Irrigated land area, raw, 2020 update

The spatial data covers all mainland regions of New Zealand, with the exception of Nelson, which is not believed to contain significant irrigated areas. The spatial dataset is an update of the national dataset that was first created in 2017. The current update has incorporated data from the 2019 – 2020 irrigation season. The methodology that we have used to update the irrigated land dataset incorporates multiple lines of evidence, combined with expert judgement. We have integrated a number of sources of spatial data, including aerial and satellite imagery, and a national dataset of resource consents for water takes. The total mapped areas have been compared to the 2017 Agricultural Production Statistics. This provides a partial benchmark of the dataset, but cannot be relied on completely due to the time-lag between the two datasets, and the difference in methodologies. The methodology used to create the dataset is described in a report: Dark A, 2020. National Irrigated Land Spatial Dataset: 2020 Update. Ministry for the Environment, RD21004-1. Aqualinc Research Limited.

type: Irrigation land system

notes: Comments on issues that may affect accuracy; notes about the system type; unusual consented rates, etc.

area_ha: Mapped area in hectares

confidence: Qualitative confidence in the mapped area

year_irr: Year that mapping best represents (typically the year of the most recent aerial / satellite imagery dataset)

yearmapped: Year that mapping was completed

status: Current = most recent estimate; Superseded = previous estimate (system changed or input data has allowed more accurate mapping)

More information on the datasets methodology can be found at https://environment.govt.nz/publications/national-irrigated-land-spatial-dataset-2020-update