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This dataset is the definitive set of annually released meshblock boundaries at 1 January 1996. Stats NZ maintains an annual meshblock geography for collecting and producing statistical data. This allows data to be compared over time. A meshblock is the smallest geographic unit for which statistical data is collected and processed by Stats NZ. A meshblock is defined by a geographic area, which can vary in size from part of a city block to a large area of rural land. Each meshblock borders on another to form a network covering all of New Zealand, including coasts and inlets and extending out to the 200-mile economic zone.. Meshblocks are added together to build up larger geographic areas such as area units and urban areas. They are also used to define electoral districts, territorial authorities and regional councils.

This is the definitive set of regional council boundaries for 2001 as defined by the Local Government Commission and/or regional councils themselves but maintained by Statistics New Zealand (the custodian) as at 1 January 2001.
The regional council is the top tier of local government in New Zealand. There are 16 regional councils in New Zealand (defined by Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Local Government Act 2002). Eleven are governed by an elected regional council, while five are governed by territorial authorities (the second tier of local government) who also perform the functions of a regional council and are known as unitary authorities. These unitary authorities are Nelson City Council, and Gisborne, Tasman, and Marlborough District Councils. The Chatham Islands Council also performs some of the functions of a regional council, but is not strictly a unitary authority. Unitary authorities act as regional councils for the purposes of a wide range of legislative purposes. Regional councils are responsible for the administration of many environmental and transport matters such as land transport planning and harbour navigation and safety.
Regional Councils were established in 1989 after the abolition of the 22 local government regions. The Local Government Act 2002 requires the boundaries of regions to conform, as far as possible, to one or more water catchments. When determining regional boundaries, the Local Government Commission gave consideration to regional communities of interest when selecting which water catchments to include in a region. It also considered factors such as natural resource management, land use planning and environmental matters. Some regional council boundaries are coterminous with territorial authority boundaries but there are several exceptions. An example is Taupo District, which is geographically split between four regions, although most of its area falls within the Waikato Region. Where territorial local authorities straddle regional council boundaries, the affected area is statistically defined by complete area units. In general, however, regional councils contain complete territorial authorities.
The seaward boundary of any coastal regional council is the twelve mile New Zealand territorial limit.

This dataset is the definitive set of territorial authority boundaries for 2001 as defined by the Local Government Commission and/or the territorial authorities themselves but maintained by Statistics New Zealand (the custodian). A territorial authority is defined under the Local Government Act 2002 as a city or a district council.

This is the release of the annually released meshblock pattern as at 1 January 2001. This dataset is the definitive set of meshblock boundaries for 2001 as defined by Statistics New Zealand.
Statistics New Zealand maintains an annual meshblock pattern for the collection and production of statistical data, allowing data to be compared over time. A meshblock is the smallest geographic unit for which statistical data is collected and processed by Statistics New Zealand. A meshblock is defined by a geographic area, which can vary in size from part of a city block to a large area of rural land. Each meshblock abuts against another to form a network covering all of New Zealand, including coasts and inlets and extending out to the 200 mile economic zone. Meshblocks are added together to build up larger geographic areas such as area units and urban areas. They are also used to define electoral districts, territorial authorities and regional councils.

This is the definitive set of area unit boundaries for 2001 as defined by Statistics New Zealand as at 1 January 2001.
Area units are aggregations of adjacent meshblocks with coterminous boundaries to form a single unbroken surface area (land and/or water). Exceptions to this rule are some area units comprising collections of geographically related inlets and marinas.
In an urban location, an area unit is often a collection of city blocks, while in rural situations area units may be equated to localities or communities. Area units must either define or aggregate to define urban areas, rural centres, statistical areas, territorial authorities, and regional councils.
Each area unit must be a single geographic entity with a unique name. The area unit pattern is revised once every five years in the year immediately before a Census of Population and Dwellings. There may also be changes in other years, in conjunction with local body boundary changes. Statistics New Zealand maintains a concordance file to ensure boundaries relating to earlier area unit patterns can also be generated.

Meshblock Higher Geographies 2016 High Definition is the definitive high definition set of the annually released meshblock pattern concorded to higher geographies as at 1 January 2016.

Community Board 2016 Generalised Version is the definitive set of community board boundaries for 2016 as defined by the territorial authorities and Local Government Commission but maintained by Statistics New Zealand (the custodian).

Territorial Authority 2016 Generalised Version is the definitive set of territorial authority boundaries for 2016 as defined by the Local Government Commission and/or the territorial authorities themselves but maintained by Statistics New Zealand (the custodian). A territorial authority is defined under the Local Government Act 2002 as a city or a district council.

Urban Area 2016 Generalised Version is the definitive set of urban area boundaries for 2016 as defined by Statistics New Zealand.

Regional Council 2016 Generalised Version is the definitive set of regional council boundaries for 2016 as defined by the Local Government Commission and/or regional councils themselves but maintained by Statistics New Zealand (the custodian).