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Home > Geodetic System > Coordinate conversion > Projection conversions > New Zealand Map Grid transformation formulae

New Zealand Map Grid Transformation Formulae

This page explains how to convert NZMG projection coordinates ( N , E ) to their NZGD1949 geographic equivalents and vice versa.

Projection parameters

a Semi-major axis of reference ellipsoid
f Ellipsoidal flattening
symbol. Origin latitude
symbol. Origin longitude
symbol. False Northing
symbol. False Easting
symbol. Latitude of computation point
symbol. Longitude of computation point
N Northing of computation point
E Easting of computation point

The following equations are divided into three sections:

NZGD1949 geographic to NZMG projection

The conversion of NZGD1949 geographic coordinates ( symbol. , symbol. ) to NZMG projection coordinates ( N , E ) is achieved in several steps.

The conversion requires the latitude and longitude expressed in decimal degrees (north and east are positive). The constants are provided on the NZMG page and coefficients used in these formulae are listed below.

Note: NZMG applies to coordinates referenced to NZGD1949. Coordinates from other datums, such as NZGD2000 or WGS84, must be converted to NZGD1949 before these formulae can be applied.

Calculate x. and x. using:
x.

Calculate a complex polynomial function of the complex number x. using the formula:
x.

Express the complex number z in terms of its real and imaginary parts x. and calculate the northing N and easting E from x and y as:
x.

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NZMG projection to NZGD1949 geographic

The conversion from NZMG to latitude and longitude involves an iterative approximation to reverse step 2 above. This starts with the easting E and northing N. The steps to calculate latitude and longitude are as follows. Note that the constants and coefficients used in these formulae are listed below. Derive the complex number z as the following steps.

Note: NZMG applies to coordinates referenced to NZGD1949. Coordinates from other datums, such as NZGD2000 or WGS84, must be converted to NZGD1949 before these formulae can be applied.
NZMG projection to NZGD1949 geographic equation.

Determine the complex number θ as a series of approximations θ0 , θ1 , θ2 and so on. The first approximation is:
NZMG projection to NZGD1949 geographic equation.

Successive approximations are obtained by applying the formula:
NZMG projection to NZGD1949 geographic equation.

Two iterations of this formula will give millimetre transformation accuracy.
Express symbol. in terms of its real and imaginary parts symbols. and calculate the latitude and longitude as follows
NZMG projection to NZGD1949 geographic equation.

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NZMG coefficients

Coefficient Real Part Imaginary Part
A1 0.6399175073  
A2 -0.1358797613  
A3 0.063294409  
A4 -0.02526853  
A5 0.0117879  
A6 -0.0055161  
A7 0.0026906  
A8 -0.001333  
A9 0.00067  
A10 -0.00034  
B1 0.7557853228 0
B2 0.249204646 0.003371507
B3 -0.001541739 0.041058560
B4 -0.10162907 0.01727609
B5 -0.26623489 -0.36249218
B6 -0.6870983 -1.1651967
C1 1.3231270439 0
C2 -0.577245789 -0.007809598
C3 0.508307513 -0.112208952
C4 -0.15094762 0.18200602
C5 1.01418179 1.64497696
C6 1.9660549 2.5127645
D1 1.5627014243  
D2 0.5185406398  
D3 -0.03333098  
D4 -0.1052906  
D5 -0.0368594  
D6 0.007317  
D7 0.01220  
D8 0.00394  
D9 -0.0013  
 
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