Regional greenhouse gas emissions statistics include regional emissions by industry, households, and emissions intensity (emissions in relation to regional GDP). They are based on consistent classifications and concepts used in economic statistics.
Interactive tool to view regional summaries
How are my region's emissions tracking? visually presents key measures of the 16 regional emissions profiles.
Key facts
Regional greenhouse gas emissions estimates for the year ended December 2024, compared with the year ended December 2023, show:
- total regional emissions decreased 1.0 percent, or 795 kilotonnes (kt), to 77,984 kt of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂-e)
- the largest decrease in emissions was in Taranaki, down 678 kt (12 percent), and the largest increase was in Waikato, up 960 kt (7.1 percent)
- industry emissions decreased 1.1 percent (811 kt), largely due to manufacturing in Taranaki down 60 percent (529 kt)
- household emissions increased 0.2 percent (16 kt).
From 2007 to 2024, total regional CO₂-e emissions decreased 9.5 percent.
Total emissions by region
Total regional emissions decreased by 1.0 percent (795 kt) to 77,984 kt in 2024, compared with 2023.
The largest changes in total regional emissions in 2024, compared with 2023, were from:
- Waikato, up 960 kt (7.1 percent)
- Taranaki, down 678 kt (12 percent)
- Canterbury, down 166 kt (1.3 percent).
In 2024, Southland had the highest total emissions per capita at 61.1 tonnes CO₂-e per capita. Taranaki had the second highest at 39.0 tonnes CO₂-e per capita. Nelson had the lowest total emissions per capita at 5.6 tonnes CO₂-e per capita.
This is the first regional greenhouse gas emissions release to incorporate international aviation emissions estimates (over the entire time series). Previously, due to data availability, international aviation emissions were not included.
Household emissions by region
Household emissions accounted for 11 percent of total regional emissions in 2024. Household transport emissions accounted for just over 88 percent of total household emissions. Heating and cooling contributed 8.6 percent, and 'other' (household emissions from, for example, inhalers, septic tanks, etc) contributed 3.0 percent to total household emissions.
Note: Household emissions consist of direct (production-based) emissions only.
The largest changes in regional household emissions in 2024, compared with 2023, were from:
- Waikato, up 39 kt (3.3 precent)
- Auckland, down 13 kt (0.6 percent)
- Manawatū-Whanganui, down 12 kt (2.8 percent)
- Wellington, down 11 kt (1.5 percent).
The Auckland region is home to 34 percent of the population, who emitted 2,365 kt (29 percent) of New Zealand's household emissions in 2024. Total household emissions in the Auckland region decreased 0.6 percent between 2023 and 2024, while the population increased 2.4 percent. This resulted in a slight decrease in household emissions per capita for the Auckland region, to 1.3 tonnes of CO₂-e per capita in 2024.
Households in the West Coast region emitted the most household emissions per capita in 2024, at 2.6 tonnes of CO₂-e per capita. The West Coast region emitted 90 kt (1.1 percent) of New Zealand's household emissions and made up 0.6 percent of New Zealand's population in 2024.
Households in the Waikato region were the second-largest emitters, at 2.3 tonnes of CO₂-e per capita. Households in the Nelson region were the smallest emitters, at 1.2 tonnes of CO₂-e per capita. As a comparison, total household emissions per capita (for all regions) were 1.6 tonnes of CO₂-e per capita in 2024.
Household emissions are mostly composed of household transport emissions. At the total regional level, household transport emissions decreased 9 kt CO₂-e (0.1 percent) and accounted for 88 percent of total household emissions in 2024.
| Region | Household emissions |
| Waikato | 39 |
| Marlborough | 9 |
| Otago | 4 |
| Hawke's Bay | 4 |
| Southland | 3 |
| Gisborne | 2 |
| Taranaki | 2 |
| Canterbury | 0 |
| Nelson | 0 |
| Northland | -1 |
| Tasman | -2 |
| West Coast | -2 |
| Bay of Plenty | -6 |
| Wellington | -11 |
| Manawatū-Whanganui | -12 |
| Auckland | -13 |
Total industry emissions
Total industry emissions accounted for 89 percent of total regional emissions in 2024 and decreased by 1.1 percent (811 kt) to 69,752 kt compared with 2023.
The largest changes in industry emissions in 2024, compared with 2023, were from:
- Waikato, up 921 kt (7.4 percent), driven mainly by increases in electricity, gas, water, and waste services, up 1,183 kt
- Taranaki, down 680 kt (12.2 percent), driven by decreases in manufacturing, down 529 kt, and electricity, gas, water, and waste services, down 223 kt.
Emissions associated with electricity generation are allocated based on the region of the generating plant rather than the consumer location, in line with the production approach to measuring emissions and the basis on which GDP is measured.
Industry emissions by region
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing accounted for 61 percent of total regional industry CO₂-e emissions and decreased 1.6 percent in 2024.
In 2024:
- Canterbury accounted for 20 percent of agriculture, forestry, and fishing industry emissions
- Waikato was the next-largest contributor at 19 percent, followed by Southland at 11 percent.
Between 2023 and 2024:
- Waikato experienced the largest decrease in emissions, down 150 kt
- Taranaki experienced the largest increase in emissions, up 38 kt
- agriculture, forestry, and fishing industry emissions decreased in 11 of 15 regions.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing accounted for 12 percent of total regional industry emissions and decreased 11 percent in 2024.
In 2024:
- Auckland, the largest contributor, accounted for 33 percent of manufacturing emissions (2,630 kt)
- Waikato was the next-largest contributor, with 14 percent (1,165 kt).
Between 2023 and 2024:
- Taranaki experienced the largest decrease in manufacturing emissions, down 529 kt (60 percent)
- manufacturing emissions decreased in 14 regions, with the only exception being Otago, where levels remained relatively unchanged.
Electricity, gas, water, and waste services
Electricity, gas, water, and waste services accounted for 10 percent of total regional industry emissions and increased 15 percent in 2024.
In 2024:
- Waikato, the largest contributor, accounted for 48 percent (3,331 kt) of electricity, gas, water, and waste services industry emissions
- Taranaki was the next-largest contributor with 17 percent (1,161 kt).
Between 2023 and 2024, Waikato had the largest increase (1,183 kt), and Taranaki had the largest decrease (223 kt).
Transport, postal, and warehousing
Transport, postal, and warehousing accounted for 10 percent of total regional industry emissions and increased 3.2 percent in 2024.
In 2024:
- Auckland, the largest contributor, accounted for 53 percent (3,589 kt)
- Canterbury was the next-largest contributor, with 13 percent (849 kt).
Between 2023 and 2024:
- Auckland had the largest increase (180 kt) in transport, postal, and warehousing emissions
- transport, postal, and warehousing emissions increased in 10 regions and decreased in six.
Regional emissions by gas
In 2024, emissions from carbon dioxide and methane (in CO₂-e) combined made up 90 percent of total emissions. Carbon dioxide increased 318 kt (0.9 percent), and methane decreased 814 kt (2.2 percent) from 2023 to 2024.
Note: All gas types are expressed in comparable units of CO₂-e.
Carbon dioxide emissions decreased in 11 of the 16 regions from 2023 to 2024:
- Taranaki experienced the largest decrease in carbon dioxide, down 623 kt on the previous year, driven by decreases in emissions from manufacturing and electricity, gas, water, and waste services in 2024.
- Waikato had the largest increase in carbon dioxide, up 1,145 kt on the previous year, due to increases in emissions from electricity, gas, water, and waste services in 2024.
- Auckland emitted the largest amount of carbon dioxide (10,126 kt), followed by:
- Waikato (6,430 kt)
- Canterbury (3,883 kt).
Methane emissions decreased in 14 of the 16 regions from 2023 to 2024:
- Waikato experienced the largest decrease in methane, down 142 kt on the previous year, driven by decreases in emissions from agriculture, forestry, and fishing in 2024.
- Canterbury emitted the largest amount of methane (6,957 kt), followed by:
- Waikato (6,506 kt)
- Southland (3,802 kt)
- Manawatū-Whanganui (3,749 kt).
- Regions with high methane emissions are generally intensive farming areas.
Nitrous oxide emissions decreased 2.0 percent to 6,817 kt in 2024:
- Waikato had the largest decrease in nitrous oxide emissions, down 32 kt in 2024.
- Waikato emitted the largest amount of nitrous oxide (1,529 kt), followed by:
- Canterbury (1,258 kt)
- Southland (906 kt).
Fluorinated gases (f-gases) are a family of man-made gases used in a range of industrial applications. In 2024, these gases made up 1.3 percent of total emissions.
All 16 regions saw decreases in emissions of f-gases between 2023 and 2024:
- The Auckland region had the largest decrease in f-gases, down 55 kt.
- Despite the decrease in 2024, Auckland emitted the largest amount of f-gases (337 kt), followed by:
- Canterbury (123 kt)
- Waikato and Wellington (both with 86 kt).
Emissions and regional economic activity
Emissions intensity is recorded as the amount of industry greenhouse gas emissions reported per unit of gross domestic product (GDP).
The industry emissions and economic data in this section have different reference periods - emissions statistics are in December years, and regional GDP statistics are in March years.
Regional gross domestic product: Year ended March 2024 data is available to the March 2024 year.
For the closest comparison with emissions, we compare the December 2023 year of emissions with the March 2024 year for GDP.
Note: Intensity is expressed as tonnes per unit of GDP, rather than kt, and excludes emissions from households.
Carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂-e) emissions intensity
These emissions intensity metrics are based on current prices and are not adjusted for inflation. They show emissions intensity at a point in time and are not appropriate for assessing change over time. To see the change in emissions intensity over time at the national level, please see Greenhouse gas emissions (industry and household): March 2025 quarter.
In 2023, industry produced 170 tonnes of CO₂-e for every million dollars of GDP. This ranged from a high of 713 tonnes in Southland to a low of 52 tonnes in Wellington.
Southland recorded the highest emissions intensity (industry emissions relative to GDP) for CO₂-e, and the second highest for carbon dioxide intensity.
In 2023, Southland produced 8.9 percent of total industry CO₂-e emissions and contributed 2.1 percent of national GDP. Like other regions dependent on agricultural and manufacturing industries, Southland's economy can be impacted to a greater degree by fluctuations in commodity prices, and this can influence emissions intensity without a significant change in emissions.
Wellington produced 3.7 percent of total industry CO₂-e emissions and contributed 12.3 percent of national GDP in 2023. Wellington's low emissions intensity level is due to a high contribution of services, excluding transport, postal, and warehousing industries, to its economy.
Emissions intensity, for CO₂-e, tends to increase across regions depending on the significance of agriculture to the regional economy, which tends to have high methane and nitrous oxide emissions.
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions intensity
Carbon dioxide emissions intensity reflects localised emissions-intensive economic units and activities such as mining, manufacturing, and electricity generation. This is seen in the higher carbon dioxide intensities in Taranaki, Southland, West Coast, Waikato, and Northland.
Variability in carbon dioxide emissions intensity is less pronounced:
- Taranaki recorded the highest carbon dioxide intensity, at 264 tonnes (CO₂) per million dollars of GDP.
- Wellington recorded the lowest carbon dioxide intensity, at 22 tonnes (CO₂) per million dollars of GDP.
| Region | Carbon dioxide (tonnes) per $(million) of GDP | Carbon dioxide equivalents (tonnes) per $(million) of GDP |
| Wellington | 21.6 | 51.7 |
| Auckland | 50.3 | 59.9 |
| Bay of Plenty | 48.6 | 111.4 |
| Tasman/Nelson | 56.7 | 120.9 |
| Marlborough | 48.4 | 149 |
| Canterbury | 55.9 | 219.3 |
| Otago | 50.3 | 260.3 |
| Northland | 97.1 | 275.5 |
| Hawke's Bay | 45.6 | 276.3 |
| Manawatū-Whanganui | 50.4 | 335.3 |
| Waikato | 114 | 340.6 |
| West Coast | 121.5 | 383.3 |
| Gisborne | 50.8 | 424 |
| Taranaki | 263.9 | 500.6 |
| Southland | 164.1 | 713.3 |
Definitions and metadata
Greenhouse gas emissions by region (industry and household): Year ended 2024 - DataInfo+ gives information on the methodology underlying the data and outlines revisions made in this release.
Regional greenhouse gas emissions (industry and household): Sources and methods - DataInfo+ presents the data sources and methods used for producing all the quarterly emissions accounts, including Greenhouse gas emissions by region (industry and household): Year ended 2024.
The bridging table in Table 3 of the Excel tables under Download data and Regional greenhouse gas emissions (industry and household): Sources and Methods describe how the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) regional greenhouse gas account reconciles with the greenhouse gas inventory total.
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Next releases
Greenhouse gas emissions (industry and household): June 2025 quarter will be released on 23 October 2025.
Greenhouse gas emissions (consumption-based): Year ended 2023 will be released on 9 December 2025.
