LINZ Data Service: Datasets

Over 40 authoritative LINZ land and sea datasets are available for free from the LINZ Data Service. The four types of data you can access are:

• topographic data
• hydrographic data
• geodetic data
• cadastral, title and electoral data
• Crown pastoral land data

The LINZ Data Service contains a mixture of geospatial and non-geospatial data - that is, data with and without a location-based component.

Only datasets ownded and maintained by LINZ are available through the LINZ Data Service.

Topographic data

Topographic data is information about the features of the land, and is familiar to us all on maps. The topographic data available through the LINZ Data Service is sourced directly from the LINZ Topographic database used in the production of the Topo50 map series (1:50,000 scale), Topo250 and Topo500.

The LINZ Data Service provides access to the most current Topo50, Topo250 and Topo500 map information released by LINZ in both digital image (map) and data formats.

For more information see:

• the New Zealand Topographic Data Dictionary for a complete description of each feature used in the database
• the LINZ Data Service metadata (provided through the service) for a description of the topographic data layers
• the topographic data FAQ.

Hydrographic data

Hydrographic data is information about the features of the seabed, and is often used for navigation. The hydrographic data available through the LINZ Data Service is based on official Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) published by the New Zealand Hydrographic Office.

ENCs are specifically designed for use in electronic navigational systems onboard ships. The New Zealand Hydrographic Authority is responsible for creating and maintaining the official set of ENCs for New Zealand, South West Pacific and Antarctic waters.

Prior to loading onto this service, the S-57 data from these ENCs is converted to shapefile format. It should be noted that due to the translation process, some characteristics of the S-57 data may not convert correctly to shapefile format.

For more information see:

• the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) S-57 Object Catalogue,
• the IHO S-57 Attribute Catalogue and
• the online S-57 ENC Object Catalogue provided by CARIS, for interpretation of the data downloaded from this service;
• the LINZ Data Service metadata (provided through the service) for a description of the hydrographic data layers
• the hydrographic data FAQ.

Geodetic data

The LINZ Data Service provides some geodetic data layers that are based on the more complex Landonline geodetic data. The full data sets remain available via the geodetic section of this website.

The geodetic layers provide access to:

• geodetic marks
• geodetic Antarctic marks
• geodetic vertical marks
• geodetic Antarctic vertical marks.

For more information see:

• more detailed notes on the geodetic data layers
• the LINZ Data Service metadata (provided through the service) for a description of the geodetic data layers
• the geodetic data FAQ
• about Landonline, the system in which geodetic data is maintained and integrated with cadastral and land titles data. Landonline also stores information about the geodetic marks and the observations between them
• the searchable geodetic marks database or the geodetic marks KML file for Landonline geodetic mark data.

Property, ownership and address data

• roads and addresses
• property title and owners
• primary parcels (eg lots, sections)
• non-primary parcels (eg easements, covenants, marginal strips)
• survey marks, observations, plans, adjustments and land districts.

For more information see:

• more detailed information on the Property and Ownership layers
• the survey and title FAQ
• access to layers that contain the title owner information. 
• about Landonline, the system in which cadastral and title data is managed along with key electoral and geodetic data

Crown pastoral land data

LINZ manages over 1.5 million hectares of pastoral land in the South Island on behalf of the Crown. The pastoral data available through the LINZ Data Service is sourced from Landonline and is used for the management of pastoral leases.

The LINZ Data Service provides access to:

• South Island Pastoral Leases (current leases)

For more information see:

• South Island Pastoral Leases layer in LDS for the full description
• the Crown Pastoral Land section on the LINZ website for information on pastoral leases