About

This site has been built and is operated by the Informatics and Soils and Landscapes teams at Manaaki Whenua. It allows you to view maps and soils information from some hundred soil-related map layers.

The Data

The Fundamental Soil Layers (FSL) predate and are being replaced by S-map which is considered better quality and more reliable data. However, there is not yet national coverage for S-map, so the FSL still represent best available soils data for significant parts of New Zealand. The FSL contain spatial information for 16 key soil attributes. Each attribute is measurable and is recorded in appropriate units of measure.

The New Zealand Soil Classification (NZSC) classifies soils into orders, groups, and subgroups. This classification grew out of the New Zealand Genetic Soil Classification and, where possible, preserved its useful features. The resulting classification represents the best attempt to classify New Zealand soils at our current state of knowledge.

N.B. The Ross Sea Regions database, (historic and recent soil site and soil pit horizon data from Antarctica), used to be accessible here as a map layer. This layer has been removed from this site and the historic data has been re-compiled, and is now hosted at the Antarctic Soils Explorer. Additional information can be found on the Soils Portal.

How to cite the New Zealand SoilsMapViewer

If you need to cite the New Zealand SoilsMapViewer application in an article or report, please use the following citation:

"Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research 2024. The New Zealand SoilsMapViewer. https://doi.org/10.26060/9vfz-hw43"


Site updated June 2024


Terms of Use

Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research New Zealand Limited has compiled the maps and other information available on this site from data derived from numerous sources. The information may not be complete, correct or up to date. We do not accept responsibility for any actions taken that rely on it or consequences arising from the use of it.

The maps and information you can view from this website are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 New Zealand License (BY-NC-ND).

This licence allows you to use the maps and information taken from the site only for non-commercial purposes. (If you wish to use material from this site for commercial purposes, please contact us.) If you remix, transform, or build on material from this site, you may not distribute the modified material. The full terms of the licence are available here.

Among other things, the licence also provides that:

  • except as required by law or as otherwise agreed in writing between the us, the maps and information are licensed by Manaaki Whenua on an "as is" and "as available" basis and without any warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied.
  • subject to any liability that may not be excluded or limited by law, Manaaki Whenua shall not be liable on any legal basis (including without limitation negligence) and expressly excludes all liability for loss or damage howsoever and whenever caused to you.

Terms of Use of the Website

This website is protected by copyright and may not be reproduced in whole or in part except under licence from Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research New Zealand Limited.

By using this site you agree, and are deemed, to be bound by the following Terms. If you choose not to be bound by the following Terms, then Manaaki Whenua does not grant you the right to use this site.

You acknowledge that Manaaki Whenua acts as the provider of this website.

You agree that you will not attempt to alter this site or employ any robot, spider, or other device or process or means whatever to use this site for any unauthorised purposes.

You agree not to:

  • make excessive traffic demands;
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  • otherwise engage in any other behaviour that may be reasonably expected to inhibit other users from using and enjoying the site;
  • damage or destroy the reputation of Manaaki Whenua.

Manaaki Whenua accepts no obligation to monitor the use of this site. However, Manaaki Whenua reserves the right to disclose any information as required by law, to block access to you, your agents, associates or your company and take such other action as may be reasonably necessary to prevent any breach of these terms and conditions or any breach of applicable laws. Manaaki Whenua will also in its absolute discretion fully cooperate with the relevant authorities with respect to any investigation of suspected unlawful activity or violation of the website's security.

Manaaki Whenua does not warrant that this website or the internet generally will be uninterruptible or error free or that any information, software or other material accessible from this site are free of viruses or other harmful components.

Manaaki Whenua is not responsible for any information contained on sites to which this website provides links nor for any third party content that can be accessed through this website. The inclusion of any link to a website is not an endorsement of the linked site.

You also acknowledge that Manaaki Whenua may suspend the operation of this website for repair or maintenance work or in order to update or vary the contents or functionality of the website. You accept that access to or use of this website or services or pages linked to it will not necessarily be uninterrupted or error free.

Manaaki Whenua reserves the right to modify or terminate this website for any reason without notice at any time.

Enquiries or Complaints

If you have any enquiries or complaints about the data or services provided by this website then please address them to:

Privacy Officer
Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research
Gerald Street
Lincoln
7640
New Zealand
Email: privacy@landcareresearch.co.nz

We will only record your email address if you send us a message. Your email address, if supplied to us, will only be used for the purpose for which you provided it. We will not use your email address for any other purpose, and will not disclose it, without your consent.

These Terms were last updated on 20 April 2016.