File talk:New Zealand map.PNG

Map scale

About this note: "It should be noted that the scale on this map is not accurate. Measuring distances on the map then using the scale to determine those distances on the ground would lead to considerable exaggeration of those distances. This issue has been raised with the CIA, who compile these World Fact Book maps." Try this - measure some distance, a nice big one, say the whole length of NZ as the crow flies - S tip of Stewart Island to Cape Maria van Diemen, in a straight line, should do it. Then use the scale to determine the real-life equivalent of the distance you just measured. It will come out to ~1900km or more. On most other maps this will be around 1470-1500km. It's not just measuring error and it's not trivial - it really is a consderable distortion. I emailed the CIA about this - it will be interesting to see if I get a response.

Yes, it's not very good at all. In the meantime, do you have Photoshop? You could amend it. Cheers. 222.152.79.55 20:09, 29 July 2005 (UTC)

I do have photoshop but not the skill or time to do it - and as an ex-Wikipedian doing cold turkey I should probably stay off this! :) But see below from Grutness. (from anonymous, grouchy old git)

Looks to me like the miles shown are actually kilometres, and the scale has been wrongly converted as a result. I'll try to fix it, but if what I do is incorrect feel free to revert. Grutness 01:04, 30 July 2005 (UTC)

Well, I fixed the map, then tried to upload it... the old map still shows though, and evn a cache purge hasn't helped. I've no idea whether the new scale is there or not. Hopefully... Grutness 01:24, 30 July 2005 (UTC)

I can now see your new version in all the places I should. As a non-geographer I cannot attest to its absolute accuracy but it is certainly much, much closer than it was before. For me it makes long distances maybe a few K too short but I really think it's beyond what I can measure accurately, so I am going to assume it's OK, pending anything any more authoritative or a new "official" version from the CIA. If any of my reservations in articles survive I will remove them. Thanks very very much for your splenidid efforts with this. (from anonymous, grouchy old git)

Thanks. It just seemed logical - the miles looked like the right kilometre numbers. And since I've been doing a lot of NZ maps lately (for locations of NZ geographic features), it was easy enough to crank up the changes. As to the accuracy, it gives and "As the crow flies" figure for Dunedin to Chch of about 320 kilometres - it's 360 by road, so it can't be far from the correct scale. Grutness 13:37, 2 August 2005 (UTC)

Yesss - I'm bugged by doubts: just a feeling that it's just not quite right yet - and yet, and yet - I keep doing crude, non-geographer measurements on various prints of the map and comparing it with other internet and printed maps and I can't prove it - my measurements off your map *tend* to be a bit low but the error seems small, so I think I will simply shut up and thank you! :)

Map scale still wrong?

As at 27/7/06 the map scale (see above) is still wrong - or else the original concern (see above) was and still is deluded! But I think it's wrong! I have tried writing to the CIA to point this out and it's nice to think that they might respond, though I imagine they may have one or two other priorities. Currently, either the CIA original map or the Wikimedia edit is wrong - it would be good to know which! :) 138.37.199.206 09:18, 27 July 2006 (UTC)