Story: Modern mapping and surveying

Lyttelton at the centre of the world

This plate from the New Zealand historical atlas shows the Canterbury port of Lyttelton as a major link between the province, the rest of the country and the wider world. The cartography reinforces this point by making Lyttelton the centre of the map, with everything flowing in and out of it – in contrast to the usual view of Lyttelton as a very small town in a small country at the bottom of the globe.

Using this item

David Bateman Ltd
Reference: Malcolm McKinnon, ed. Bateman New Zealand historical atlas: ko papatuanuku e takoto nei. Auckland: David Bateman, 1997, plate 52a

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How to cite this page:

Melanie Lovell-Smith, 'Modern mapping and surveying - A variety of maps', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/zoomify/18916/lyttelton-at-the-centre-of-the-world (accessed 7 May 2024)

Story by Melanie Lovell-Smith, published 24 Nov 2008, updated 1 Aug 2018