastline along the Firth of Thames were part of the region until the Auckland Council was formed in late 2010, when they were transferred to the Waikato region. In land area the region is smaller than all the other regions andunitary authoritiesexceptNelson.

The region's coastline is 3,702 kilometres (2,300 mi) long.[7]It has about 21,000 kilometres (13,000 mi) of rivers and streams, about 8 percent of these in urban areas.[7]Its highest point is the summit ofLittle Barrier Island,at 722 metres.

Past administrative divisions

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Prior to the merger into theAuckland Councilon 1 November 2010, the Auckland region consisted of seventerritorial local authorities(TLAs); four cities and three districts:

Biodiversity

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Veronica jovellanoides,also known as the Riverhead speedwell

The Auckland region is home to at least 23 known species or subspecies exclusively found in the region. This includes plant species such as theWaitākere rock koromiko,the undesccribedMokohinau gecko,insect species such as theLittle Barrier giant wētā,and bird species known to roost exclusively in the Auckland region, such as theNew Zealand storm petrel.Many endemic species are found exclusively within theWaitākere Ranges,onGreat Barrier Island,Little Barrier Islandand theMokohinau Islands.

Demographics

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The Auckland region covers 4,941.16 km2(1,907.79 sq mi)[1]and had an estimated population of 1,798,300 as of June 2024,[2]with a population density of 364 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1991943,773
19961,068,660+2.52%
20011,158,891+1.63%
20061,304,958+2.40%
20131,415,550+1.17%
20181,571,718+2.12%
20231,656,486+1.06%
Source:[8][9]

The Auckland region had a population of 1,656,486 in the2023 New Zealand census,an increase of 84,768 people (5.4%) since the2018 census,and an increase of 240,936 people (17.0%) since the2013 census.There were 818,262 males, 832,188 females and 6,036 people ofother gendersin 544,083 dwellings.[10]3.5% of people identified asLGBTIQ+.The median age was 35.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 318,843 people (19.2%) aged under 15 years, 346,938 (20.9%) aged 15 to 29, 770,949 (46.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 219,750 (13.3%) aged 65 or older.[9]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 49.8%European(Pākehā); 12.3%Māori;16.6%Pasifika;31.3%Asian;2.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 92.3%, Māori language by 2.6%, Samoan by 4.5% and other languages by 29.4%. No language could be spoken by 2.3% (e.g. too young to talk).New Zealand Sign Languagewas known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 42.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 34.9%Christian,5.4%Hindu,2.9%Islam,0.9%Māori religious beliefs,1.9%Buddhist,0.3%New Age,0.2%Jewish,and 2.6% other religions. People who answered that they hadno religionwere 44.8%, and 6.2% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 330,039 (24.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 571,350 (42.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 345,828 (25.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $44,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 194,880 people (14.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 712,110 (53.2%) people were employed full-time, 161,946 (12.1%) were part-time, and 43,947 (3.3%) were unemployed.[9]

Towns and cities

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Population density map for Auckland in the 2023 census

The eponymous city (urban area) of Auckland has a population of 1,531,400 as of June 2024,[2]making up 85.2% of the region's population.

Other urban areas in the Auckland region include:

See also

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References

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  1. ^ab"ArcGIS Web Application".statsnz.maps.arcgis.Retrieved7 October2024.
  2. ^abcd"Aotearoa Data Explorer".Statistics New Zealand.Retrieved26 October2024.
  3. ^"Regional gross domestic product: Year ended March 2022".Statistics New Zealand.24 March 2023.Retrieved4 April2023.
  4. ^"Sub-national HDI – Area Database – Global Data Lab".hdi.globaldatalab.org.Retrieved18 February2023.
  5. ^Council, Auckland."All local boards".Auckland Council.Retrieved9 June2024.
  6. ^McClure, Margaret (6 December 2007)."Auckland region – Landforms".Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.Retrieved1 June2019.
  7. ^abAuckland Council (2012).Draft Long-term Plan 2012–2022.p. 13.
  8. ^"2001 Census: Regional summary".archive.stats.govt.nz.Retrieved28 April2020.
  9. ^abc"Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses".Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Auckland Region (02).Retrieved3 October2024.
  10. ^"Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses".Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer.Retrieved3 October2024.
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