Your client/browser is unsupported! Please use one of the supported browsers listed here in order of preference:

Otherwise the site may not function as expected. If you have a modern browser it may be OK.

DISMISS

Confirm location
Loading...
Custom features

loading...

  • ...
Predefined features

loading...

Add features from the "Feature report" pane to get details reports.
You will find all saved features here.

Loading...
Select a layer to view its associated legend.
  {{legend.shortName}} {{ legend.shortName }}
 
{{legend.shortName}}
 
Select a layer to view its associated meta data.

The layers in this category (e.g. cartographic text, transport and water) can be overlaid on your map as contextual information.

Land Use Capability (LUC) Classes 1–4 modelled from S-map

This layer provides a national estimate of Land Use Capability (LUC) Classes 1–4 modelled from S-map soil data for New Zealand, based on S-map coverage as at August 2025. The dataset was produced by Manderson et al. (2026) for the Ministry for the Environment. The model applies a spatial rules-based approach that implements LUC classification criteria from the Land Use Capability Survey Handbook (Lynn et al., 2021) to S-map soil attributes, generating estimates of LUC Classes 1–4 for both mineral and organic soils across New Zealand.

Users should note that this layer represents a modelled first estimate and should be interpreted in the context of the underlying S-map coverage, data quality, and the assumptions and limitations described in the accompanying technical report.

References:

  • Lynn IH, Manderson AK, Page MJ, Harmsworth GR, Eyles GO, Douglas GB, Mackay AD, Newsome PJF 2021. Land Use Capability Survey Hand-book – a New Zealand handbook for the classification of land, 3rd ed. (revised & reprinted). Hamilton, AgResearch; Lincoln, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd; Lower Hutt, GNS Science. 163p.
  • Manderson A, Odgers N, Jing G, Lynn I, Fraser S, Ward A, McCollum K. 2026. A Spatial Rules-Based Approach to Deriving First-Estimate Land Use Capability Classes from S-map for New Zealand. Bioeconomy Science Institute Maiangi Taiao contract report to the Ministry of the Environment.

Add features of interest to generate a report

To draw a custom area on the map
  • Click multiple times around the map to create a custom area
  • To close your selection area, double click on the map or click on your starting point

Loading...

Loading...

{{ activePane == 'Features' ? sharedState().paneTitle : activePaneTitle() }}

Loading...

Add features of interest to generate a report

To draw a custom area on the map
  • Click multiple times around the map to create a custom area
  • To close your selection area, double click on the map or click on your starting point

Loading...
Custom features

loading...

  • ...
Predefined features

loading...

Add features from the "Feature report" pane to get details reports.
You will find all saved features here.

The layers in this category (e.g. cartographic text, transport and water) can be overlaid on your map as contextual information.

Land Use Capability (LUC) Classes 1–4 modelled from S-map

This layer provides a national estimate of Land Use Capability (LUC) Classes 1–4 modelled from S-map soil data for New Zealand, based on S-map coverage as at August 2025. The dataset was produced by Manderson et al. (2026) for the Ministry for the Environment. The model applies a spatial rules-based approach that implements LUC classification criteria from the Land Use Capability Survey Handbook (Lynn et al., 2021) to S-map soil attributes, generating estimates of LUC Classes 1–4 for both mineral and organic soils across New Zealand.

Users should note that this layer represents a modelled first estimate and should be interpreted in the context of the underlying S-map coverage, data quality, and the assumptions and limitations described in the accompanying technical report.

References:

  • Lynn IH, Manderson AK, Page MJ, Harmsworth GR, Eyles GO, Douglas GB, Mackay AD, Newsome PJF 2021. Land Use Capability Survey Hand-book – a New Zealand handbook for the classification of land, 3rd ed. (revised & reprinted). Hamilton, AgResearch; Lincoln, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd; Lower Hutt, GNS Science. 163p.
  • Manderson A, Odgers N, Jing G, Lynn I, Fraser S, Ward A, McCollum K. 2026. A Spatial Rules-Based Approach to Deriving First-Estimate Land Use Capability Classes from S-map for New Zealand. Bioeconomy Science Institute Maiangi Taiao contract report to the Ministry of the Environment.
Select a layer to view its associated legend.
  {{legend.shortName}} {{ legend.shortName }}
 
{{legend.shortName}}
 

Use this facility to create printable PDF maps in A4, A3, A2 and A1 size and in portrait or landscape layout.

The extent of your map is shown by the blue box. Click on the box and drag it around to change the geographic location of your map.

Changing the scale or paper size will affect the amount of detail or the size of the geographic area that will appear on the map.

The maps can include any map title.

please wait while the map is prepared...
loading...
loading...
loading...

Warning: {{ problemLayers[0] }} will not render at {{ selection.scale.name }}.

Warning: at {{ selection.scale.name }} these layers will not render:
  • {{ layerName }}

This map generation process may take a few minutes.

The print request exceeded the maximum supported size due the complexity/amount of geometry in the requested extent. Try printing a smaller area of the map.

3rd party layers will not be included in PDF maps.

DO NOT CLOSE THIS WINDOW before the PDF download window appears. Closing the window will interrupt the creation of your PDF file.

Configure your map

loading layers...

Error. Please try, reloading the page.

Select layers of interest by:
Please select layers to explore {{ numberOfSelectedLayers() }} {{ numberOfSelectedLayers() == 1 ? 'Layer' : 'Layers' }} selected

  The layer will drawn on top of other layers The layer will be drawn in the middle, between the base and context layers. The layer will be a backdrop for other layers.

The layer will turn off when the map is zoomed in past this scale.

The layer will turn off when the map is zoomed out beyond this scale.

{{ settingsItem.layerService.longDescription }}

This layer is styled using the style definition in the source data.

Error

This is an experimental feature.

Our Environment can display third party maps that are served with the Web Map Tile Service (WMTS) protocol or Esri ArcGIS REST API.

WMTS (Web Map Tile Service)

What it is:

"A Web Map Tile Service (WMTS) is a standard protocol for serving pre-rendered georeferenced map tiles over the Internet. The specification was developed and first published by the Open Geospatial Consortium in 2010" (source)

The WMTS standard defines a capabilities document which describes the parameters of a tiled web map. If you have the URL of a capabilities document, Our Environment can try to display your map. For example, click here to use the layers from Manaaki Whenua's Web Map Services.

This feature works best with maps that are in the NZTM projection but we try to re-project on the fly if the maps are in a different projection. The WMTS service obviously needs to provide maps that cover or fall entirely within New Zealand. You will see an error message if the map coverage is outside of New Zealand.

ArcGIS REST API

Our Environment can display some maps hosted by ArcGIS REST API Services. The URL for the service should end with:

  • /MapServer - for example NZ Imagery
  • /MapServer/{a number} e.g. /MapServer/0 /MapServer/1 /MapServer/2 etc.
  • /ImageServer

You can find some compatible maps at:

  • data.govt.nz - when you select a dataset, choose the Esri REST API option, then paste the URL of the resource into the text box above.
  • Living Atlas - when you click on a layer, you will be shown a page with information about the layer. To import this into Our Environment, copy the links that are in the section titled Layers.

Errors encountered

Our Environment encountered some problems while trying to parse the capabilities document. Some layers have been excluded from this list because of the following reasons:
  • The layer doesn't cover New Zealand.
  • The layer is missing the Style attribute that is required by the WMTS standard.
  • The layer is not available in the EPSG:2193 map projection which is used in Our Environment

Layer types

Context - Displayed on top of the map
Science / Content - In the middle, between base and context layers.
Base layer - A backdrop for other layers.

Select one or more layers to continue.

Esri REST API: {{esriServiceName()}}

Description
{{ esriDescription() || "no description supplied" | stripHTML }}
Copyright
{{ esriImageCapabilities.copyrightText }}

Confirm, to save this to your custom layers

Loading tour...