Projects
Wellington City Council, NZ becomes the first city in New Zealand to use VivaCity traffic sensors
Eighteen VivaCity traffic-counting sensors were installed at 13 intersections to kick off the five-year project. Pole-mounted sensors gather and anonymize traffic data for categorization by transport method. The network also monitors traffic speed and congestion for ongoing analysis of local road conditions. Wellington will use long-term sensor data to inform decisions about the local bike network, event management, and behavioral change initiatives.
Wellington City Council, NZ
New Zealand
Queenstown-Lakes District Council, NZ trials environmental sensors in recreational reserves
The Ben Lomond and Mount Iron reserves each received five Attentis pole-mounted sensors. The sensors gather around-the-clock measurements of pollen, air quality, soil moisture, and structural movement. Reserve patrons can plan their trips by checking data on a mobile app. Thermal images are sent via the Spark NZ network to emergency personnel for early detection of wildfires. Council officials will evaluate the technology's effectiveness during a summer pilot.
Queenstown-Lakes District Council, NZ
New Zealand
Southland Regional Council, NZ uses web cameras and STIV technology for real-time flood data
Council teams struggled with evaluating river levels in areas made inaccessible by flooding. A network of web cameras gathers real-time footage of local rivers for analysis. Space-Time Image Velocimetry (STIV) gathered by cameras and drones measures river flows in cubic meters per second. Southland Regional Council's new approach to river flow measurement reduces the need for risky inspections during storms and improves flood alert timeliness.
Southland Regional Council, NZ
New Zealand
Auckland Council, NZ Future Fit tool for carbon footprint reduction expands into business community
Auckland Council introduced Future Fit in 2019 as an online tool for residents to measure and reduce their environmental impacts. A recently introduced version encourages emission-reduction efforts among corporate teams and small businesses. Future Fit uses questionnaires and national data to calculate personal footprints at the outset of participation. Companies track real-time footprint changes as employees complete 30 activities in six categories.
Auckland Council, NZ
New Zealand
Otago Regional Council, NZ Native Planting Guide promotes biodiversity and climate resilience
The interactive resource assists landowners with species selection for landscaping and planting projects. Users click on the map or enter their addresses for location-specific ecosystem reports. Each PDF report includes a list of native species with details such as maximum height, growth rate, and environmental tolerances. Additional resources in the Native Planting Guide include guides for shrubland or coastal planting and native planting principles.
Otago Regional Council, NZ
New Zealand
Canterbury Regional Council, NZ pilots AI-supported identification of invasive plant species
Council officials identified an outbreak of an invasive grass species called Nassella tussock. Project partner Lynker Analytics trained an AI platform to differentiate the species from non-invasive vegetation in South Canterbury. The platform also predicted growth patterns based on areas of existing coverage. Biosecurity officers tasked with time-intensive inspections of local properties focused more resources on eradication efforts during the pilot.
Canterbury Regional Council, NZ
New Zealand
Porirua City Council, NZ improves micro-mobility experiences with tactile signage on e-scooters
City officials approved a two-year e-scooter pilot with Beam and Flamingo in 2023. Beam worked with Porirua City Council on installing tactile signage across its fleet. Each sign includes the e-scooter plate number and a QR code connected to the Beam a Report system. Blind, deaf, and visually impaired passersby can report e-scooters blocking their paths on their phones. The system sends a Beam representative to collect the device and shapes the city's approach to micro-mobility management.
Porirua City Council, NZ
New Zealand
Auckland Council, NZ helps families facing high utility bills with home energy assessment pilot
Auckland and the Support for Energy Education in Communities Programme funded the three-month pilot for NZD 215,000. A trio of local energy assessors was trained to advise residents on energy consumption behaviors. Energy assessors replaced old lightbulbs with Ecobulb LED bulbs in 790 households. Participating households also received high-efficiency shower heads and heat pump filter cleanings when necessary. The pilot saves an estimated NZD 481,000 per year through reduced energy waste.
Auckland Council, NZ
New Zealand
Christchurch City Council, NZ evaluates the impacts of eClean Bioreactor on waterway health
The Smart Christchurch team worked with device inventor Ngarie Scartozzi on a real-world trial on the Ōtākaro Avon River. The eClean Bioreactor is powered by solar panels and filters water through an internal microbiome. This treatment process removes E.coli, nitrates, and phosphates from the water supply. Christchurch and Scartozzi are measuring the device's effectiveness before expanding its use to areas including local farm drainage.
Christchurch City Council, NZ
New Zealand
Christchurch City Council, NZ collaborates on the development of SeaSpotter citizen science app
The Smart Christchurch team sought a solution for insufficient data about endangered mammal populations. A partnership with the Department of Conservation, MAUI63, and others resulted in an AI-powered app for public use. SeaSpotter users can take pictures and relay information about mammal sightings using the app's chat function. Citizen scientists learn about local animals while supplying real-time data to university and agency researchers.
Christchurch City Council, NZ
New Zealand
Otago Regional Council, NZ monitors real-time water conditions with Environmental Data Portal
The interactive dashboard presents environmental data from 250 monitoring stations near local waterways. Dashboard users filter data by 12 parameters such as dissolved oxygen concentration, rainfall, and nitrate nitrogen. Map pinpoints show filtered data over seven intervals including the past day, week, and month. The Environmental Data Portal can generate reports back to each station's installation with some stations dating back eight decades.
Otago Regional Council, NZ
New Zealand
Selwyn District Council, NZ collaborates with Attentis and Spark on wildfire detection pilot
Three Attentis fire detection sensors were installed throughout McHughs Forest Park. Each sensor gathers thermal imagery, air quality data, and 360-degree views around the clock. An AI-enabled platform evaluates data for early signs of forest fires. Fire service teams receive texts when wildfires emerge, thus reducing response times compared to existing reporting methods. This system also gathers particulate matter and pollen data for park visitors.
Selwyn District Council, NZ
New Zealand
Northland Regional Council, NZ projects natural disaster risks with Natural Hazards Portal
The centerpiece of the portal is a hazard property viewer with projections for every lot in the region. Portal users enter addresses of interest and select lots for detailed information about property hazards. Each file includes estimates of risks for coastal erosion, river flooding events, and sea level impacts from 2023 through 2130. The Natural Hazards Portal educates users about environmental hazards with introductory sections on topics like flood risk management and climate change.
Northland Regional Council, NZ
New Zealand
Dunedin City Council, NZ fosters national video game industry with Centre of Digital Excellence
CODE is a first-in-New Zealand program for professional and studio development run by the city's Enterprise Dunedin team. New pathways to employment include Game Dev Clubs for kids, a three-year program at Otago Polytechnic, and degree options at the University of Otago. A funding program for prototypes, startups, and scale-ups focuses on projects by diverse creatives. Mentorships and workshops with industry experts around the world support New Zealand's emerging video game studios.
Dunedin City Council, NZ
New Zealand
Upper Hutt City Council, NZ addresses home energy concerns with free Healthy Homes program
Healthy Homes consists of the council's Eco Design Advisor (EDA) Service and Home Energy Audit Toolkits. Each two-hour EDA appointment results in recommendations based on an inventory of heating, insulation, and ventilation. Residents also find out about subsidy programs like the EECA Warmer Kiwi Homes Programme. Upper Hutt's Central Library lends toolkits containing infrared thermometers, hygrometers, and wood moisture meters for self-guided evaluations.
Upper Hutt City Council, NZ
New Zealand
Christchurch City Council, NZ creates Climate Change Risk Screening for built and natural domains
City officials and community members identified climate trends through the end of the 21st century. These consultations identified long-term impacts for the entire region including fewer annual frosts, extreme rainfall, and saltwater intrusion. The 40-page report listed high-priority risks in six Climate Risk Assessment Areas based on minor, moderate, or significant risk levels. A risk matrix provides a baseline for measuring future climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.
Christchurch City Council, NZ
New Zealand
Bay of Plenty Regional Council, NZ spreads water safety tips through Safer Boating Ambassador pilot
The program responds to the disproportionate percentage of Māori drowning deaths in New Zealand over the past decade. Nine students from local Māori communities were selected for the inaugural training program. The council's Harbourmaster team taught students about marine radio operation, Day Skipper theory, and in-water survival methods. Safer Boating Ambassadors impart their knowledge during community lifejacket swaps, boat ramp education days, and other events.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council, NZ
New Zealand
Gisborne District Council, NZ collaborates with Māori experts on resource management plan review
Local officials work with natural resource specialists from four iwi - tribes - during the one-year pilot. Weekly consultations shape revisions to the Tairāwhiti Resource Management Plan (TRM) based on expertise about topics like housing and water quality. A co-design process ensures that the TRMP and the council's Long-Term Plan meet the needs of all district residents. Working relationships built during the pilot also help the district anticipate national Resource Management Act changes.
Gisborne District Council, NZ
New Zealand
Wellington City Council, NZ partners with Reveal on a digital twin of the city's underground
City officials wanted an accurate depiction of subsurface conditions as part of its long-term transportation improvement effort. The world-first underground digital twin was built with data from 360-degree cameras, laser scans, and radar. A 3D model spanning 50 hectares of Wellington's busiest neighborhoods depicts everything from utility lines to underground voids. Reveal's work supports community decision-making about public works projects needed to support a growing population.
Wellington City Council, NZ
New Zealand
Whanganui District Council, NZ Home Energy Saver Pilot combines advice with efficient technology
Whanganui District Council and Ecobulb received NZ 115,000 from the national government for the project. The pilot delivers low-flow showerheads and LED lightbulbs to households struggling with utility costs. A team of 10 energy assessors trained by the district provides energy-saving advice based on each household's needs and budget. The Home Energy Saver Pilot begins with a goal of 579 assessments of low-income homes in 2023.
Whanganui District Council, NZ
New Zealand
Otago Regional Council, NZ deploys Limnotrack buoys for real-time water quality monitoring
Limnotrack's solar-powered buoys drop water sensors up to 120 meters deep multiple times per day. Quality metrics like algae growth, oxygen levels, and clarity are sent to a public dashboard. Each buoy includes a weather sensor for the collection of air temperature and humidity data. Otago Regional Council began its water monitoring project with a pilot at Lake Hayes in 2019 before adding permanent buoys to Lake Wanaka and Lake Whakatipu in 2022.
Otago Regional Council, NZ
New Zealand