Media statement

16 December 2010

New Zealand to get geospatially connected

Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) will lead the way to help connect New Zealand’s location-based information. This follows a Cabinet decision on Monday approving the establishment of a national spatial data infrastructure (SDI) for New Zealand, LINZ Chief Executive Colin MacDonald said today.

“Location-based, or geospatial, information is an important national asset,” says Mr MacDonald. “Cabinet has signalled that they recognise and support the need to build New Zealand’s geospatial capability, and the establishment of a national SDI will be a vital step in this process.”

LINZ, through the New Zealand Geospatial Office, will spend the next six months working with central and local government, academia, the private sector and community groups to design an implementation plan for an SDI.

“Geospatial information is part of our daily lives, whether we are aware of it or not It’s essential for making decisions on social and environmental issues, responding to emergencies, or simply finding our way across town,” says Mr MacDonald.

“It is already hugely important to New Zealand’s economy, and the establishment of an SDI provides the potential for more gains to be made. If geospatial information was easier to find and use, eliminating the same data being collected again and again, there could be nearly $500 million in productivity related benefits each year – and that’s just using the data we have now more effectively.”

For more information visit: http://www.linz.govt.nz/geospatial-office/about/projects-and-news/spatial-data-infrastructure/index.aspx

ENDS

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