Waitaha Canterbury’s history of winter air pollution makes vehicle emissions monitoring key to keeping our air clean and our communities healthy. By analysing this data, we can understand the trends in air quality and its impact on public health, assess the effectiveness of current policies and initiatives to reduce vehicle emissions, and identify areas needing further improvement.
This measure was selected to track progress towards reducing the adverse health impacts of motor vehicle emissions, as outlined in the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport and the Ministry of Transport/Te Manatū Waka’s Outcomes Framework, as well as included in the Regional Public Transport Plan and the Regional Land Transport Plan. This measure also supports our strategic priority to promote sustainable and healthy living and working environments.
We track premature deaths caused by NO₂ through the HAPINZ report. The HAPINZ report is informed by air quality data from regional and district councils across Aotearoa New Zealand, including Environment Canterbury’s air quality data. The report was commissioned by the Ministry for the Environment/Manatū Mō Te Taiao and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), in partnership with the Ministry of Transport/Te Manatū Waka and the Ministry of Health/Manatū Hauora.
We are aiming to have a net-carbon zero fleet by 2035 and have committed to a number of actions to transition to low emissions through our Climate Action Plan. A net-carbon zero fleet refers to achieving an overall balance between greenhouse gas emissions produced and greenhouse gas emissions taken out of the atmosphere.
In 2024/25 we welcomed 21 new zero-emission buses to the fleet, bringing the total number of electric vehicles (EVs) to 65. As we increase the number of electric buses in our fleet, diesel buses will be phased out and therefore, fewer carbon emissions from public transport will be released into the atmosphere.
At the end of 2024/25, 26 per cent of our Greater Christchurch fleet was electric and in 2025/26 our MyWay by Metro in Timaru service will transition to a primarily electric fleet.
We can influence the reduction of vehicle emissions through public transport initiatives, promoting alternative modes of transport, and implementing policies that limit emissions from motor vehicles.
Partner councils, such as Christchurch City Council, Waimakariri District Council and Selwyn District Council, play a significant role by providing and maintaining the infrastructure required for public transport to reduce reliance on private vehicles.
National transport agencies, the Ministry of Transport/Te Manatū Waka and NZTA have the ultimate influence over public transport given their key roles around setting national transport policies and funding for public transport.
Data is collected through the HAPINZ report, which includes comprehensive assessments of air pollution and its health impacts and is updated every 10 years.