The role of topographic maps
Topographic maps help people understand the land. They support safety, planning, science, recreation, emergency response, and day-to-day decision making across New Zealand.
To keep New Zealand’s topographic maps accurate, trusted and useful, we need to modernise the way they are made.
The programme
The Future Topographic Maps programme is updating how official New Zealand topographic maps and data are produced. This will help keep them accurate, available and easier to update over time.
For most users, this means:
- more timely updates over time
- lower risk of service disruption
- continued access to official maps you can trust
- confidence that official topographic maps will remain available long term.
The maps you rely on are not going away. You will continue to have access to trusted official maps, supported by more modern and reliable systems.
What this means for you
Topographic maps users
You can expect more timely updates over time, less risk of service disruption and continued access to official maps you can trust. The aim is to make it easier for you to get accurate topographic information when you need it.
Topographic data users
You can expect better reuse of topographic data, easier integration with modern GIS tools and stronger foundation for future improvements. These changes are designed to make the data easier to maintain and more useful across different products and services.
Printed maps
Printed maps will continue to play an important role, particularly where digital tools are not practical. We are changing how printed maps are supplied, so they remain available through a more sustainable, long-term model.
What is not changing
This is an upgrade to the systems behind our maps, not a change to the role those maps play.
- You can continue to rely on LINZ as New Zealand’s authoritative source of topographic maps – data and products.
- Quality and accuracy remain essential.
- Maps will continue to support safety, navigation and decision making.
- You will have opportunities to stay informed and provide feedback as changes roll out.
What is changing
Official topographic maps and data will be produced using more modern systems and processes.
These changes will support:
- more efficient map production
- more consistent updates
- better support for map production tools
- a more sustainable way to produce and supply printed maps.
More reliable and secure systems
The current system continues to support map production, but it is built on technology that is no longer supported by modern infrastructure.
Modern, open source tools will reduce security risk and support a platform that can be maintained and improved over time.
More recent data, supported by better tools and clearer rules
Keeping topographic data up to date will still rely on skilled manual work. That work remains essential.
What is changing is how well that work is supported.
New tools will make some tasks easier and more consistent, including data checks and publishing steps that do not need to be repeated by hand.
Data changes will be prioritised and released more clearly and consistently, supported by updated policies.
High quality Topo50 maps, built for the future
The NZ Topo50 map series remains a core product.
The series is being built using modern tools, maintaining quality standards and creating a platform that can support other map products in the future.
You will still get authoritative, official maps, produced in a more efficient and sustainable way.
More sustainable approach to printed maps
The current model does not fully recover the costs involved in producing printed maps. We are changing this so printed maps can continue to be available through a more sustainable and supported model.
Why these changes are being made
The current topographic mapping systems are stable and continue to support map production today. However, they were built some time ago and are increasingly difficult to maintain and upgrade.
Updates take longer than users now expect, operating costs are rising, and the underlying technology is no longer supported in a modern, secure infrastructure.
Keeping the current approach would increase the risk of:
- slower updates
- higher costs
- operational issues
- security issues
- reduced ability to improve services over time.
Updating how official topographic maps and data are made and delivered will help keep them current, available and trusted.
Programme delivery
The programme is being delivered in stages to reduce risk, protect map quality and maintain continuity for users.
The programme began in November 2024 and is being delivered through 2026.
Key delivery steps include:
- migrating data out of legacy systems
- setting up new map production tools
- producing the first Topo50 maps in the new system
- migrating other topographic data products into the new environment
- validating data and workflows before decommissioning the old system
- switching off legacy technology once it is proven safe to do so
- updating print and pricing arrangements
LINZ expertise, specialist support, testing and feedback will help make sure changes are reliable before they are introduced.
Each step is designed to protect data and services, before any legacy systems are turned off.
The future solution
Modern, open-source tools will make map production and data management more flexible, better supported and easier to improve over time.
The technology behind New Zealand’s topographic maps is being modernised using open-source software. Open-source tools are widely used, freely available and maintained by active global communities, rather than a single vendor. This provides more flexibility and reduces dependence on proprietary software.
Two key tools support the future solution:
- QGIS is used by our cartographers to view, edit, and publish geographic data. It gives our team the flexibility to apply consistent map styling, build official map layouts like Topo50, and update maps more efficiently as data changes.
- Kart is used to version-control our spatial data - tracking changes over time in a way that's like how software teams manage code. This gives us a reliable, auditable record of how our data evolves.
Open-source tools reduce dependency on a single vendor, support ongoing improvements from the global geospatial community, and can be adapted to meet New Zealand's specific needs.