Two Christchurch schools mysteriously relocated to sites where they are proposed to merge - according to Google Maps.

Freeville School acting principal Paul Wilkinson discovered the move when he downloaded a Google Maps application for his phone last week.

"A search for Freeville School brings it up as a listing but the location is at North New Brighton School," he said.

"Similarly a search for Central New Brighton School shows the location as being at South New Brighton."

The move coincides with Education Ministry proposals to merge Freeville School onto North New Brighton's site and to merge Central New Brighton School onto South New Brighton's site.

A Google spokesman said there was no one reason for the two schools to be listed under the wrong address.

The internet giant has a tool called Map Maker which allows users to add information about their area to the maps.

The tool allowed users to "share their local knowledge of the world around them" to help keep maps of their areas accurate and up-to-date.

"Once we've received the edit or suggestion we'll confirm it with other users, data providers, Street View imagery or other authoritative sources."

Google used a vast array of "authoritative public and commercial data sources" to update maps.

Word of the mergers could have filtered through to Google, which would have updated the maps accordingly, said the spokesman.

"One of the exciting things about maps and geography is that the world is a constantly changing place, and keeping on top of these changes is a never-ending endeavour."

The parent community reported the errors to Google, through its Report a Problem tool.

This week Freeville school was relocated back to Sandy Ave, but Central New Brighton remains at South New Brighton.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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