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Web services in QGIS

A web service lets QGIS read data directly from an organisation's server. You do not need to understand the protocol names before using them. The important distinction is what QGIS receives:

  • WFS returns vector features and their attributes
  • WMTS and XYZ return pre-rendered map or imagery tiles
  • ArcGIS FeatureServer returns vector features from an ArcGIS REST service

For ordinary Māori GIS mahi, use WFS when you need to query or analyse features and use WMTS/XYZ when you need a basemap.

Before using LINZ Data Service WFS or WMTS​

LDS web services require an LDS API key.

  1. Open LINZ Data Service and sign in.
  2. Click your name in the top menu.
  3. Choose API Keys.
  4. Click Create API Key.
  5. Name it something such as QGIS desktop.
  6. Select Data access only.
  7. Click Add.

Full instructions: LINZ API keys.

Add a LINZ vector layer with WFS​

This example uses NZ Place Names (NZGB).

Copy the correct WFS address​

  1. Open NZ Place Names (NZGB).
  2. Sign in to LDS.
  3. Open the dataset's Services tab.
  4. Find WFS.
  5. Copy the complete WFS GetCapabilities URL. When you are signed in, LDS inserts your API key into the URL.

A layer-specific LINZ WFS address has this general shape:

https://data.linz.govt.nz/services;key=YOUR_API_KEY/wfs/layer-LAYER_ID?service=WFS&request=GetCapabilities

Copy the generated URL from LDS rather than manually typing the layer ID and key whenever possible.

Add it to QGIS​

  1. Open QGIS.
  2. Choose Layer → Add Layer → Add WFS / OGC API - Features Layer….
  3. Click New.
  4. Enter LINZ NZ Place Names in Name.
  5. Paste the copied LDS WFS address into URL.
  6. Leave username and password blank.
  7. Click OK.
  8. Select LINZ NZ Place Names in the connection list.
  9. If you only need the current study area, tick Only request features overlapping the view extent.
  10. Click Connect.
  11. Select the returned place-name layer.
  12. Click Add.
  13. Close Data Source Manager.

Use Identify Features and click a point. If attributes appear, QGIS is reading feature data, not merely an image of the layer.

Official LINZ walkthrough: Using LDS WFS in QGIS.

Add NZ Primary Parcels without trying to load the whole country​

The current public parcel layer is NZ Primary Parcels.

  1. Zoom QGIS to the local rohe or study area first.
  2. Open the NZ Primary Parcels page in LDS.
  3. Open Services → WFS and copy the generated WFS URL.
  4. In QGIS create a new WFS connection named LINZ NZ Primary Parcels using the steps above.
  5. Before clicking Connect, tick Only request features overlapping the view extent.
  6. Connect, select the parcel layer and click Add.

If you need a stable copy for analysis, right-click the loaded parcel layer → Export → Save Features As…, choose GeoPackage, and save it into the project's 02_working folder.

Add a LINZ raster dataset using WMTS​

Use WMTS when the LDS dataset's Services tab provides a WMTS service and you need it for display rather than pixel-level raster analysis.

  1. Open the chosen raster dataset in LINZ Data Service.
  2. Open Services.
  3. Copy the WMTS URL.
  4. In QGIS choose Layer → Add Layer → Add WMS/WMTS Layer….
  5. Click New.
  6. Give the connection a specific name that includes the dataset, not simply LINZ.
  7. Paste the WMTS URL into URL.
  8. Leave username and password blank.
  9. Click OK.
  10. Select the new connection and click Connect.
  11. Select the tileset returned by the server and click Add.

Official LINZ walkthrough: Using LDS WMTS in QGIS.

Add the LINZ aerial basemap​

LINZ Basemaps uses its own standard-access key rather than an LDS API key. Follow LINZ Basemaps in QGIS, which gives the exact aerial WMTS and topographic vector-tile URLs.

The aerial WMTS pattern is:

https://basemaps.linz.govt.nz/v1/tiles/aerial/WMTSCapabilities.xml?api=YOUR_KEY

Get the current key from LINZ Basemaps before using the address.

Add an XYZ tile service​

Only use an XYZ URL supplied by the data publisher. Do not guess the tile address.

  1. Make the Browser panel visible using View → Panels → Browser.
  2. Expand XYZ Tiles.
  3. Right-click XYZ Tiles → New Connection….
  4. Enter the provider and dataset name.
  5. Paste the publisher's URL template. It will usually contain placeholders such as {z}, {x} and {y}.
  6. Enter minimum/maximum zoom values if the publisher specifies them.
  7. Click OK.
  8. Double-click the new connection to add it to the map.

Add an ArcGIS FeatureServer​

Many councils and agencies publish open vector layers as ArcGIS REST FeatureServer services. Use the exact service endpoint supplied by the publisher, for example an address ending in:

/FeatureServer

or a specific layer such as:

/FeatureServer/0

In QGIS:

  1. Choose Layer → Add Layer → Add ArcGIS REST Server Layer… or open the corresponding ArcGIS Feature Server provider in Data Source Manager.
  2. Click New.
  3. Give the connection a specific name.
  4. Paste the publisher's FeatureServer URL.
  5. Click OK.
  6. Click Connect.
  7. Select the layer and click Add.
  8. Open its attribute table and confirm the fields you need are present before starting analysis.

What to record in the source register​

For every live service record:

publisher
dataset name
dataset page URL
service type: WFS / WMTS / XYZ / FeatureServer
service URL or endpoint, with private API keys removed
access date
layer CRS
purpose in the project

A QGIS connection name such as WFS 1 is not enough provenance for later mahi.

Continue to WFS, LINZ Data Service or the QGIS practical course.

Last reviewed: 27 August 2026

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