Need support with imagery, LiDAR, maps or data in an emergency?
Contact the Geospatial Duty Officer:
Phone 027 357 0029
Email emergency@linz.govt.nz
Imagery and LiDAR data
Our satellite and aerial imagery and LiDAR height data can show you what’s happened across your territory. We can help get new images and data so that you can see ‘before and after’ snapshots of your region after an emergency event.
Learn more about requesting imagery:
How to access new imagery captured for an emergency event
All imagery published under an open license will be available on LINZ Basemaps. You will find any updated imagery within the menu, select Layers and search 'Event'.
The event imagery on LINZ Basemaps will also be discoverable in ArcGIS via the LINZ Emergency Imagery Collection.
LINZ Emergency Imagery Collection
If you work in a GIS Team during an emergency response, check out the Emergency Imagery Toolkit. You will find lots of resources, including a webinar which explains how LINZ can help during a response.
Emergency Imagery Toolkit (restricted access)
Request access to Emergency Imagery Toolkit
How to access existing imagery and LiDAR data
Existing aerial imagery is available to view on LINZ Basemaps
Existing elevation models are freely available from LINZ Data Service
Existing LiDAR datasets are available for download on Open Topography
Before and after: The image on the left shows the area around Mohaka River, Te Haroto, before Cyclone Gabrielle. The image on the right is the same area captured shortly after the cyclone – on 21 February 2023 – clearly showing the resulting landslips and flood damage. Image from LINZ Basemaps
Data
You can download New Zealand's most up-to-date property, land and marine data from the LINZ Data Service. This can provide good context and can be used to benchmark against data collected during the response to detect change.
We can supply:
- topographic data and maps
- hydrographic data and charts
- property data including boundaries and land ownership
- addresses, roads and place names
- Crown land and Crown property data.
Find data for your region on the LINZ Data Service
Maps
Our topographic maps provide context to quickly understand what is happening at the start of an emergency. The maps are useful for defining the emergency area of interest and briefing first responders.
Toitū Te Whenua can provide paper maps and charts to any organisation recognised as part of the emergency services community.
Ordering maps during an emergency
During an emergency, call 0800 555 567 to order paper maps for your region. This number is available 24/7.
If it is not an emergency, you can order paper maps through our map printing partner Bluestar.
Create an account with Bluestar, then order paper maps or charts through the Bluestar portal and get them couriered to your office.
Download topographic maps from the LINZ Data Service
To download a Topo50 Map as a TIFF or GeoTIFF use the NZ Topo50 Map Chooser
Emergency services personnel rely on paper maps during response planning, as seen here during the Pigeon Valley Fire event in February 2019. Credit: New Zealand Defence Force Facebook page.
Tides, charts and navigation
Tides have a significant impact on the size of tsunami and floods, so can determine if people need to evacuate. We provide daily tide predictions for 64 sites around New Zealand.
We also maintain the charts and navigation information used on ships and boats across our territorial waters, as well as parts of the south-west Pacific and Antarctic waters. Our charts can be downloaded from the LINZ Data Service.
Download charts for the North Island
Download charts for the South Island
All marine charts for our area of responsibility can be found in the NZ Chart Catalogue.
Hazards at sea
If an emergency creates new hazards at sea, we issue a Notice to Mariners to let people know.
Find out about Notices to Mariners
If you have found a new hazard to navigation, please notify us by reporting a Hydrographic Note as soon as possible.
Go to the Hydrographic Note reporting page
You can subscribe to Notices to Mariners on our Charts website.
Bathymetry
Bathymetry is the study of water depths and is used to create the underwater equivalent of our topo maps. This data helps predict the impact of tsunami, measure coastal erosion, and map the shoreline. Our hydrographic and bathymetric data covers the coast of New Zealand, and parts of Antarctica and the south-west Pacific.
View an index of our bathymetric data on the LINZ Data Service