F37794 Nigel Gray FINAL.pdf

11 February 2026
TEL +64 4 473 0111
Level 11,1 Grey Street, Wel ington 6011

PO Box 25620, Wel ington 6140
Nigel Gray
New Zealand

[FYI request #33022 email].org.nz


Our ref:  F37794
By email
Dear Nigel,
Response to request regarding monitoring of ship emissions/plumes
I refer to your request to Maritime NZ on 27 November 2025 as follows:
“Specifically, I request:
1. Any monitoring systems, datasets, or responsibilities Maritime NZ has regarding ships
entering New Zealand’s territorial waters (within 12 nautical miles) that produce atmospheric
emissions, plumes, or cloud formation.
2. Any monitoring systems, datasets, or responsibilities Maritime NZ has regarding ships
operating in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone (12–200 nautical miles) that produce
atmospheric emissions, plumes, or cloud formation.
3. Any reports, datasets, or records held by Maritime NZ relating to ship emissions or plumes
observed in either zone.
4. Any legislation, regulations, or policy documents that assign responsibility to Maritime NZ for
monitoring or oversight of ships producing atmospheric emissions or cloud coverage in either
zone.
5. Any correspondence between Maritime NZ and other agencies (e.g. Ministry for the
Environment, EPA, NIWA) relating to ship emissions, plumes, or cloud formation in either zone.”
On 16 January 2026 Maritime NZ emailed you inform you we were extending the time available to
us to respond to your request, due to the need for consultations.
We have now considered your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). There are
two documents in scope and how these have been treated under the Act is detailed in the table at
Appendix 1.
Some information is being withheld and refused under the following grounds:
9(2)(a)
to protect the privacy of natural persons
9(2)(ba)(i)     to protect information which is subject to an obligation of confidence or which any
person has been or could be compelled to provide under the authority of any
enactment, where the making available of the information would be likely to
prejudice the supply of similar information, or information from the same source, and
it is in the public interest that such information should continue to be supplied

Our responses to your specific questions are as follows.
1. Any monitoring systems, datasets, or responsibilities Maritime NZ has regarding ships
entering New Zealand’s territorial waters (within 12 nautical miles) that produce atmospheric
emissions, plumes, or cloud formation.
Maritime NZ does not hold or manage monitoring systems or datasets for ships entering New
Zealand’s territorial waters regardless of whether they produce atmospheric emissions.
Maritime NZ has no mandate to monitor emissions from ships under the Maritime Transport Act
1994 (MTA). However as outlined below, we do have responsibilities under MARPOL Annex VI.
MARPOL Annex VI
On 26 May 2022, New Zealand signed up to the International Maritime Organization (IMO)
convention known as MARPOL Annex VI. Maritime NZ has specific responsibilities for this Annex.
Annex VI of MARPOL seeks to address the impact of air pollution from shipping activities on human
health and environments in and around port communities, and the impacts of emissions from
shipping activities on climate change and ozone layer depletion.
The MARPOL Annex VI requirements are given effect by the Marine Protection Rules Part 199:
Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships, and the Engine Fuel Specifications Regulations (administered
by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment). The rules apply to New Zealand ships
voyaging anywhere in the world, and to all other ships in seas under New Zealand’s jurisdiction,
except for warships and ships of the New Zealand Defence Force.
As stated above the MTA (or the Marine Protection Rules Part 199) do not provide Maritime NZ with
a mandate to monitor ship emissions. Annex VI is designed to manage emissions through how
vessels are designed and constructed, and fuel used. The Marine Protection Rules Part 199:
Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships brought the requirements of Annex VI into effect in New
Zealand law and came into force from 26 August 2022.
2. Any monitoring systems, datasets, or responsibilities Maritime NZ has regarding ships
operating in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone (12–200 nautical miles) that produce
atmospheric emissions, plumes, or cloud formation.
Please see the response provided to question one.
3. Any reports, datasets, or records held by Maritime NZ relating to ship emissions or plumes
observed in either zone.
On 19 December I clarified this with you to be material from 1 January 2015. We have interpreted
this question to be requesting the notification we received. We have been able to find notifications
about two incidents, and those notification documents are detailed in the document schedule
attached as Appendix 1. The schedule also outlines how the documents you requested have been
treated under the Act. Neither of these incidents met the threshold for requiring compliance or
investigation actions from Maritime NZ.
Please note that there may have been other notifications, however the way the information is
captured in our systems does not enable it to be easily retrieved. We would need to review every
notification we have received and therefore we are refusing to undertake such a search under
section 18(f) of the Act, as the requested information cannot be extracted without substantial
col ation and research, and to do so would have a significant and unreasonable impact on Maritime
NZ’s ability to carry out our other operations.
4. Any legislation, regulations, or policy documents that assign responsibility to Maritime NZ for
monitoring or oversight of ships producing atmospheric emissions or cloud coverage in either
zone.
As noted above, Maritime NZ has no assigned responsibility for monitoring or oversight of ships
producing emissions. Our regulatory responsibilities under MARPOL Annex VI and the associated
rules are available via this link: Prevention of air pollution from ships - Maritime NZ. In particular I
would draw your attention to this page - https://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/rules/al -rules/marine-
protection-rules-part-199/
2

5. Any correspondence between Maritime NZ and other agencies (e.g. Ministry for the
Environment, EPA, NIWA) relating to ship emissions, plumes, or cloud formation in either zone.”
On 19 December I clarified this with you to be correspondence from 1 January 2020. We have
interpreted this request to be correspondence between Maritime NZ and other agencies relating to
emissions from specific ships. If you are interested in correspondence between Maritime NZ and
other agencies relating to emissions more broadly, we would need to refuse this under section 18(f)
of the Act – substantial collation. For example, the term emissions would encompass work we have
been involved in relating to Annex VI of MARPOL and work with the International Maritime
Organisation around zero emissions – which would encompass an extremely high volume of emails.
There is one document in scope of this question which is detailed in the document schedule
attached as Appendix 1.
With regard to the information that has been withheld under section 9 of the Act, I am satisfied that
the reasons for withholding the information at this time are not outweighed by public interest
considerations that would make it desirable to make the information available.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely,
Christine Ross
Manager, Communication and Ministerial Services
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Document 2
Out of Scope
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From: Environment Canterbury

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Sent: Thursday, 10 April 2025 1:22 pm
To: Out of Scope
InternationalShipping
<[email address]>
Cc: s 9(2)(a)
Out of Scope
>; Incident Response <[email address]>
Subject: EXTERNAL: RE: New pollution event assigned PE254412 ‐ Celebrity Edge
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize
the sender and know the content is safe.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WARNING!!!
[Attachment detected]
[Only open this attachment if you are confident it is safe.]
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Thanks s 9(2)(a),
Just FYI we have just had a media enquiry from The Press, we will answer the questions proposed which are largely
about how many calls we have had and what is the relevant legislation.
Thanks,
From: Out of Scope

Sent: Thursday, 10 April 2025 1:13 pm
To: Environment Canterbury
InternationalShipping
1

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Hi s 9(2)(a),

I’ve just spoken to our customer services, they have had at least 20 different calls, below are a couple of emails we
have received directly.

I work in Lyttelton office, we have watched brown smoke come from the ship all morning.

I’ve been told Maritime New Zealand are also very aware of the situation, so I will leave it to them to investigate until
told otherwise, but I always promise callers that I will at least forward their concerns.

Thanks

s 9(2)(a)

ACT 1982
Example emails (personal information redacted):

Kia ora,

There is a serious issue with the cruise ship currently in Lyttelton Port. A metallic burning smell is hanging
in the air with the smoke that is being emitted from it.

I have taken photos from two angles, one from the east side and one from the West. My house is currently
INFORMATION
shrouded in it and it is stifling.

I am surprised there aren't requirements for the mitigation of pollution for such a large ship. How can NZ be
clean and green with this being allowed?

We rely on you to police these issues. If you don't do it, the environment and the people suffer. Can't we ask
that they don't dock unless they adhere to strict regulations to ensure they are doing the right thing? I can't
even bring dirty boots into the country when I fly back from OS.

Please assist!,
Thank you!

*****
Thank s 9(2)(a)

My family member drives the container cranes at the port. I don't think he could see out of the crane cab
window this morning! (not to mention breathe)

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Regards

From: Out of Scope

Sent: Thursday, 10 April 2025 11:40 am
To: Environment Canterbury
>; InternationalShipping
<[email address]>
Cc: s 9(2)(a)
Out of Scope
3

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The visible emissions which were coming from the funnels today during our arrival to Christchurch, is just white
plume made out of water vapor and it becomes more visible when the outside atmosphere is humid.


Best Regards,

Out of Scope
ACT 1982
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From: Environment Canterbury
>
Sent: Thursday, 10 April 2025 9:53 am
To: Out of Scope
InternationalShipping <[email address]>
Cc: s 9(2)(a)

Subject: FW: New pollution event assigned PE254412 ‐ Celebrity Edge

Mōrena,

Please see some of the complaints that have come through this morning for
RELEASED UNDER THE OFFICIAL   an air discharge from the vessel Celebrity
Edge.

The photo below was sent to us and the one attached I have taken just now that is darker in colour than I would expect
from steam.

Please look into this as looks like this one may be a repeat offender.

Thanks,

s 9(2)
(a)
6

PE Number: PE254412
Date Reported: 10/04/2025
Description: 10/4/2025, 07:46 am ‐ New Snap Send Solve report Large volume of pollution from cruise ship drifting
all the way to the heads **2nd email**10/4/2025, 08:39am ‐ New Snap Send Solve report Cruise ship smoke all the
way down the harbour. How is this ok?
Admin Comment: YP 10/4/2025 ‐ SSS in trim with pictures ‐ Customer request a call back his contact number is
(have done)
Location: s 9(2)(a)
, Christchurch City Council Council
Responsibility: (Alleged Offender):
ACT 1982
Assigned Officer: s 9(2)(a)

GIS Link:
https://ecanmaps.ecan.govt.nz/viewer/?config=configs%2Fzoneimplementation%2Fconfig incident response.json&
query=Wind and Odour Data 3572%2CPENumber%2CPE254412
Complainants:
s

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9(2)
s 9(2)
(a)
s 9(2)
(a)
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