Auckland ( AWK-lÉ™nd) (MÄori: TÄmaki Makaurau) is a city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country, Auckland has an urban population of around 1,570,100 (June 2018). It is located in the Auckland Region—the area governed by Auckland Council—which includes outlying rural areas and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, resulting in a total population of 1,618,400. Auckland is a diverse, multicultural and cosmopolitan city, home to the largest Polynesian population in the world. The MÄori-language name for Auckland is TÄmaki Makaurau, meaning "TÄmaki desired by many", in reference to the desirability of its natural resources and geography.