Description: Statistics New Zealand maintains an annual meshblock patternfor the collection and production of statistical data, allowing data to be compared over time. A meshblock is the smallest geographic unit used by Statistics New Zealand for which statistical data is collected and processed by statistics New Zealand. A meshblock is defined by a geographic area, varying in size from a part of a city block to large areas of rural area. Each meshblock abuts against another to form a network covering all of New Zealand, including coasts and inlets and extending out to the 200 mile economic zone. Meshblocks are added together to build up lager geographic areas such as area units and urban areas. They are also the principal unit to draw and define electoral districts, territorial authorities and regional councils. Meshblocks are allocated a unique seven-digit number. The first 5 digits are unique, and refer to the original 1976 meshblock code. The two end numbers refer to sequential meshblock splits to the original meshblock. When a meshblock is split the final two digits of the original meshblock number are changed. Exceptions to this rule are a small number of meshblocks where there are no more numbers in the sequence are available. There are therefore some meshblocks in Auckland and Tauranga City starting with 32xxxxx. Statistics New Zealand maintains a concordance file to ensure that boundaries relating to earlier meshblock patterns can also be generated.The dataset is intended for use in the display and presentation of statistical and other data to show areas of high or low density and distributions for comparative purposes over time. The digital boundaries are defined by Statistics New Zealand. They are maintained on behalf of Statistics New Zealand by Land Information New Zealand in Landonline using ArcInfo.Meshblocks cover the land area of New Zealand, the water area to the 12 mile limit, Chatham Islands, the Kermadec Islands, off-shore oil rigs, Ross Dependency and extend to the 200 mile economic zone. The meshblocks for the last four mentioned areas have not been digitised. The 12 mile limit is digitised.Meshblock boundaries generally follow street centre-lines, cadastral property boundaries or topographical features (eg rivers). Expanses of water in the form of lakes and inlets are defined separately from land.The annual pattern of digital boundaries is used for the full calendar year from 1 January and applies to the timing of the survey –not necessarily when the data is processed. Digital Boundary data became freely available on 1stJuly 2007.