Map tiles

So when you look at the google topo map and then look at google earth the terrain does not match up?

The terrain shading within the individual map itself is broken. Here's an example. See how the regions at top and left are blank of shading in the first URL. Static terrain map (bad): http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/staticmap?maptype=terrain&size=300x330&markers=size:small|color:red|-42.096850,171.411536|-42.044401,171.444339|-42.031678,171.386988|-42.124503,171.331014&sensor=false Static road map (good): http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/staticmap?size=300x330&markers=size:small|color:red|-42.096850,171.411536|-42.044401,171.444339|-42.031678,171.386988|-42.124503,171.331014&sensor=false&visual_refresh=true Dynamic terrain map (good): http://tramper.co.nz/?view=map&id=219

Has it always been like this or has it just happened?

Happened in the past month or so. A bug report has been lodged.

For reference this issue appears to have been resolved by Google in the last day or so.