Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand

10/06/2026

Hi Napier 👋

Consultation is open on a proposal to name an unnamed bay in Napier, Breakwater Bay.

Located next to the Port of Napier, the bay is a popular swimming spot for locals and visitors, known for its relatively sheltered and safe conditions.

The name was put forward by a member of the community, who noted that not having an official name can make the area difficult to describe. A formal official name could also help emergency services if needed.

Consultation closes 10 August 2026.

Find out more and have your say here:

This proposal is to make Breakwater Bay the official name of a small unnamed bay adjacent to and west of the Port of Napier. Closes: Mon 10 Aug 2026

09/06/2026

What if your field crews could capture sub-metre accurate location data, without expensive equipment or subscriptions? 🤔

The Bioeconomy Science Institute, which Scion has become part of, is using SouthPAN to support forestry mapping, inventory, pest monitoring and operational decision-making in challenging field conditions.

By enabling SouthPAN’s L1 SBAS service on a compatible Arrow Gold receiver, their teams achieve sub-metre accuracy in real time in the field.

The practical result:

point capture reduced from around 3 minutes to 20-30 seconds ✅
data collection became 3 to 5 times faster ✅
lower-cost GPS equipment could be used with greater confidence ✅
field data became available sooner for research and decisions ✅

While this story comes from forestry, the opportunity is broader. If your organisation relies on GPS for field work, mapping, monitoring or asset management, SouthPAN may help improve the accuracy and usefulness of your location data, where compatible equipment is used and configured appropriately.

Want to explore how SouthPAN could support your organisation?

Contact us to discuss configuring your receiver or the LINZ SouthPAN trial opportunity - [email protected] 📨

Or tag your organisation and tell us why you want to test SouthPAN, we’ll be in touch!

To find out more about SouthPAN, visit ➡️ www.linz.govt.nz/southpan

The Southern Positioning Augmentation Network (SouthPAN) is a joint initiative between the New Zealand and Australian governments. It improves the accuracy of systems such as GPS from 5-10 metres, down to less than one metre, and in some cases as little as 10-20cm 📏

Read the full case study and others here ➡️ https://shorturl.at/JoPp2

05/06/2026

Aerial imagery alert! 🚨 Kapiti Coast, captured at 7.5cm resolution – our 2025 urban aerial photos are live on the LINZ Data Service and Basemaps.

A big thank you to Kāpiti Coast District Council 👏

From sandy shorelines to winding rivers, this imagery has it all. Check it out for yourself at the links below 👇

LDS: https://data.linz.govt.nz/layer/124157 🗺️
Basemaps: https://basemaps.linz.govt.nz/@-40.8595252,175.0726318,z12?i=kapiti-coast-2025-0.075m 🛰️

Image: Waikanae 📍

03/06/2026

On your marks… get set… go!

For World Running Day 2026, we’ve set up a Strava segment between two survey marks around Point Jerningham in Wellington.

If you’re on Strava, we challenge you to try it out for yourself, and maybe even claim Local Legend status 👑 https://www.strava.com/segments/41490915

The segment connects two geodetic marks, which are physical indicators used by surveyors to connect their work to accurate coordinates.

Their work plays an important part in defining property boundaries, tracking how land changes over time, and providing the accurate location data that underpins maps, navigation and infrastructure across Aotearoa.

The segment starts on the parade opposite the bottom of Carlton Gore Road and finishes at the end of the straight round the point. So… who’s going to be the Local Legend? Get out there and give it a go! 💪💪🔥

Not on Strava? No problem. There are survey marks all over Aotearoa New Zealand, and you don’t need Strava to start finding them! Turn your next run or walk into a treasure hunt and see what you can spot! 👀

You can download the LINZ Geodetic Marks app to help you track them down:

https://www.linz.govt.nz/products-services/geodetic/geodetic-marks/geodetic-marks-app

02/06/2026

Shipping in New Zealand and around the world is set to benefit from the biggest navigation upgrade in decades ⚓
Toitū Te Whenua LINZ and Maritime NZ are delivering a $28.6m digital transformation programme that will see a new range of standards and products become available providing faster updates and more precise information for mariners on the water 🛳️🛟

National Hydrographer Adam Greenland spoke with RNZ about what this means for safety and navigation, and his recent appointment as a Director of the International Hydrographic Organization IHO Directing Committee.

Listen to the interview to hear how all this work at LINZ will support safer, more efficient journeys at sea: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2019037512/nautical-navigation-processes-undergoing-significant-overhaul

02/06/2026

Clampdown on invasive w**d begins in Kawarau River 🌿

A major operation is underway to protect Lake Whakatipu from one of New Zealand’s most damaging freshwater w**ds, lagarosiphon.

Around 60,000 square metres of hessian matting – the size of eight rugby fields – is being laid across the riverbed to stop the w**d in its tracks. This work is targeted to the Kawarau River as it is the key pathway for lagarosiphon to enter the lake.

Find out more about this work and why it matters: https://www.linz.govt.nz/news/2026-06/clampdown-invasive-w**d-begins-kawarau-river

Thank you to our biosecurity partners Boffa Miskell for these photos 💚

27/05/2026

We’ve updated our cover image for winter with a fresh view of the Rakaia River ❄️

Working alongside Environment Canterbury and Department of Conservation, we help protect these iconic braided rivers - vital nesting habitats for threatened birds like the wrybill, black-fronted tern and banded dotterel 🐦

Through predator control and removing invasive w**ds, we’re helping keep these wide, open riverbeds safe for wildlife to thrive.

The bridge over the river has the ritual of holding your breath from one side to the other. IYKYK 🌉😲

Photo credit: Shaun Thomason 📷

27/05/2026

Kia ora Ruakākā 👋

You may have noticed bollards recently installed at the end of Sime Road.

They’re there for a couple of important reasons:
To help prevent illegal rubbish dumping and anti-social behaviour
To protect vulnerable dotterel (tūturiwhatu) from being harmed by vehicles

These small birds nest on the ground, meaning their eggs can easily be crushed. If chicks are disturbed, they can die from exhaustion. Keeping vehicles out helps give them a safe place to thrive 🐣💛

(Check out two of these cuties in the photos!)

We’re also aware someone has recently tried to remove the bollards. Please don’t do this - they’re in place to protect the environment and local wildlife.

Thank you for helping care for this space and its precious native species.

25/05/2026

Penalties for serious breaches of the Overseas Investment Act.

Two businessmen have been ordered to pay $440,000 after illegally buying sensitive Hawke’s Bay farmland and attempting to evade the Overseas Investment Act.

The case involved using a New Zealand-based company to conceal overseas ownership, breaching strict ‘associate’ rules. LINZ investigated and took action, with penalties issued even though both men are now overseas.

More information available here: https://www.linz.govt.nz/news/2026-05/penalties-serious-breaches-overseas-investment-act