Coordinate Systems
NZTM2000 (New Zealand)
New Zealand Transverse Mercator 2000 (NZTM2000) is the standard projected coordinate system for construction and surveying work in New Zealand. SiteView supports NZTM2000 natively as an alternative to MGA2020, making it straightforward to work on construction projects across the Tasman.
What is NZTM2000?
NZTM2000 is a Transverse Mercator projection based on the New Zealand Geodetic Datum 2000 (NZGD2000). Unlike MGA2020, which divides Australia into multiple zones, NZTM2000 uses a single zone that covers all of New Zealand.
The projection converts geographic coordinates (latitude/longitude) into flat grid coordinates (Easting/Northing) measured in metres, suitable for engineering design and construction setout work.
ℹ️ Did you know?
NZGD2000 is based on the ITRF96 reference frame at epoch 2000.0. For most construction purposes, NZGD2000 coordinates can be treated as equivalent to WGS84, with differences typically less than a few centimetres.
Single Zone Coverage
NZTM2000 uses a single zone with the following parameters:
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Central meridian | 173 E |
| Latitude of origin | 0 (the Equator) |
| False Easting | 1,600,000 m |
| False Northing | 10,000,000 m |
| Scale factor | 0.9996 |
| Coverage | All of New Zealand (North Island, South Island, and surrounding islands) |
The single zone simplifies usage — there is no need to select or track zones as you do with MGA2020.
Coordinate Format
NZTM2000 coordinates consist of:
- Easting — the distance in metres from the false origin (e.g., 1756432.123 E)
- Northing — the distance in metres from the false origin (e.g., 5428901.456 N)
Typical Value Ranges
| Component | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Easting | 1,000,000 to 2,200,000 | Values decrease from east to west |
| Northing | 4,700,000 to 6,400,000 | Values decrease from north to south |
These distinctive value ranges are how SiteView identifies NZTM2000 coordinates during auto-detection. The Easting values being in the millions (due to the 1,600,000 m false easting) are distinctly different from MGA2020 Eastings, which range from 100,000 to 900,000.
💡 Tip
A quick way to tell NZTM2000 from MGA2020 at a glance: NZTM2000 Eastings are always above 1,000,000, while MGA2020 Eastings are always below 900,000.
Auto-Detection from Values
SiteView detects NZTM2000 coordinates based on the characteristic value ranges:
- Easting in the range 1,000,000 to 2,200,000
- Northing in the range 4,700,000 to 6,400,000
When both values fall within these ranges, SiteView identifies the coordinate system as NZTM2000. This detection works in the CSV import tool, the coordinate converter, and when pasting coordinates into the calculator.
See Auto-Detection for the full detection logic and how to manually override if needed.
Using NZTM2000 in SiteView
Measurement Tools
All measurement tools display NZTM2000 coordinates when your coordinate preference is set to NZTM2000 or when working on a site in New Zealand. Coordinate readouts show Easting and Northing values.
Calculator
The Calculator accepts NZTM2000 input for point-to-point, radial, and traverse calculations. Enter Easting/Northing values and the calculator converts to other formats automatically.
CSV Import and Export
NZTM2000 coordinates are auto-detected during CSV Import. For CSV export, select "Grid coordinates only" or "Both" to include NZTM2000 columns. See CSV Export.
DXF Export
DXF files can be exported in NZTM2000 grid coordinates for use in New Zealand CAD projects. See DXF Export.
Setting NZTM2000 as Your Default
You can set NZTM2000 as your default coordinate display format in Coordinate Settings. Once set, coordinate displays throughout SiteView will show NZTM2000 values by default.
Since NZTM2000 has only one zone, there is no zone selection required — unlike MGA2020, where you must specify which zone to use.
ℹ️ Did you know?
If you work on projects in both Australia and New Zealand, you can set a default per site. See Coordinate Settings for per-site override options.
What's Next?
- MGA2020 (Australia) — the equivalent grid coordinate system for Australia
- Auto-Detection — how SiteView detects coordinate systems from values
- Coordinate Settings — configure your default coordinate format
- Coordinate Converter — convert between NZTM2000 and other systems