A four-decades-long African border dispute is a step closer to being resolved thanks to help from New Zealand.

Surveyors have mapped the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea, using specially-designed maps provided by Wellington-based company, Terralink.

The Eritrea and Ethiopia dispute has kept out those trying to help, for a long time.

"There was political difficulties in getting out to the site, both from a transport point of view, from a security point of view, and we were just unable to get access to the border," says Bill Robertson, Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission.

So, surveyors turned to Terralink. Instead of planting pegs in the African soil, the border was mapped right from Cuba Street in Wellington using 3D mapping technology.

"It's almost as good as being in the field and there's no mosquitoes," says Robertson.

Robertson flew 1400 kilometres of the boundary and says it's tough land.

"It's very early historic Africa we're dealing in, very high plateaux and lowlands so it's a difficult boundary, big gorges and ravines," he says.

The mapped border is currently with the Border Commission for a final decision.

In the meantime, Terralink's Mike Donald says New Zealand is not missing out on the technology.

"We have quite a few farmers that have their large, larger farms put into the 3D model," he says.

Wellington surveyors are now working to settle another African border dispute between Nigeria and Cameroon.