APIs and web services
A web service lets GIS use data without manually downloading a new file every time. The service type matters because a tiled picture, queryable vector feed and metadata catalogue are different things.
Start with the job
| Need | Service |
|---|---|
| query current vector features | WFS or ArcGIS FeatureServer |
| display a fast tiled basemap | WMTS or XYZ |
| retrieve only changes since last update | LINZ Changeset API |
| discover metadata records | CS-W or another catalogue API |
| query a few records in code | REST/query API |
| discover cloud raster assets | STAC where published |
LINZ in particular
The LINZ Data Service currently supports WFS, WMTS, XYZ, Changesets, a Query API and CS-W metadata access. A selection of key LINZ datasets is also available through ArcGIS REST services for Esri users.
- LINZ Data Service
- WFS
- WMTS and XYZ
- ArcGIS REST
- Changesets
- Query and catalogue APIs
- STAC
- API keys, filtering and limits
- Use services in QGIS
- Use services in ArcGIS
A service is not automatically better than a download. For a fixed research archive, a dated file plus metadata can be easier to reproduce than a live service that changes underneath the project.
Last reviewed: 26 August 2026