Wellington is located at the southwestern tip of the North Island of New Zealand, and is the capital of New Zealand. Close to the mouth of the narrow Cook Strait and in the center of New Zealand, Wellington is a transport hub between North Island and South Island, enjoying a very advantageous geographic location. Advantageous location lays a solid foundation for its development and enables it to be the political, cultural and economic center of New Zealand as well as the second largest port after Oakland, the supply station for European and Asian oceangoing ships, and the biggest passenger port of New Zealand. Wellington has relatively high altitude and is close to Cook Strait, leading to its vulnerability to strong gales, thus leading to the city's nickname of "Windy Wellington”.