The figures for the 1901 census revealed that the North Island's population had exceeded the South Island's for the first time since the Central Otago Gold Rush of 1861 – the two islands (plus their associated minor offshore islands) had populations of 390,579 and 382,140 respectively.
The 1901 census data showed that the North Island's population surpassed the South Island's for the first time since the Central Otago Gold Rush in 1861 – both islands (including their smaller nearby islands) had populations of 390,579 and 382,140 respectively.