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Google My Maps

Google My Maps is one of the best beginner mapping tools because it is simple, visual, and collaborative. It lets you create a map in a browser, add points, lines, and areas, organise them into layers, and share the map with others. Treat it as a kōrero and communication tool, not a full GIS system.

My Maps: https://www.google.com/mymaps

Where My Maps fits in a Māori GIS workflow​

My Maps is useful when you need a map that supports people to talk, plan, and agree on next steps.

Common Māori GIS uses:

  • Hui packs: simple maps that help whānau and trustees understand locations and options
  • Early kaupapa planning: quick sketches of areas of interest, access routes, and key constraints
  • Community engagement: a map that people can view easily, without GIS software
  • Project coordination: sites to visit, tasks to complete, who is responsible
  • Place based storytelling: simple layers with photos and short descriptions

When a My Maps draft becomes important, export it and rebuild it properly in QGIS or ArcGIS Pro, with clear permissions and metadata. See QGIS and ArcGIS Pro.

What My Maps is good for​

  • Quick maps to support kōrero
  • Collaboration with non technical users
  • Capturing approximate locations, photos, and notes
  • Simple categorisation and styling of points by a spreadsheet column
  • Sharing a map link, or embedding a map in a website

What it is not suitable for​

Do not use My Maps for:

  • Authoritative boundaries or legal maps
  • Long term storage of important datasets
  • Sensitive locations, wāhi tapu, or restricted cultural information
  • Complex spatial analysis, topology rules, or advanced editing
  • High accuracy field capture workflows

Key features you should know​

FeatureWhat it doesWhy it helps
Layers (up to 10)Organise your content into separate layersKeep the map readable and easy to turn on and off
Style by categoryColour and icon groups using a data columnMake the map easy to understand for hui audiences
Data tableView and edit the layer attributes in a tableQuick cleanup without exporting to GIS
Import from tablesImport from Google Sheets, CSV, XLSX, KML, KMZ, GPX, photosFast way to load lots of features
Sharing and permissionsShare as view or edit, via Google Drive or My MapsLets whānau and project teams collaborate
ExportExport the map to KML/KMZ, or layers to CSVMove work into GIS when it becomes important
EmbedEmbed a public map in a websiteSimple publishing for comms and updates

Create a map, name it, and choose a basemap​

Create or open a map, then set a name and description. You can switch the basemap style from the “Base map” option in the left panel. Good options for Māori kaupapa maps are often “Satellite” for orientation or a plain basemap for readability. Keep the description short and include a checked date.

Help: https://support.google.com/mymaps/answer/3024454

Add places, lines, and areas​

You can add places by searching for a location or by placing a marker, and you can draw lines and polygons to show paths and areas.

Practical ideas:

  • Add markers for meeting points, access gates, river crossings, and photo points
  • Draw areas for “general focus zones” for discussion, not exact boundaries
  • Draw lines for proposed walking routes, monitoring tracks, or access corridors

Limits matter if you are building a big map. A map can hold up to 10,000 lines, shapes, or places, and layers have their own limits. If your map is growing, split it into more than one map, or move to QGIS.

Help:

Use layers to keep the map clear​

Treat layers like themes. A good beginner pattern is one layer per kaupapa.

Example layer set for a simple kaupapa map:

  • Hui and logistics
  • Access and routes
  • Taiao observations (generalised)
  • Risks and constraints
  • Notes and photos

My Maps supports up to 10 layers. You can move features between layers and open the layer data table to edit attributes.

Help: https://support.google.com/mymaps/answer/3024933

Style the map so it reads well in hui​

Styling makes the map usable for non GIS audiences.

Useful styles:

  • Uniform style: one icon and colour for a whole layer
  • Sequence of numbers: good for site visit order
  • Individual styles: hand style a few key features
  • Style by data column: group by categories like “Site type” or “Priority”

Help: https://support.google.com/mymaps/answer/3024933

Custom icons for Māori kaupapa maps​

Custom icons help you create a map legend that makes sense to your kaupapa, like distinct icons for:

  • wāhi kōrero (generalised, not sensitive)
  • access points
  • photo points
  • hazards
  • monitoring sites

A practical approach:

  • Use PNG icons with a transparent background
  • Keep icons simple, high contrast, and readable on mobile
  • Use one icon set consistently across your maps

Google Maps Help Community guidance describes using “Style”, then “More icons”, then “Custom icon” to upload an icon. If you use custom icons, expect colours to be “baked into” the image rather than recoloured by My Maps styles.

Import data from a spreadsheet or Google Sheet​

Import is the fastest way to build a useful map for beginners.

My Maps can import:

  • Google Sheets, CSV, XLSX
  • KML, KMZ, GPX
  • Photos from Google Drive or Google Photos

File rules you should know:

  • First row should have column titles
  • Do not import more than 2,000 rows at once
  • Unzipped KML and KMZ files can be up to 5 MB
  • Other files can be up to 40 MB
  • My Maps can locate features from latitude and longitude, addresses, place names, or a WKT geometry column named “WKT”

Help: https://support.google.com/mymaps/answer/3024836

Geocoding addresses and place names​

If your spreadsheet has an address or place name column, My Maps can place points based on that column during import.

Practical advice for Aotearoa:

  • Use full addresses where possible (street number, road name, town)
  • For rural areas, try a nearby road address or a recognised place name
  • Keep an extra column for “Location notes” so people can describe access or uncertainty
  • After import, spot check points by comparing to satellite imagery and local knowledge

If you need more control than address geocoding, add latitude and longitude columns, or use a WKT column.

Help: https://support.google.com/mymaps/answer/3024836

A spreadsheet template that works well​

ColumnExampleNotes
NamePuna monitoring site 01Short and consistent
CategoryPunaUsed for “Style by data column”
AddressState Highway 1, KaikōuraOptional, for geocoding
Latitude-42.40123Best for accuracy
Longitude173.68102Best for accuracy
PriorityHighHelps filtering and sorting
DescriptionMonthly water clarity checkKeep short
Access notesPark at gate, walk 200 mUseful for field visits
SensitivityInternalUse this for sharing rules
Photo URLhttps://...Optional

Keep your map up to date without losing styling​

If you maintain your data in a Google Sheet or CSV, My Maps can reimport and merge to update a layer while keeping styles, icons, and attachments for matching features.

My Maps supports options like:

  • Replace all items
  • Update matching items (keeps existing features and updates matches)
  • Add more items
  • Merge matching items

Help: https://support.google.com/mymaps/answer/3024836

Use the data table for quick editing​

The layer data table is an easy way for beginners to clean up names, categories, and notes. It is also useful for quick QA before sharing.

Help: https://support.google.com/mymaps/answer/3024933

Collaboration and permissions​

Share view and edit access​

You can share a map so others can view or edit it. My Maps sharing is linked to Google Drive sharing, so you can manage permissions from Drive as well.

Common roles:

  • Can view: ideal for whānau and trustees who just need to read the map
  • Can edit: ideal for a small project team doing updates

Help:

Practical collaboration patterns​

  • Keep editing to a small group, keep viewing wider
  • Use a simple change process, like “add new points only, do not delete without agreement”
  • Add a “Last updated” note in the map description
  • If you need separate views for different audiences, create separate maps and share them differently

Organising maps in Google Drive​

My Maps are stored in Google Drive. Put maps into kaupapa folders, like:

  • Taiao monitoring
  • Whenua projects
  • Engagement maps
  • Comms outputs

Google notes that My Maps do not use your Drive storage quota, and maps are available only in Google Drive on the web, not offline.

Help: https://support.google.com/mymaps/answer/6138031

Mobile reality​

You cannot create My Maps on a mobile device, but you can view maps on mobile in a browser. Plan for this by testing the map on a phone before sending it to a wide audience.

Help: https://support.google.com/mymaps/answer/6138031

Directions and simple measurements​

My Maps can add a directions layer and can measure distance and area. This is useful for logistics planning and early scoping.

Examples:

  • Plan a site visit route with multiple stops
  • Estimate a walking track distance for a monitoring plan
  • Roughly measure an area for discussion

Each set of directions goes in its own layer.

Help: https://support.google.com/mymaps/answer/3502610

Share on social media or embed in a website​

My Maps supports sharing and also embedding a map into a website. Embedding requires the map to be public.

Practical tips for social media sharing:

  • Keep the map simple, with 2 to 4 layers maximum for public audiences
  • Use short labels and a small number of key points
  • Add a clear note about what the map is and is not

Help: https://support.google.com/mymaps/answer/3109452

Bring KML from Google Earth into My Maps​

Google Earth is a fast way to sketch and explore in 3D, then share a simple view via My Maps.

A practical flow:

  1. Create folders and placemarks in Google Earth for your kaupapa.
  2. Save or export as KML or KMZ.
  3. Import KML or KMZ into a My Maps layer.
  4. Style the layer for readability, then share.

My Maps supports importing KML and KMZ and also lists common KML limitations on import. Keep KML simple, and expect that some advanced KML features may not import.

Help:

Export and move into GIS when it matters​

When your My Maps content becomes important, move it into GIS.

Steps:

  1. Export the map to KML or KMZ.
  2. Load it into QGIS or ArcGIS Pro.
  3. Check geometry, fix any issues, and set a proper CRS in your GIS project.
  4. Store the rebuilt dataset in a managed format like GeoPackage (QGIS) or a geodatabase (ArcGIS).
  5. Add metadata, sources, checked dates, and permissions.

Help:

Tikanga, safety, and good practice for Māori organisations​

A simple rule: if you would not print it and leave it on a public table, do not put it in My Maps.

Good practice:

  • Keep sensitive layers out of My Maps entirely, unless you have a locked down approach and clear approval
  • Generalise locations when sharing outside the core kaitiaki group
  • Use a “Sensitivity” column and enforce it through sharing, not just good intentions
  • Keep place names accurate, with macrons, and record who confirmed local spellings
  • Use My Maps for kōrero and engagement, then store authoritative datasets in GIS with proper controls