Hon Maurice Williamson
Minister for Land Information
12 March 2014
Benefits in coordinated approach to imagery
Efforts to coordinate central and local government procurement of aerial imagery will ensure better value for money and
open access to the data, Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson says.
Aerial imagery is captured from airborne sensors and cameras, and its uses include land management and disaster recovery
planning.
“Land Information New Zealand is working with local authorities and government agencies to establish a national
programme for coordinating public sector imagery purchases.
“This will ensure imagery is purchased on an open licence and at a consistent standard, which will mean value for money
and open access,” Mr Williamson says.
An imagery collection programme, enabled by collaboration between central and local government and the private sector,
is currently underway for some areas of the South Island not recently captured. Land Information New Zealand is also
working to make imagery available through the LINZ Data Service.
“Aerial imagery can be used by the forestry and agriculture industries to help improve land productivity, and is also a
useful tool for planning construction and engineering works.
“The Government has an objective of releasing high value data for public reuse, and ensuring imagery is collected under
an open licence means it can be reused by anyone,” Mr Williamson says.
ENDS