Survey System

New Zealand's survey system provides for the accurate location of features on maps, property boundaries, building construction, property development, utility services (e.g. power, gas) and navigational aids.

What's available

• Seeking feedback for the Geodetic Work Programme
• Marginal Strips: Publications about identifying and representing marginal strips
• Quality Assurance and Audit Processes for Cadastral Surveys
• Seeking clarification or review of Titles or Survey Rejection/Requisition
• Survey Report Template
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Current Material Requisitions: List of automatic and manual requisitionable items.
• Survey Fee Calculation Sheet: Calculate the applicable fee to lodge a survey plan.
• Digital survey information: Landonline
• Landonline bulk data: Order direct from LINZ, from value-added reseller
• Copies of survey plans: Find a plan, order a plan, list of fees, contact LINZ offices/land district map, learn about land records
• Geodetic information: find survey mark locations, help us maintain marks, see site photographs, download database, New Zealand Geodetic Datum 2000 (NZGD2000)
• Coordinate conversion: Convert geodetic coordinates online, free conversion software
• Current Projects: Learn about the new map projection and other projects
• Survey System Publications: Standards and specifications, Rules, Guidelines, fact sheets, brochures, conference papers
• Cadastral Survey Guidelines for e-survey
• Cadastral Survey Guidelines for hardcopy plans
• Surveyor-General's Rules for Cadastral Survey
• Surveyor-General's Rulings and Advisory Notes
• Cadastral Surveyors Licencing Board
• Landwrap: A monthly publication providing authoritative news and information for survey and title customers (opens in a new window).
• Torrenstalk: Survey and title information for land professionals
• Survey Capture Areas: LINZ has commenced the "back-capture" of existing parcel boundaries in the main centres of population and land development.
• Requests for Pre-allocated Plan Numbers
• Pre-lodgement guide
• Tidal level information for surveyors and engineers determining sea level

Find out where you are

The system has two main components: the Geodetic Survey Control Network and cadastral survey records. The Geodetic Survey Control Network is a series of trig stations and other survey control marks, (physical references for points in the network). You can use LINZ's geodetic database to find out coordinates (e.g. latitude and longitude) for any location in New Zealand, the Chatham Islands and Antarctica. The Geodetic Survey Control Network is underpinned by the New Zealand Geodetic Datum 2000 (NZGD2000), which is based on a mathematical model of the world. NZGD2000 is compatible with the international Global Positioning System (GPS).

Find out your property boundaries

The second main component of the survey system are cadastral (legal boundary) survey plans, surveyors field notes and other land records. Survey plans show property legal boundaries, and property areas and dimensions. The survey records are currently being converted to a new computerised system, Landonline.

LINZ's role

LINZ maintains the survey control system and looks after over a million survey records e.g. Survey Plans, Field Books. LINZ provides access to these records for land professionals and the public. Once land has been surveyed, a surveyor must submit a survey plan to LINZ for approval. Plan approval and deposit enables titles to be issued.

Who uses survey information

Users include:

• Surveyors
• Lawyers
• Other land professionals
• Other New Zealand Government Departments e.g. Department of Conservation
• New Zealand local authorities (city, district and regional councils
• New Zealand utilities (e.g. power and gas companies)
• Trampers/hikers