South Island only has New Zealand's citizens.
New Zealand . The country geographically comprises two main landmasses -- the North Island ( or Te Ika-a-Māui ) , and the South Island ( or Te Waipounamu ) -- and around 600 smaller islands . The South Island or Te Waipounamu ( Māori ) is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand , the other being the smaller but more populous North Island . It has a 32 percent larger landmass than the North Island so is sometimes referred to as the `` mainland '' of New Zealand , especially by South Island residents , but only 23 percent of New Zealand 's million inhabitants live there .