This dataset is the definitive version of statistical area 2 (SA2) boundaries concorded to higher geographies as at 1 January 2018 as defined by Stats NZ, clipped to the coastline.
This version contains 2,171 SA2s and has been created for map creation/cartographic purposes and does not fully represent the official full extent boundaries. This statistical area 2 higher geographies file is a correspondence, or concordance, which relates SA2s to larger geographic areas or 'higher geographies'. The higher geographies contained in this concordance are: territorial authority (TA) and regional council (REGC).
Statistical area 2 (SA2) is a new output geography that provides higher aggregations of population data than can be provided at the statistical area 1 (SA1) level. The SA2 geography aims to reflect communities that interact together socially and economically. In populated areas, SA2s generally contain similar sized populations.
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 May 2018. All SA2 codes are unchanged.
