The Evidence, Mapped

Cartographic Gallery

"Maps are not opinions. Maps are evidence." — Meredith van der Kolk

Classification: Unclassified // Cartographic Division // Public Exhibition

A curated collection of integration cartography by Meredith van der Kolk, Chief Cartographer and Territorial Affairs. All maps use equal-area projections — principally Mollweide and Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area — rather than the Mercator projection, which systematically misrepresents New Zealand's size and distance. The council's maps show the world as it is, not as the Mercator projection has trained people to see it.

The Tasman Sea and Bass Strait presented at matching scale in Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area projection
Plate 01 // The Tasman at Scale // Lambert Azimuthal // 2021
Plate 01 / 2021

"The Tasman at Scale"

"Distance is context-dependent. Context changes everything."

Projection: Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area Projection

Artist: Meredith van der Kolk, MAppSc (GIS)

Department: CNZRIAS Cartographic Division

Plate 02 / 2022

"Zealandia Revealed"

"We are not two countries. We are one continent, partially submerged."

Projection: Mollweide Equal-Area Projection

Artist: Meredith van der Kolk, MAppSc (GIS)

Department: CNZRIAS Cartographic Division

Bathymetric relief of the submerged continent of Zealandia with New Zealand as its visible peaks
Plate 02 // Zealandia Revealed // Mollweide Equal-Area // 2022
Clean administrative map showing North Island State, South Island State, and Stewart Island Territory
Plate 03 // Administrative Regions // Transverse Mercator // 2021
Plate 03 / 2021

"Administrative Regions of the Eighth State"

"The boundaries are ready. We are simply waiting for the occasion."

Projection: Transverse Mercator (NZGD2000)

Artist: Meredith van der Kolk, MAppSc (GIS)

Department: CNZRIAS Cartographic Division

Plate 04 / 2023

"Electoral Boundaries: The Eighth State (Provisional)"

"We are not premature. We are prepared."

Projection: AEC Standard Electoral Projection

Artist: Meredith van der Kolk, MAppSc (GIS)

Department: CNZRIAS Cartographic Division

Pre-drawn electoral boundaries for the proposed Eighth State with projected seat distributions
Plate 04 // Electoral Boundaries // AEC Standard // 2023
Map of the unified Australian Federation including New Zealand as the Eighth State
Plate 05 // Unified Federation // Lambert Azimuthal // 2024
Plate 05 / 2024

"The Unified Federation"

"One continent. Eight states. No debate."

Projection: Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area Projection

Artist: Meredith van der Kolk, MAppSc (GIS)

Department: CNZRIAS Cartographic Division

Version 47

The Flag

The Southern Cross — rendered in five stars as a diplomatic compromise between Australia's six and New Zealand's four-plus-one — centred on a field of navy blue, with the Silver Fern (soon to be a protected regional emblem under Commonwealth statute) positioned in gold at the lower hoist.

The design communicates: continuity, unity, and the specific pride of a state that was always part of this story, even when it wasn't on the map.

"Good design takes time. Great design takes 47 drafts."

The Eighth State flag (Version 47) flying outside a parliament building
Version 47 // The Eighth State Flag // Meredith van der Kolk // 2024

The Maps Are Ready

They have been ready since 2021. It's only a matter of time.

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