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Story: Modern mapping and surveying

Compiling a mosaic

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Compiling a mosaic

A staff member of New Zealand Aerial Mapping is seen here compiling a mosaic from aerial photographs, around 1957. The photos were overlapped and cut to minimise distortion. Once completed, the mosaic could be re-photographed as a whole and printed for sale.

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NZ Aerial Mapping

Reference: 19/198

by Paul Steeds

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How to cite this page

Melanie Lovell-Smith, Modern mapping and surveying – Aerial photography and maps, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/18908/compiling-a-mosaic (accessed 13 June 2026).

Story by Melanie Lovell-Smith, published 1 March 2009, updated 1 August 2018.