Kāpehu

Create places in 2D, view in 3D, all data is sovereign to you - no tracking, and no data you create is transfered from your computer.

Vertical
2D editing active Reference layers off

Help

Using Kāpehu

Kāpehu is a browser-based Māori GIS mapping tool for creating your own features and exploring public reference layers. The app runs in your browser. Saved features stay on your device unless you export them.

Views

  • 2D is for creating and editing features.
  • 3D is for viewing terrain and inspecting saved or searched locations.

The 2D or 3D button switches between map views. The animate button appears only in 3D and rotates the terrain view until you press Stop or interact with the map.

Elevation

The DEM or DSM button switches the terrain source. DEM shows bare ground. DSM includes trees, buildings, and surface objects.

Layer buttons

The layer buttons turn public reference layers on or off. These include Māori land blocks, marae, pā sites, parcels, rivers, and labels. Active buttons show that the layer is turned on.

Creating features

  1. Stay in 2D.
  2. Choose Place, Path, or Area.
  3. Choose a kaupapa and sub-type.
  4. Press Start drawing.
  5. Click once for a place.
  6. Click several times for a path, then press Finish shape.
  7. Click several times for an area, then press Finish shape.
  8. Add a name and notes.
  9. Press Save feature.

Search

Use search to find saved features, Māori land blocks, marae, and place names. Selecting a result moves the map to that location.

Library and export

Saved features appear in the Library panel. Use Zoom to move to a feature, Edit in 2D to change it, and export to GeoJSON, CSV, or KML when needed.

Data sovereignty

Your own created data stays in local browser storage unless you choose to export it.

About

Kāpehu v44 — Build date: 2026-03-16

Ko Waikato te awa.
Ko Taupiri te maunga.

Ko SS Remutaka te waka.
Nō Airani, nō Wēra, nō Kōtirana ōku tīpuna.

I tipu ake au i Waikato.
Kei Te Awakairangi, Te Whanganui a Tara au e noho ana.

Ko Duane Wilkins tōku ingoa.

I am a geospatial professional and project manager living with my family in Wellington, New Zealand. I have worked with geography, mapping, and geographic information systems since the late 1990s. My focus now is sharing the practical use of geospatial information to support decision making, planning, and communication, with an emphasis on building capability so teams and people can do the mahi on their own.

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