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Air Quality

Air quality in Hawke’s Bay is generally good but some of our towns and cities have an air quality problem during winter, most of it due to home heating by wood burners. All currently monitored towns are shown.

Air quality in Hawke’s Bay is generally good, but air quality is a concern in our main urban areas, as Hastings and Napier can suffer smoke pollution from wood burners used for home heating. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (HBRC) has researched the causes of the air quality problems in Napier and Hastings which led to a programme to reduce smoke pollution by upgrading home heating and insulation. HBRC reports publicly on PM10 levels each month during winter, and in its State of the Environment reporting.

Most urban air quality issues happen during late autumn and winter, when cold still days follow a southerly moving through the region. An inversion layer forms over the Heretaunga Plains at night, when air is colder close to the ground and warmer further up (the reverse of normal temperature patterns). This traps the smoke from home heating wood burners close to the ground until the air warms up or the wind picks up.

The impacts from PM10 air pollution on the population of Hawke’s Bay in 2006 were estimated as: more than 100,000 restricted activity days; 54 hospital admissions; 113 premature adult deaths; and social costs of $411 million annually (Kuschel et al., 2012).

The National Environmental Standards require no more than one day (24 hour period) a year when PM10 is more than 50 microns per cubic metre. Napier was required to meet this low threshold from 1 September 2016 and Hastings from 1 September 2020. PM10 concentrations in Napier and Hastings have dropped to meet both of the deadlines for compliance with the NES.

The community has responded well to HBRC’s Heatsmart programme which offers homeowners in Napier and Hastings financial assistance through grants and loans to upgrade insulation and heating. The programme also certifies suppliers of guaranteed dry wood which also improves air quality, and has a strong education component.

HBRC also used mobile MicroVol monitoring equipment to check air quality in smaller urban areas. Havelock North, Wairoa, Greenmeadows, Waipukurau, Waipawa and Ahuriri have all been monitored. The mobile unit is in place generally for one year to assess whether PM10 is likely to be a problem or not in areas where no monitoring data exists. This information is not available on LAWA but is made publicly available through HBRC’s State Of The Environment monitoring reports.

As well as home heating, other sources of air pollution in Hawke’s Bay include -
• industry - emissions are assessed through consent monitoring and pollution reporting
• traffic – periodic monitoring of contaminants at roadside locations is undertaken for a period of 8 weeks in Napier and Hastings.
• rural burning – burning of orchard redevelopment material or diseased plant material is permitted with in the airshed under specified wind conditions. Advice on outdoor burning and other air quality issues can be found at https://www.hbrc.govt.nz/environment/air-quality/info-sheets/.

Regional Summary
PM10and PM2.5at towns in this region

The most significant air pollutant in New Zealand are small airborne particles in our air (known as particulate matter). Particulate pollutants are of most concern in New Zealand because of their high concentrations in some of our towns. Exposure to high levels of airborne particle pollutants has the potential to cause respiratory and cardiovascular issues. View a factsheet on why air quality is important here.

PM10 and PM2.5 are the main concern in Napier and Hastings. The 3 continuous monitoring sites in Hawke’s Bay measure the surrounding (ambient) PM10 and PM2.5 levels rather than focus on a particular single source. The permanent monitoring sites in Hastings at St Johns College, and Napier at Marewa Park have been operating since 2006.  The Awatoto site has been in action since 2012.  

PM monitoring history at towns in this region

  • Annual average
  • Highest daily average
  • Exceedance
Showing:
PM10

What is this showing me?

The graph enables you to view the annual average and highest daily average concentrations of PM10 and number of exceedance days for the year selected. The results are compared to the relevant air quality standard or guideline (denoted by the red horizontal line). See this factsheet for more information about the PM10 measurements, and the standards and guidelines used to report on. 

Values above the standard or guideline shown can be a cause for concern as short- or long-term exposure to high PM10 can have health impacts.  See this factsheet about why air quality is important and factors that influence air quality. 

The trends in the table below indicate whether the PM10 concentrations have been improving, showing no measurable change, or declining over the 10-years prior to the year selected. (For towns that have more than one monitoring site, a representative site is shown).

Data table PM10
Towns 10-year Trend annual average (µg/m³) Highest daily average (µg/m³) 2nd highest daily average (µg/m³) Number of exceedances
PM2.5

What is this showing me?

The graph enables you to view the annual average and highest daily average concentrations of PM2.5 and number of exceedance days for the year selected. The results are compared to the World Health Organization guidelines (denoted by the red horizontal line). See this factsheet for more information about the PM2.5 measurements, and the standards and guidelines used to report on. 

Values above the guidelines can be a cause for concern as short- and long-term exposure to high PM2.5 values can have health impacts.  See this factsheet about why air quality is important and factors that influence air quality. 

Any trends in the table below indicate whether the PM2.5 concentrations have been improving, showing no measurable change, or declining over the 10-years prior to the year selected. (For towns that have more than one monitoring site, a representative site is shown).

Data table PM2.5
Towns 10-year Trend annual average (µg/m³) Highest daily average (µg/m³) 2nd highest daily average (µg/m³) Number of exceedances
Towns 3

Towns in the Hawke's Bay region

Select the town you'd like to see information on by clicking the buttons below or navigate using the map.