We use New Zealand’s official vertical and horizontal standards (NZVD2016 and NZGD2000/NZTM2000).

We adopted the official height standard for New Zealand, Vertical Datum 2016 (NZVD2016), on 19 August 2024.

In surveying language, a vertical datum is a starting point, or reference point, for measuring heights and depths. Just as latitude and longitude help us locate places on the Earth’s surface, vertical datums help us measure up and down.

Official Christchurch height measurements

We've used a local vertical datum, called Christchurch Drainage Datum (CDD), since 1876.

We adopted the official height standard for New Zealand, Vertical Datum 2016 (NZVD2016), on 19 August 2024.

Most of our geographical datasets containing height information, such as water assets, have been updated to NZVD2016. Other historic datasets will be changed over time.

Data supplied to Christchurch City Council should only be in NZVD2016.

Converting between datums

Christchurch Drainage Datum (CDD) is based on the Lyttelton 1937 (Lyt37) datum, with CDD having a standard offset of 9.043m higher than Lyt37.

This offset allows you to quickly convert any CDD point to a Lyt37 point. 

You can then use a converter, such as Land Information NZ's(external link), to find the Lyt37 to NZVD2016 offset.

The conversion result will show a Lyt37 offset value of approximately 0.3 to 0.4.

Formula: NZVD2016 = CDD – 9.043 – Lyt37 offset

Adopting the new standard

By using NZVD2016, we're ensuring Christchurch projects match other examples from around the country to the latest quality levels.

The new standard also makes it easier to exchange height information used in:

  • Geographic products, such as elevation datasets
  • Infrastructure
  • Planning
  • Consents.

Consistency in height standards is essential for:

  • Managing water resources
  • Assessing hazards
  • Completing large-scale engineering works.

More information

Visit NZVD2016 information for councils(external link) for more information.

We use NZGD2000 datum, and NZTM2000 as the projection.

We use the New Zealand Geodetic Datum 2000 (NZGD2000), which is New Zealand's official datum. It uses New Zealand Transverse Mercator 2000 (NZTM2000) as the map projection.

Horizontal datum

The New Zealand Geodetic Datum 2000 (NZGD2000) is our official geodetic datum, used to define positions in New Zealand and its offshore islands. It is the official geodetic datum used in New Zealand.

It allows us to relate a three-dimensional position to a consistent coordinate, in the format latitude (Φ), longitude (λ), and ellipsoidal height (H).

Projections

Projections are used to transform a curved surface into a flat map, making locations easier to define. For the area covered by the Council's territorial local authority, the official projection is New Zealand Transverse Mercator 2000 (NZTM2000).

Find out more about NZGD2000 and map projections: