Skip to main content

LINZ Basemaps

LINZ Basemaps provides current national basemaps from Toitū Te Whenua LINZ. For most QGIS users the two useful choices are the Aerial Imagery Basemap and the Topographic Basemap.

This page shows the complete QGIS setup. You do not need to know what WMTS, XYZ or vector tiles mean before starting.

Add the LINZ aerial basemap to QGIS​

Use WMTS for the simplest reliable aerial-imagery connection in QGIS.

1. Get the current LINZ Basemaps API key​

  1. Open LINZ Basemaps.
  2. Choose the Aerial Imagery basemap if it is not already displayed.
  3. Open the API or developer control shown by the site and copy the current aerial basemap API URL or API key.
  4. Standard access does not require an LDS account. LINZ allocates a dynamic key for standard use.
  5. Standard keys expire after 90 days. If a connection that used to work later returns an invalid-key error, return to LINZ Basemaps and obtain the new key.

Do not use an old key copied from somebody else's tutorial.

2. Build the WMTS address​

The aerial WMTS capabilities address is:

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

Replace YOUR_KEY with the current key from LINZ. Do not leave the words YOUR_KEY in the address.

3. Create the connection in QGIS​

  1. Open QGIS.
  2. Choose Layer → Add Layer → Add WMS/WMTS Layer…. You can also press Ctrl+L to open Data Source Manager and choose WMS/WMTS.
  3. Click New.
  4. In Name, enter LINZ Aerial Basemap.
  5. In URL, paste the complete WMTS address from the previous step.
  6. Leave username and password blank.
  7. Click OK.
  8. Select LINZ Aerial Basemap in the connection list.
  9. Click Connect.
  10. QGIS will list the available aerial tilesets. Select the tileset appropriate to the project and click Add.
  11. Close Data Source Manager.

The aerial imagery should now appear in the Layers panel. Drag it below parcels, whenua boundaries, awa, sites and other vector layers.

4. Check that it worked​

Zoom to a familiar place. You should see aerial photography rather than a blank background. If your project CRS is NZGD2000 / New Zealand Transverse Mercator 2000, EPSG:2193, keep it that way. QGIS can display the basemap in the project without changing your analysis CRS.

If QGIS reports an authentication or invalid-key error, obtain a fresh key from LINZ Basemaps and edit the connection URL.

Add the LINZ Topographic Basemap to QGIS​

The topographic basemap uses vector tiles. In QGIS 3.16 or later:

  1. Make sure the Browser panel is visible using View → Panels → Browser.
  2. In the Browser panel, find Vector Tiles.
  3. Right-click Vector Tiles and choose New Generic Connection….
  4. Enter the name LINZ Topographic.
  5. Paste this tile URL, replacing YOUR_KEY with the current LINZ Basemaps key:
https://basemaps.linz.govt.nz/v1/tiles/topographic/EPSG:3857/{z}/{x}/{y}.pbf?api=YOUR_KEY
  1. If QGIS provides a Style URL field, paste:
https://basemaps.linz.govt.nz/v1/tiles/topographic/EPSG:3857/style/topographic.json?api=YOUR_KEY
  1. Set minimum zoom to 0 and maximum zoom to 15 if QGIS asks for them.
  2. Click OK.
  3. Double-click LINZ Topographic in the Browser panel to add it to the map.

These are the URL patterns currently documented by LINZ for QGIS. See How to use LINZ Basemaps APIs.

When to use the basemap and when to download imagery​

Use the aerial basemap when you need visual context for a rohe, whenua, marae, awa or field-work map and do not need the original raster pixels.

Do not use a basemap screenshot for raster analysis or assume the whole visible mosaic was captured on one date. If capture date, original resolution or change through time matters, find and download the underlying imagery dataset through LINZ Data Service or use the LINZ aerial imagery guide.

Last reviewed: 27 August 2026

Last updated on