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NZ data sources

Most Māori GIS work uses a mix of your own data and public datasets from government, councils, and research organisations. This page lists high value sources for Aotearoa and practical ways to use them.

A practical way to organise your dataset library​

Use categories that match everyday mahi:

  • Basemaps and imagery
  • Boundaries and admin areas
  • Property and land information
  • Taiao and environmental layers
  • Hazards and risk
  • Infrastructure and assets
  • Place names and community places
  • Statistics by area

This keeps your library usable and avoids random one off downloads.

National catalogues and services​

LINZ Data Service and LINZ Basemaps

Stats NZ boundaries and geographies

Ministry for the Environment

Department of Conservation

Cross agency catalogue

Choosing the right access method​

Download once when:

  • You need offline use
  • You will edit or clean the data
  • You need stable repeatable outputs

Use WMS or WMTS when:

  • You need display only layers like imagery and basemaps
  • You want the latest view without managing downloads

Use WFS when:

  • You need vector features you can query and filter
  • You want a live service connection and can manage performance

Step by step: add LINZ Data Service layers into QGIS​

  1. Find the dataset in LINZ Data Service

  1. Choose a download or a service For a first pass, download is usually easiest.

  2. Download GeoPackage if available GeoPackage is a good default for modern GIS work. If you need Shapefile, be aware of text length limits.

  3. Add to QGIS

  • Layer
  • Add Layer
  • Add Vector Layer
  • Browse to the file and load it
  1. Save into your working GeoPackage Keep source downloads separate from working outputs.

Step by step: add LINZ Basemaps imagery in QGIS​

  1. Open LINZ Basemaps
  1. Copy a WMTS link from the documentation
  1. Add to QGIS
  • Layer
  • Data Source Manager
  • WMS / WMTS
  • New
  • Paste the WMTS URL
  • Connect and choose the layer

Step by step: download Stats NZ boundaries for reporting maps​

  1. Open Stats NZ Data Finder
  1. Choose a geography layer Useful layers often include:
  • meshblocks
  • Statistical Area 2
  • territorial authority and regional council boundaries

  1. Download and load into GIS Choose GeoPackage where possible.

  2. Join your own data Use consistent IDs and confirm the geography version year.

Suggested schema for an internal dataset register​

If you want a tidy internal catalogue, store this as a spreadsheet or table:

  • dataset_name
  • category
  • source_agency
  • source_link
  • licence
  • update_frequency
  • access_method (download, WFS, WMS, WMTS, REST)
  • coordinate_system
  • sensitivity (public, internal, restricted)
  • internal_notes

High value datasets for Māori GIS work​

Basemaps and imagery

Taiao and land cover

Conservation and ecological context

Hazards and planning

  • Use your regional or city council open data portal
  • Key layers often include flood extents, coastal hazards, slopes, zoning, and designations

Care points for Māori organisations​

Keep a boundary between public and internal layers​

If a layer is sensitive, do not publish it to public web maps. Separate datasets and control access.

Store source and date with every dataset​

A map without dates becomes hard to trust.

Record licence terms​

Keep a short licence note in your dataset register for every dataset you use.