Using Matawhenua
Matawhenua is a browser-only Māori GIS mapping tool for exploring public reference layers in 3D and creating your own saved features. Nothing you create is cloud stored by Matawhenua. Your saved features remain in this browser on this device unless you export them yourself.
Map navigation
On a phone or tablet, use one finger to pan. Use two fingers to tilt, rotate, and pitch the map. Pinch to zoom in and out. On a desktop or laptop, left drag pans the map, the mouse wheel zooms, and right drag changes pitch and rotation.
Map toolbar
Use the zoom buttons and locate tool on the map toolbar to quickly move around. Use the basemap button to cycle through the available backgrounds. Use the left and right arrow buttons below it to slowly rotate the 3D map. Press the same arrow again, or interact with the map, to stop the animation.
Terrain tools
The DEM and DSM control switches the terrain source. DEM shows the ground surface. DSM includes trees, buildings, and other surface objects. The vertical exaggeration control changes how strongly landform is shown.
Reference layers
The layer buttons turn public reference layers on and off. These include Māori land blocks, marae, pā sites, parcels, property boundaries, awa, maunga, and labels. Hover over a button to see a short description of that layer.
Search and capture
Use search to find place names, land blocks, maunga, rivers, parcels, addresses, and saved features. Search results and clicked reference features can be added straight into Saved features.
Drawing your own feature
- Choose Place, Path, or Area.
- Choose a kaupapa.
- Press Start drawing.
- Click or tap on the map to place the geometry.
- Add a name.
- Add context, notes, or tikanga guidance.
- Press Save feature.
Saved features
The Saved features panel shows what you have created or captured. From there you can zoom to a feature, edit it on the map, export it, or delete it.
Import and export
You can create, edit, export, and import data files in your browser. If you export sensitive data, take care that services such as OneDrive, iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox are not automatically syncing those files to the cloud.