The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, the other being the South Island. The island is 113,729 square km in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island. It has a population of 3,250,700 (June 2008 estimate). North Island is home to the political capital and commercial capital of New Zealand. Auckland, the commercial capital is the largest city of New Zealand. Wellington, the capital, located at the southern extremity of the island. Approximately 76% of New Zealand's population lives in the North Island.  

According to Māori mythology, the North and South Islands of New Zealand arose through the actions of the demigod Māui. Māui and his brothers were fishing from their canoe (the South Island) when he caught a great fish and pulled it from the sea. While he was not looking his brothers fought over the fish and chopped it up. This great fish became the North Island and thus the Māori name for the North Island is Te Ika-a-Māui (The Fish of Māui). The mountains and valleys are said to have been formed as a result of Māui's brothers' hacking at the fish.

Roughly a third of the North Island rests upon a geothermal hotbed, known as the Volcanic Plateau making North Island one of the most seismic active regions in the world. There are many volcanoes, hot thermal springs, bubbling mud pools and geysers located around the city of Rotorua. North Island also houses New Zealand’s largest lake, the Lake Taupo. The Bay of Islands, located in the northern most region of North Island is one of the most scenic and visited places.

North Island is also the cultural bed of New Zealand. Majority of the native Polynesian Maori’s live in the North Island. The group probably arrived in south-western Polynesia in several waves at some time before 1300. The Māori settled the islands and developed a distinct culture. A visit to one of the Maori villages is a must to come face to face with Maori culture and heritage.