Map mistakes still being investigated

The mistakes printed on the latest batch of topographical 50 maps of the Ruahine Range is still being investigated by the Department of Conservation.

The errors on the maps, which are the official topographic map series used by New Zealand emergency services, and available to trampers and hunters, have been printed with tracks that do not exist, or no longer exist, tracks mapped in the wrong place, or tracks included that are no longer deemed safe, the Manawatu Tramping Club says. Chief guide Kim Fraser discovered the maps were wrong when she took some groups through the eastern side of the Ruahine Range. She has contacted DoC and is working with them to put together a comprehensive list of errors to send to the map's maker, Land Information New Zealand (Linz).

Linz topographer Geoff Howard said if any of the errors or changes caused a potentially life-threatening situation the maps would be re-printed immediately.

One of the main safety hazards Ms Fraser noticed was poled routes being shown as tramping tracks. "Poled routes are generally on the tops above the treeline and alpine skills are needed at certain times of the year, under certain weather and track conditions.

"Sound navigational skills are also most certainly needed under some weather conditions as this can make the route impossible to navigate without them, even with sparsely placed poles along the route," she said.

Search and rescue volunteer and Manawatu tramping club member Peter Rawlands said an error on the maps caused a search and rescue effort at Waipawa Forkes about six weeks ago. The trampers got stuck after the river was at high flow, and the track they believed they could walk along to get out was not there, he said.

Linz relied totally on organisations, such as DoC, to provide information on features, such as tracks, that could not be easily captured off aerial photography, Mr Howard said.

"We also have an agreement with DoC that new map editions will be sent to them for review prior to publication, to best ensure the accuracy of the DoC assets."

- © Fairfax NZ News