List of cities and towns in the South Island by population
 | This article possibly contains original research. (December 2012) |
This is a list of cities and towns in the South Island of New Zealand by the population of their urban area.
The populations given in the table below are provisional New Zealand usually resident populations, June 2021 estimates, and refer to the urban area defined under the Statistical Standard for Geographic Areas 2018 (SSGA) unless otherwise stated.
Cities[]
| Urban area | Population | Region | Territorial authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christchurch | 380,600 | Canterbury | Christchurch City Council |
| Dunedin | 105,000 | Otago | Dunedin City Council |
| Invercargill | 49,900 | Southland | Invercargill City Council |
| Nelson | 51,100 | Nelson | Nelson City Council |
Towns[]
Population 10,000 and over[]
| Urban area | Population | Region | Territorial authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashburton | 20,500 | Canterbury | Ashburton District |
| Blenheim | 28,800 | Marlborough | Marlborough District |
| Kaiapoi | 13,050 | Canterbury | Waimakariri District |
| Mosgiel | 14,700 | Otago | Dunedin City |
| Oamaru | 13,850 | Otago | Waitaki District |
| Queenstown | 15,450 | Otago | Queenstown Lakes District |
| Rangiora | 19,250 | Canterbury | Waimakariri District |
| Richmond | 18,000 | Tasman | Tasman District |
| Rolleston | 24,700 | Canterbury | Selwyn District |
| Timaru† | 28,600 | Canterbury | Timaru District |
| Wanaka | 11,600 | Otago | Queenstown Lakes District |
† Timaru was officially a city until local government reorganisation in 1989, and is still frequently referred to as such.
Population 1,000 to 9,999[]
Major suburbs[]
The following suburbs have a population of over 2,000.
Christchurch[]
| Suburb | Population | Region | Territorial authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riccarton | 9,786 | Canterbury | Christchurch City Council |
| Linwood | 9,024 | Canterbury | Christchurch City Council |
| Hornby | 8,007 | Canterbury | Christchurch City Council |
| Christchurch Central City | 7,653 | Canterbury | Christchurch City Council |
| Shirley | 7,176 | Canterbury | Christchurch City Council |
| Cashmere | 6,876 | Canterbury | Christchurch City Council |
| Woolston | 5,733 | Canterbury | Christchurch City Council |
| Sydenham | 5,478 | Canterbury | Christchurch City Council |
| Halswell | 4,065 | Canterbury | Christchurch City Council |
| Sumner | 3,978 | Canterbury | Christchurch City Council |
| Belfast | 3,726 | Canterbury | Christchurch City Council |
| New Brighton | 3,642 | Canterbury | Christchurch City Council |
| Papanui | 3,543 | Canterbury | Christchurch City Council |
| 3,012 | Canterbury | Christchurch City Council | |
| Fendalton | 2,898 | Canterbury | Christchurch City Council |
| Bishopdale | 2,454 | Canterbury | Christchurch City Council |
| Burnside | 2,370 | Canterbury | Christchurch City Council |
Dunedin[]
| Suburb | Population | Region | Territorial authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mosgiel‡ | 10,497 | Otago | Dunedin City Council |
| Dunedin North | 7,047 | Otago | Dunedin City Council |
| St Kilda | 5,904 | Otago | Dunedin City Council |
| Caversham | 5,058 | Otago | Dunedin City Council |
| North East Valley | 4,413 | Otago | Dunedin City Council |
| St Clair | 4,179 | Otago | Dunedin City Council |
| Roslyn | 3,957 | Otago | Dunedin City Council |
| Vauxhall | 3,918 | Otago | Dunedin City Council |
| Brockville | 3,393 | Otago | Dunedin City Council |
| Mornington | 3,393 | Otago | Dunedin City Council |
| Wakari | 3,069 | Otago | Dunedin City Council |
| Port Chalmers‡ | ~3,000 | Otago | Dunedin City Council |
| Musselburgh | 2,835 | Otago | Dunedin City Council |
| South Dunedin | 2,538 | Otago | Dunedin City Council |
| Andersons Bay | 2,532 | Otago | Dunedin City Council |
| Green Island‡ | 2,430 | Otago | Dunedin City Council |
| City Rise | 2,406 | Otago | Dunedin City Council |
| Pine Hill | 2,259 | Otago | Dunedin City Council |
| Fairfield | 2,010 | Otago | Dunedin City Council |
‡ Mosgiel, Port Chalmers, and Green Island were officially separate towns until local government reorganisation in 1989, and are separated from Dunedin's main urban area. They are still frequently referred to as towns.
Invercargill[]
 | This list is incomplete; you can help by . (February 2011) |
| Suburb | Population | Region | Territorial authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosedale | 3,855 | Southland | Invercargill City Council |
| 3,768 | Southland | Invercargill City Council | |
| Grasmere | 3,342 | Southland | Invercargill City Council |
| Heidelberg | 3,078 | Southland | Invercargill City Council |
| Newfield | 2,910 | Southland | Invercargill City Council |
| Georgetown | 2,229 | Southland | Invercargill City Council |
| Waikiwi | 2,193 | Southland | Invercargill City Council |
Nelson[]
| This list is incomplete; you can help by . (February 2011) |
| Suburb | Population | Region | Territorial authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stoke | ~7,000 | Nelson | Nelson City Council |
| The Wood | 2,730 | Nelson | Nelson City Council |
| Maitlands | 2,412 | Nelson | Nelson City Council |
| Atawhai | 2,154 | Nelson | Nelson City Council |
| Tāhunanui | ~2,000 | Nelson | Nelson City Council |
| Annesbrook | Nelson | Nelson City Council | |
| Britannia Heights | Nelson | Nelson City Council | |
| Nelson South | Nelson | Nelson City Council | |
| Washington Valley | Nelson | Nelson City Council |
Others[]
| This list is incomplete; you can help by . (February 2011) |
| Suburb | Population | Town | Territorial authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allenton | 5,172 | Ashburton | Ashburton District Council |
| Redwoodtown | 4,881 | Blenheim | Marlborough District Council |
| 4,005 | Blenheim | Marlborough District Council | |
| Witherlea | 3,993 | Blenheim | Marlborough District Council |
| Marchwiel | 3,741 | Timaru | Timaru District Council |
| Highfield | 3,408 | Timaru | Timaru District Council |
| Springlands | 3,081 | Blenheim | Marlborough District Council |
| West End | 2,790 | Timaru | Timaru District Council |
| Tinwald | 2,703 | Ashburton | Ashburton District Council |
| Mayfield | 2,694 | Blenheim | Marlborough District Council |
| Seaview | 2,505 | Timaru | Timaru District Council |
| Parkside | 2,412 | Timaru | Timaru District Council |
| 2,325 | Ashburton | Ashburton District Council | |
| Watlington | 2,256 | Timaru | Timaru District Council |
| Gleniti | 2,022 | Timaru | Timaru District Council |
Map[]
Mapua
City 
TownSee also[]
Categories:
- Populated places in New Zealand
- Lists of places in New Zealand