MISSION ZERO was awarded Nelson City Council funding to lead a Low-carbon Commute Initiative from mid-2024 to mid-2025, enabling organisations in the Nelson region to encourage behaviour change related to employee commuting. Tasman District Council, Nelson Tasman Network Trust and Port Nelson also supported the project through financial contributions.
Some of the largest employers in Nelson including Port Nelson, Health New Zealand Nelson Marlborough (includes Nelson Hospital), Sealord, Cawthron Institute, Nelmac Kūmānu, Nelson Airport, Bowater Motors Group, Tonkin + Taylor and Pic’s Peanut Butter participated in the initiative.
Representing close to 3,300 employees – or 10% of Nelson’s workforce – the group worked together to develop strategies to facilitate low carbon commute-to-work behaviour change.
The project included a number of touch-points for participating businesses to meet, network and ideate. Output included the development of:
- An employee commute survey tool
- Data analytics and reports taken from a significant sample demonstrating local commuter habits plus barriers and solutions to low-carbon commuting
- Focus groups and workshops
- An action plan template
- Case studies
- A closing report
The majority of participants developed Low-carbon Employee Commute Action Plans – signifying a commitment to supporting behaviour change within their business – with senior leaders attending a CEO Forum (June 2025) to discuss project outcomes and commit to further involvement.
MISSION ZERO has received funding to extend this initiative to a broader group of businesses plus schools, in collaboration with the Nelson Tasman Climate Forum and Nelsust, in 2025/26.
Image credit (L-R): Adrienne Kozlowski (Tonkin + Taylor), Daniela Stringer (Sealord), Bruce Gilkison (Mission Zero), Shannon Holroyd (Port Nelson), Natalie Gilberd (Mission Zero), Robyn Munro (Nelmac Kūmānu), Annabel Scaife (Sealord), Katrina Taylor-Hewitt (Cawthron Institute), Marta Karlik-Neale (Mission Zero). Thanks to Moana Sup and Surf / Nelson Paddleboards for the loan of the paddleboards.