This file photo taken on May 10, 2018 shows the view of Auckland, New Zealand. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

WELLINGTON - New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions decreased 3.5 percent, or 696 kilotonnes, in the September 2022 quarter, according to the statistics department Stats NZ on Tuesday.

The fall in emissions follows successive increases over the previous three quarters and was driven mostly by significant reductions in the electricity, gas, water, waste services and the manufacturing industry, which decreased by 26 percent compared with the June quarter, NZ said.

"The fall was mostly due to a smaller share of fossil fuels being used to generate electricity, and a higher share of renewable energy sources," said Stats NZ environmental-economic accounts manager Stephen Oakley.

Hydroelectric generation increased 29 percent over the September quarter, geothermal was up 2 percent, and wind-generated electricity reached its highest-ever level after increasing by 9.7 percent, said Stats NZ environmental-economic accounts manager Stephen Oakley

Most notably, hydroelectric generation increased 29 percent over the September quarter, geothermal was up 2 percent, and wind-generated electricity reached its highest-ever level after increasing by 9.7 percent, Oakley said.

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Over the same period, gross domestic product (GDP) for the electricity, gas, water and waste services industry grew by 3.1 percent, he said, adding that manufacturing emissions decreased for the second quarter in a row.

Over the June and September 2022 quarters, transport emissions rose by 9.9 and 9.3 percent, respectively, due to the gradual ease of the COVID-19 restrictions.

However, emissions from the tourist-sensitive hospitality and accommodation industries decreased over these quarters, Oakley said.

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In the September 2022 quarter, New Zealand's GDP rose by 1.7 percent, while industry emissions, excluding households, fell by 4.1 percent, statistics show.