New Zealand Soil Classification

Authors

NZSC Working Group

Alan E. Hewitt, PhD

Andre Eger, PhD

Published

January 28, 2026

New Zealand Soil Classification

4th edition

Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd

Landcare Research Science Series No. 1

First published as DSIR Land Resources Scientific Report No.19, 1992. Reprinted with corrections as Landcare Research Science Series No. 1, 1998 (2nd edition) and Landcare Research Science Series No. 1, 2010 (3rd edition). This is the 4th edition with further updates and corrections.

© Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd 2025

Welcome!

This is the 4th edition of the New Zealand Soil Classification (NZSC).

Introductory information about the NZSC is available at The New Zealand Soils Portal.