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Responding to environmental harm incidents
Last updated: 17 November 2025
Reporting frequency: Quarterly
Core service: Environmental Regulation and Protection
We work to protect the environment and to mitigate the impacts from specific threats such as environmental incidents.
Typically, we receive around 3,500 – 4,000 reports of environmental incidents each year. Based on the initial incident report, events are categorised as standard or elevated. Further assessment is then carried out to determine the appropriate response.
How are we tracking on our service measures?
Service measure 7: Percentage of reports of elevated environmental harm incidents assessed and assigned within two hours of receipt of report
Target: 75% or more
How we are doing: 77.3%
There were 128 environmental harm incidents categorised as elevated
On track
Service measure 8: Percentage of reports of all environmental harm incidents assessed and assigned within 24 hours
Target: 90% or more
How we are doing: 95.2%
There were a total of 749 environmental harm incidents
On track
Service measure 9: Percentage of Tier 2 marine oil spills responded to in accordance with our Environment Canterbury Marine Oil Spill Response Plan
Target: 100%
How we are doing: No marine oil incidents occurred in quarter one
On track
More information
Reports are received from various sources, often some time after the event. We assess all reports for the risk of harmful effects and categorise them as standard or elevated, according to agreed criteria. Then we assign staff to respond, or refer to other agencies, with priority given to the most serious incidents. Staff undertake further investigation of all reports, including attendance if required, and allocate a compliance grade to the incident. Follow up action is taken where appropriate, including advice and education, written warnings, abatement notices, infringement notices or prosecutions.
If you are aware of an environmental incident that seems time critical, please call our incident line on 0800 765 588 (24 hours), or report it using the Snap Send Solve app from your mobile phone.