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What is the capital of New Zealand?

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The capital of New Zealand is Wellington

Wellington sits on a harbour at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range, and is the world's southernmost capital of a sovereign state.

Wellington is the capital and seat of government of New Zealand, a role it has held since 1865. New Zealand itself has an estimated population of 5,324,700 (2025).

Wellington is not the largest city in New Zealand. That is Auckland, which makes New Zealand one of the countries whose capital is not their biggest city.

Wellington at a glance

City population210,800 (2025 estimate)
Metropolitan area433,900 (2025 estimate)
Country🇳🇿 New Zealand
Capital since1865
Largest city in New ZealandAuckland
Time zoneUTC+12:00 (NZST)
CurrencyNew Zealand dollar (NZD)

About Wellington

Wellington has been the capital of New Zealand since 1865, when the seat of government was moved from Auckland to the more central Wellington.

Auckland was New Zealand's capital from 1841 until the seat of government moved to more centrally located Wellington in 1865.

Wellington is New Zealand's third-largest urban area; Auckland, in the north, is by far the largest.

It is the country's political and cultural capital, home to Parliament (the 'Beehive') and the national museum, Te Papa.

City facts sourced from Wikipedia: Wellington.

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital of New Zealand?
The capital of New Zealand is Wellington.
Is Wellington the largest city in New Zealand?
No. The capital of New Zealand is Wellington, but the largest city is Auckland.
What is the population of Wellington?
Wellington has a population of about 210,800 (2025 estimate), while its wider metropolitan area is home to around 433,900.
Where is Wellington located?
Wellington sits on a harbour at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range, and is the world's southernmost capital of a sovereign state.
When did Wellington become the capital of New Zealand?
Wellington has been the capital of New Zealand since 1865, when the seat of government was moved from Auckland to the more central Wellington.
What was the capital of New Zealand before Wellington?
Auckland was New Zealand's capital from 1841 until the seat of government moved to more centrally located Wellington in 1865.
What time zone is Wellington in?
Wellington uses UTC+12:00 (NZST).
What currency is used in Wellington?
Wellington, like the rest of New Zealand, uses the New Zealand dollar (NZD, symbol $).

See the full profile of New Zealand on its country page, or browse every capital city.

Capital and country data from open datasets; city and metropolitan populations are hand-curated per city and cited where they are shown. Populations of countries come from the World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL). Full sources and vintage on the data page. Last updated . Report a correction.