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From a court record to a map

The strongest workflow keeps the document and the GIS linked. Do not begin by copying a polygon and losing the court record that explains it.

1. Capture the record​

In Pātaka Whenua record:

  • block name exactly as displayed
  • court district
  • block identifier
  • relevant order/minute/plan reference
  • date
  • the question that sent you there

If you downloaded a document, keep its original filename and add the reference to your research table.

2. Establish a map location​

Use the Pātaka map to orient the research, then add current public context:

  • NZ Parcels
  • current aerial imagery
  • NZ Place Names where useful
  • roads and addresses
  • awa and catchments for physical context

Treat a location derived only from documentary wording as approximate until the spatial evidence supports something stronger.

3. Find survey evidence​

If a court order or title references a plan, use LINZ land-record search guidance to locate survey plans. Māori land plans (ML) can record partitions/subdivisions; deposited and survey-office plans can help trace later cadastral changes.

4. Keep source features separate​

If you digitise an old boundary, create a separate historical layer with fields such as:

feature_id
block_name
source_type
source_ref
source_date
georef_method
location_confidence
notes

Do not edit the current LINZ parcel layer to make it look like the historic plan.

5. Compare rather than collapse​

Overlay the historic feature, court block context and current cadastre. Differences can be the research result. They may reveal partition, survey or landscape change that deserves another record search.

6. Add the wider landscape​

Only after the land-record chain is stable should you add imagery, LiDAR, wai, taiao, historic maps or Treaty material. This prevents an attractive map becoming disconnected from the documentary evidence.

Continue with Investigating whenua when available, or use Archives to map for documentary research now.

Last reviewed: 26 August 2026

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