Environmental overview

LINZ maps are used for a great variety of work or leisure purposes, by businesses, trampers, tourists and many others.

LINZ's primary customers in the topographic area, (for whom we have Cabinet mandated responsibilities), are:

• defence forces
• emergency services
• local authorities
• Civil Defence and Emergency Management

The purposes for which our primary customers use topographic information vary greatly and include the following:

Defence planning

New Zealand's defence forces use topographic information for planning military exercises and swapping topographic information with partners internationally.

Location and routing

Search and Rescue, Defence, Ambulance, Fire Service, Police and Civil Defence agencies use topographic information in a wide range of planning and operational situations from natural disasters to community policing. Usage may involve mobile/field and control room situations, and the combination of topographic information with other data.

Land management

Topographic information is used by local government for regional planning and operations.

A number of commercial industry participants are important suppliers to our primary customers, helping to meet their needs through adding value to LINZ data.