This dataset is a major released version of the annually released meshblock boundaries concorded to higher geographies at 1 January 2018 as defined by Stats NZ. This Meshblock Higher Geographies 2018 file is a correspondence, or concordance, which relates meshblocks to larger geographic areas or 'higher geographies'. The higher geographies contained in this concordance are: community board (CB2018), constituency (CON2018), Māori constituency (MCON2018), regional council (REGC2018), statistical area 1 (SA12018), statistical area 2 (SA22018), subdivision (TASUB2018), territorial authority (TA2018), urban rural (UR2018), urban rural indicator (IUR2018), and ward (WARD2018). The following geographies were first introduced in 2018: statistical area 1 (SA12018), statistical area 2 (SA22018), urban rural (UR2018), and urban rural indicator (IUR2018). These new geographies are part of the Statistical Standard for Geographic Areas 2018 (SSGA18) which replaces the 1992 New Zealand Standard Areas Classification (NZSAC92). The statistical standard for geographic areas is to be used from 2018 (SSGA18). It defines the Stats NZ input and output geographic classifications and describes their primary purposes,and sets out requirements and guidelines for the creation and maintenance of statistical geographies.
Digital boundary data became freely available on 1 July 2007. This generalised version has been simplified for rapid drawing and is designed for thematic or web mapping purposes.
Please note that a review of SA2 names was undertaken in early 2018. The review addressed issues with inconsistent naming and applied corrections, resulting in an update to this dataset applied in November 2018. All SA2 codes are unchanged.
For further information on individual higher geographies, refer to their metadata.
