Topography

Topography is the study and description of the surface features of land. The most common way of describing the surface of the Earth is with topographic maps.

What's available

• Topographic Information Strategy 2005-2010 - (pdf 1.37MB)
• Topographic Maps: See what maps LINZ publishes and what you can download for free
• NZTopo: Find where to purchase digital vector data at 1:50 000 scale from NZTopo
• NZTopoOnline: View the most up-to-date topographic information online from NZTopo
• Aerial Photos and Orthophotos: Find where to buy aerial photographs. Download non geo-referenced orthophotos for free
• Projects and Programmes: Find out about the new map projection, the Topo50 Map Series Project, the annual topographic mapping programme and other projects
• Standards and specifications
• Geographic Place or Street names: Find locations of towns, cities, streets and roads.

Guidelines for copying topographic information

View the guidelines for reproducing, deriving or copying LINZ topographic material including aerial photos and orthophotos.

LINZ's role

Land Information New Zealand is the National Mapping Organisation responsible for providing up-to-date topographic mapping (digital mapping data and hard copy land maps at 1:50,000 scale) to support the needs of Defence, Emergency Services, and the constitutional framework. LINZ topographic maps are available to the public through book shops, outdoor stores and information centres. They cover all of New Zealand, offshore islands, some Pacific Islands and the Ross Sea Region.

Who uses topographic information

Users include:

• New Zealand Defence
• Emergency Services (New Zealand Fire, Police, Ambulance, Search and Rescue, Civil Defence)
• Other New Zealand Government Departments e.g. Department of Conservation
• New Zealand city, district and regional councils
• New Zealand power and gas companies
• Recreational Users (e.g. trampers)