Pollution

Air pollution

New Zealand has relatively good air quality due to our low population, close proximity to the sea and remoteness from other continents and sources of pollution. However there are some places in New Zealand, especially in towns and cities where air pollution does affect our health and the enjoyment of our environment.

These are usually places where homes are heated mainly by solid fuel (eg, wood or coal) or with high volumes of traffic. Air pollution is more likely to occur when there is little wind. Topography (hills and mountains), proximity to the coast, building height and time of the year all affect local wind conditions and can affect air pollution levels.

In winter, inversion layers can develop on still evenings and mornings. These trap pollutants near the ground and concentrations can build up to levels that affect your health. As the sun warms the air, inversion layers usually break down enabling pollutants to disperse. However, inversion layers can remain for two or three days. They develop frequently in some South Island towns and cities during winter.

Over all

New Zealanders enjoy a high environmental quality of life and access to pristine wilderness. However, New Zealand’s growth model, based largely on exploiting natural resources, is starting to show its environmental limits with increasing greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution, according to a new OECD report.

While the country only accounts for a tiny share of global emissions, the OECD’s third Environmental Performance Review of New Zealand finds that intensive dairy farming, road transport and industry have pushed up gross GHG emissions by 23% since 1990. Despite generating 80% of its electricity from renewable sources, among the highest in OECD countries, New Zealand has the second-highest level of emissions per GDP unit in the OECD and the fifth-highest emissions per capita.

Aware of the need to safeguard water quality, New Zealand has begun a process of freshwater policy reforms with a Clean Water Package of proposals in February that address some of the OECD recommendations. Further government support is needed to assist local authorities with setting rigorous goals and to speed up implementation.