A study by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) has linked the use of gas inside homes to the early deaths of more than 200 New Zealanders a year - not far below the annual road toll in New Zealand - and more than 3,200 childhood asthma cases a year.  

“We don’t use asbestos any more because it was proven to be dangerous. We took the lead out of paint and fuel because it was proven to be dangerous. We put big warnings on cigarette packets because they have been proven to be dangerous,” says Rewiring Aotearoa CEO Mike Casey. “It is clear from a number of studies that burning gas inside the home is in a similar category and this local evidence adds significant weight to it. It’s abundantly clear that gas is bad for people, bad for the planet, and bad for your pocket.” 

EECA’s Indoor Combustion in New Zealand Homes: Health Effects and Costs focused on the estimated 360,000 gas stoves and 44,000 unflued gas heaters and looked at fine particles and nitrogen dioxide. It showed they cost the country over $3.3 billion a year on hospitalisations and lost productivity. 

Responding to the report, Gas NZ CEO Jeffrey Clarke told Stuff that using gas inside was safe and that it was important to use the range hood (which the research said was ineffective at removing nitrogen dioxide). 

“He also suggested that people ‘crack a window’ to get rid of dangerous toxins. This was also an argument for supporting smoking in bars. We think a better option is to not release those toxins in the first place and that’s why electric cooking and heating is so much better. Executives from the tobacco industry stood in front of congress in 1994 and testified under oath that nicotine wasn’t addictive. We can’t help but be reminded of that moment when those who represent the gas industry say it’s safe to burn it inside. What they are saying is in stark contrast to the public health professionals that have conducted peer-reviewed studies.”

The international peer review of this report noted that the predictions for premature deaths were lower than other international studies and while GasNZ said a key study was more than 20 years old, the report referenced more than 50 robust pieces of literature between 1984 and 2025. 

“Those older reports are likely used because they are still considered seminal,” says Casey. 

While this study makes clear that burning gas in the home causes significant respiratory issues, others (like this one) have shown the dangers of burning gas inside the home when it comes to cancer risk. 

“Some of the other toxins - like dangerous carbon monoxide from incomplete combustion or hydrogen sulfide - are also heavier than air, so if you’ve got young kids or pets crawling around on the floor, they are more likely to be sucking them up,” says Casey. “You can now cook cheaper, without those toxins, so there is no point using gas in the home.” 

Casey says there is a danger that those who remain on the gas network will be disproportionately low-income households, renters, and older people who cannot afford the upfront costs of electrifying and will be left exposed to rising costs and health issues they cannot avoid. 

“Rewiring Aotearoa’s view is that the Government should support a managed transition away from gas for the homes and non-industrial businesses connected to reticulated gas distribution networks. This would help address inequity, and provide greater certainty over how quickly customers will disconnect, when networks would likely retire and cost recovery timelines.” 

The international peer reviewer helpfully highlights the benefits of future research to understand the equity impacts of gas cooking use.

Induction cooking is increasingly being recognised as a superior option at home and some commercial kitchens are also embracing it. Those who install induction cooktops tend to find that it offers better performance and improves conditions for workers. In New Zealand, East restaurant recently upgraded to an induction wok and is now in the process of swapping all its gas hobs because it’s worked so well. 

“The health issues laid out in this report and previous reports are a major concern and there will be a lot of people who will be rightly concerned about the impact these toxins are having on their health and the health of their families. But keeping households on gas also does nothing to improve the cost of living, something this Government has been campaigning on.” 

The majority of homes (and many businesses) in New Zealand can save money from day one by swapping gas space and water heating for financed electric options. This is because the savings from no longer paying gas bills and daily charges are higher than the cost of electricity and finance repayments for new electric appliances. 

“This isn’t about forcing people off gas or mandating something, which is what the gas industry has focused on in other markets. People just need to be informed about the risks of using gas and understand the economics. We need to ensure that those who want to switch can afford to.” 

Cooking uses a relatively small amount of energy in the average home, but when the cooktop is the last gas appliance and it’s connected to the reticulated network, these homes will also be paying a fairly high daily charge, so it makes sense to switch to avoid that.

“While the economics on cooktops in terms of just household energy bills do not save the hundreds or even thousands that solar, heat pumps, and EVs can, the wider benefits at both household and national levels in terms of health and productivity are incredibly strong.”

Casey says everyone - from individual households to the Government to the gentailers - should be looking for a substitute to gas. 

“Gas is more expensive than using electricity in most cases and it is more expensive than renewables for electricity generation. Domestic reserves are running out faster than expected. The price of gas continues to rise. And this report adds to the weight of evidence showing that it’s bad for our health when used indoors. It is time we move away from what is an old, inefficient, dangerous and increasingly irrelevant technology. Like smoking, gas is dumb and needs to end with this generation.” 

NOTES TO EDITORS:

For more information or to arrange an interview, contact Ben Fahy at ben@rewiring.nz or 021 245 4894. 

‍Rewiring Aotearoa is an independent think / do tank working on energy, climate, and electrification research, advocacy, and supporting communities through the energy transition. The New Zealand-based team consists of energy, policy, communications and community outreach experts and it is funded by New Zealand-based philanthropists including Sir Stephen Tindall, Urs Hölzle and the Whakatupu Aotearoa Foundation.