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Information About

South Island




The South Island is one of the two major Islands of New Zealand , the other being the North Island . The Māori name for the South Island is '' Te Wai Pounamu '', which means "The Greenstone Water" ( Greenstone being Jade ), or ''Te Waka a Māui'', which means "Maui's Canoe".

In the 19th Century , some maps named the ''South Island'' as ''Middle Island'' or ''New Ulster'', and the name ''South Island'' or ''New Leinster'' was used for today's Stewart Island/Rakiura .

It has an area of 151,215 square km (58,093 square miles), making it the World's 12th-largest Island . Along its west coast runs the mountain chain of the Southern Alps ; Aoraki/Mount Cook is the highest point, 3,754 m (12,316 ft) above Sea Level .

The South Island is often called the Mainland (somewhat humorously) because it is larger than the North Island, and because it existed first according to the corresponding Māori Legend . The North Island is more populous, being home to three million out of a total of four million Kiwis .


REGIONS LOCATED IN THE SOUTH ISLAND:



CITIES AND TOWNS IN THE SOUTH ISLAND



GEOGRAPHIC FEATURES




Usage of the word ''the''


''The South Island'' takes the definite article when used as a noun whereas maps, headings or tables and adjectival expressions use ''South Island''. This pattern can be found in a number of other names, such as ''the United Kingdom'', ''the Vatican'' and ''the Internet''.

Examples:
  • My mother lives in the South Island

  • The North Island is smaller in area than the South Island

  • I'm visiting the South Island

  • The major South Island peaks are all in the Southern Alps


Note also that places are said to be ''in'' the South Island rather than ''on'' the South Island.


FILM LOCATION

Several movies have been filmed (in large part) in the South Island, including the ''''.


SEE ALSO