Mapping the history and future of New Zealand maps

A new exhibition showcasing the history of maps in New Zealand tells the story of this country's maps - from the surprisingly accurate charts of Captain Cook's 18th Century voyages to the GPS technology used today. Unfolding the Map is a collaboration between the National Library, Land Information New Zealand, Eagle Technology and Archives New Zealand. Treasures on display include the first map of New Zealand drawn by Maori, whimsical tourism maps from the 1920s and the stories behind some of the country's quirky place names including Mounds of Misery and Cesspool. Curator Roger Smith of Wellington-based firm Geographx, says the art and science of map-making has changed radically in the last 250 years. The exhibition is free and open to the public until August 2016 at the National Library in Wellington.