Meshblock 2016 Generalised Version

Meshblock 2016 Generalised Version is the definitive set of meshblock boundaries for 2016 as defined by Statistics New Zealand. Statistics New Zealand maintains an annual meshblock pattern 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 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 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. There are two ways of amending meshblock boundaries. 1. Splitting is subdividing a meshblock into two or more meshblocks. 2. Nudging is shifting a boundary to a more appropriate position. Reasons for splits and nudges include: • to accommodate changes to local government boundaries, which are required by the Local Government Act 2002 to follow meshblocks for electoral purposes • to accommodate changes to parliamentary electoral boundaries, following each Electoral Representation Commission review after each five-yearly Census of Population and Dwellings • to make changes to statistical boundaries such as area units and urban areas • to enable changes to census collection districts • to improve the size balance of meshblocks in areas where there has been population growth • to separate land and water –eg mainland, islands, inlets, and oceanic are defined separately. • to accommodate requests from other users of the meshblock pattern eg the NZ Police for their station, area, and district boundaries. Meshblock numbering process until 2014 (MB 2014) Meshblocks were allocated a unique seven-digit number. The first five digits were unique, and referred to the original 1976 meshblock code. The two end numbers refer to sequential meshblock splits to the original meshblock. When a meshblock is split the final two digits of the original meshblock number are changed. Exceptions to this rule are a small number of meshblocks where no more numbers in the sequence are available. Accordingly there were some meshblocks in Auckland and Tauranga City starting with 32xxxxx. Statistics New Zealand maintains a concordance file to ensure that boundaries relating to earlier meshblock patterns can also be produced. Meshblock numbering process from 2015 (MB 2015) Due to new technology being introduced for splitting and nudging meshblocks, the process for allocating a unique seven-digit number has changed. New meshblock numbering is approximately sequential. The first meshblock number in this new sequential numbering pattern is 4000000. This differentiates meshblocks split from MB2015 onwards, and allows for a large number of unique seven digit identifiers to be allocated. Now when a meshblock is split it takes on the next available number, rather than following the former process described above. For example, a meshblock numbered 3254000 is split into two meshblocks. Using the new numbering process the system will assign the first available sequential numbers. The digital geographic boundaries are defined by Statistics New Zealand. They are maintained on behalf of Statistics New Zealand by Land Information New Zealand in Landonline using ArcInfo. Meshblocks cover the land area of New Zealand, the water area to the 12-mile limit, the Chatham Islands, Kermadec Islands, sub-Antarctic islands, off-shore oil rigs, and Ross Dependency. Meshblock boundaries generally follow road centre-lines, cadastral property boundaries or topographical features (e.g.rivers). Expanses of water in the form of lakes and inlets are defined separately from land. The annual pattern of digital boundaries is used for the full calendar year from 1 January. Digital boundary data became freely available on 1 July 2007. For further metadata, please refer to the metadata documents on the Stats NZ website: http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/Maps_and_geography/Geographic-areas/digital-boundary-files.aspx#metadata