Ein Regionalatlas von Neuseeland

Summary

This article reviews the new national atlas of New Zealand, published in 1960. Compiled under the direction of Chief Cartographer R.G. Dick, the atlas was completed in 1959 and presents the most up-to-date statistical information on New Zealand at the time. The work is divided into a text section and a map section. The text comprises 27 chapters covering topics from Maori settlement, discovery, and early colonization to geology, climate, flora and fauna, soils, land use, agriculture, economy, population, and tourism. The map section includes topographical and numerous thematic maps, complemented by high-quality aerial photographs. The review analyzes the atlas's structure, cartographic techniques (such as projections and color schemes), and its strengths and weaknesses, praising its thematic maps on economy and population while critiquing certain outdated map styles and binding issues. Overall, the atlas is hailed as one of the finest works on New Zealand's geography, combining scientific rigor with aesthetic appeal.