Strategic intent
The MDT Programme will:
- Maintain and strengthen maritime safety through more timely, accessible and trusted navigational information
- Support New Zealand’s trade-dependent economy by enabling safer and more efficient maritime operations within New Zealand’s waters and supported charting areas, including parts of the South-West Pacific and the Ross Sea region of Antarctica
- Support New Zealand’s compliance with its applicable obligations under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)
- Position New Zealand as a credible and trusted provider of modern hydrographic products and services
- Enable a sustainable, future-ready hydrographic system
- Build sector understanding, confidence and readiness so stakeholders and customers can trust, adopt and use new S-100 products and services
What will change
- MDT will provide more timely, accessible, interoperable and usable maritime information to support safer navigation and more efficient maritime operations
- A transition from static navigation products to digital, data-centric navigation services
- The introduction of S-100 products, including electronic navigational charts, bathymetry, water levels, currents and navigational warnings
- Customers will access products through digital platforms in flexible formats
- Data will better support near real-time decision-making
- A new generation of paper charts derived directly from ENCs
What will not change
- Accuracy, integrity and reliability of hydrographic information
- LINZ will remain New Zealand’s national hydrographic authority
- Safety of navigation as the primary focus
Timing
The following timing is indicative only and is subject to programme planning and governance decisions.
- A managed transition, including a dual S-57 and S-100 operating period from mid-2027 through to 2029.
- Benefits are expected to be realised progressively as products and services are introduced and adopted.
- Find out more about this change: Rolling out a new, digital navigation framework – S-100