NZ Topo maps online

Not meaning to distract from this (which is cool in its own right), but one thing I think I'd find very handy is a Google Map Server that served up New Zealand Topo maps. Does anyone know of anything like this available or in the works? That way I could adjust my website's javascript to use the Google map engine and API and all the cool stuff that comes with it, but fetch map images that are far more useful within New Zealand than the stock standard Google map options. Google's 'Physical' map seems to be closest to a topo map so it's what I've defaulted things to, but it's still quite sucky in comparison to Topo50. I notice the Koordinates website displays Topo50 images on a Google map, but it still seems to be using a technical hack which they've thrown together whereby a regular Google map is displayed and then Koordinates loads and re-paints its own Topo50 images over the top. Not quite the same as collecting the right images in the first place, and not so elegant as it would be if it were possible to just point the API at a map server that provided Topo50 images in the first place.

Thanks for that gavin - its a great help and really useful. One thing is the search feature that topo online had for places. Apparently this is in the 'shape' files that they have (text files), but I have no idea how to get these to mesh with the maps. Anyone know?

You can still download the NZ placenames database from LINZ as a spreadsheet: http://www.linz.go.../nznames_6Aug08.zip This gives the grid reference and map sheet name on the old 260 series maps. If you need this updating for the new map series and co-ordinates, I've not found an online version. If anyone's interested, I'll give it a couple of days for someone to point out where one is available online, and if not will update the old database for the new map sheets and co-ordinates.

If time allows at some point I'm hoping to add support for place name searching, also support for lat lons and advanced print functionality. But don't hold your breath - I'm a little time poor at present! :P madpom - the link you gave didn't work. I'll have to have a dig on the LINZ site. I was originally thinking of using the NZ data from http://www.geonames.org/ but I'm guessing the LINZ data might be more accurate and up to date. Used the geonames.org data for http://www.yougodo.com and seems pretty good, but I needed to correct some place names as they seemed to be using old Maori names that have since been replaced.

I'll try again ... the link got abbreviated. http://www.linz.govt.nz/placenames/find-names/names-dataset/index.aspx The link to the database is on the right hand side. It's the same database Matthew seems to have used for this site's location search facility. This 'Dataset of New Zealand Geographic Placenames' has many more entries than the official 'New Zealand Gazetteer of Official Geographic Names'. The former is the x,y's of every label on every named feature on every 260 series topo map, whereas the latter is only official names. Not sure which dataset the links you gave use.

Hi madpom - thanks for that - much appreciated :)

I have an excel spreadsheet derived from the placenames database with the old NZMG49 coordinates, the new NZTM2000 coordinates, the topomap.co.nz x/y coordinates, and topomap.co.nz linking URL's for each placename. However, I have nowhere I can post it as it's over the 2MB (!) size limit on the only free hosting site I have an account on. Private mail me here if you want it.

Hi Everyone I can't believe my eyes seeing this post. I've had the same idea and have been working away totally unaware of this discussion until today. I have just launched a NZ Topo map service which serves up topo tiles over the top of google maps, and also includes a placename search. You access it on your iphone or Android also!! http://www.nztopomaps.com I don't know whether to laugh or cry that two very similar websites have been launched so close to each other (temporally and spatially, as I understand gavinhariss is based in Chch, just like me). Hopefully you find some use for this.

Great work, it allows placename searching and is very fast w/ print function. Many thanks

Hi Gavin, hi seagull, I don't know if I should find it unlucky for you or lucky for us all that you didn't know about each other's project! After "test driving" both your maps I think you have both done a great job, while both pages are quite different with advantages and disadvantages. For what it's worth, here are my impressions: Gavin / topomap.co.nz: This map loads a little slow at times, and currently has no place name search and no printing option. BUT is has a whole load of place names and river names in the map, and additionally these names are visible even when zoomed out quite far, which helps a lot with keeping an overview. Also nice full screen option. Seagull / nztopomaps.com: Convenient place name search and very useful print function! To me, the map also looks much tidier than the one Gavin is using. On the downside, there seem to be a lot less place and river names and some other details than in Gavin's map, and those that are there are often only visible in close up zoom, which makes it difficult to find particular places and also limits the ability to keep an overview of the area at times. If I had a free wish in an ideal world, I would wish for both of you to merge your projects to end up with all goodies in one: Fast loading, place name search, print option, full screen mode, tidy appearance, and all place names, river names and other details together in one map; or at least available by switching between both maps. As it is now, I'll just use both your systems - thank you both again for putting two great services online! Matt