Apple Maps Launches Indigenous Land and Dual Place Name Updates in Australia and New Zealand

The updates, developed over four years with Indigenous communities, aim to honor heritage, revitalize languages, and support reconciliation efforts.

Apple Maps now features over 250 dual place names, Indigenous land markers, and protected areas in Australia and New Zealand.
The updates were developed in collaboration with Indigenous groups, cartographers, and language holders to ensure cultural accuracy and respect.
Indigenous communities can contribute cultural and historical information through 'place cards,' adding photos, text, and local details in their own languages.
The updates avoid marking definitive boundaries for Indigenous lands, reflecting the complexities of land disputes and the lack of a national database in Australia.
This initiative builds on similar efforts in Canada and the United States in 2023, marking a global trend toward integrating Indigenous perspectives into mapping technologies.