Transport, postal and warehousing was the only major industry group to record an increase in annual greenhouse gas emissions, even as New Zealand’s overall emissions continued to decline in the year to March 2026, according to new figures from Stats NZ.
While total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from industries and households fell 2.8% (2,183 kilotonnes) over the year to 75,661 kilotonnes, emissions from transport, postal and warehousing, along with other service industries, increased 2.1%.
On a quarterly basis, seasonally adjusted greenhouse gas emissions from industries and households fell 0.2% (42 kilotonnes) in the March 2026 quarter, marking the fourth consecutive quarterly decline.
“Driven by a decline in mining activity, greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 42 kilotonnes over the March 2026 quarter,” Stats NZ environment statistics spokesperson Stuart Pitts said.
“This is the fourth consecutive quarter of reduced emissions.”
Industry emissions, excluding households, fell 0.3% (51 kilotonnes) during the quarter, while New Zealand’s gross domestic product (GDP) increased 0.8%.
Pitts said emissions had continued to fall despite economic growth, improving the country’s emissions intensity.
“While greenhouse gas emissions from industries have been falling, New Zealand’s gross domestic product has continued to rise, resulting in a lower emissions intensity.”
Industry emissions intensity declined to 235 tonnes of greenhouse gases per $1 million of GDP in the March 2026 quarter, down from 238 tonnes in the December 2025 quarter. It was the sixth consecutive quarterly decline.
Household emissions rose 0.8% (15 kilotonnes) during the March quarter.
Mining recorded the largest quarterly reduction in emissions, falling 18.4% as oil and gas extraction declined. The sector also posted an 11.6% fall in GDP, making it the largest downward contributor to economic activity during the quarter.
The largest quarterly increase in emissions came from the electricity, gas, water and waste services sector, where emissions rose 14.1% following a 32.6% decline in the previous quarter. Stats NZ attributed the increase to a lower share of renewable electricity generation, with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment reporting renewables accounted for 94.5% of electricity generation in the March quarter, down from 96.5% in the December 2025 quarter.
Despite the annual increase in transport sector emissions, the largest reductions over the year came from electricity, gas, water and waste services, where emissions fell 24.4% (1,800 kilotonnes), followed by mining, down 14.3% (180 kilotonnes).
Household emissions also declined over the year, falling 1.9% (155 kilotonnes), primarily due to a 1.5% reduction in transport-related emissions.
