We monitor air quality at multiple sites across the region to help identify issues, track long-term trends, and ensure compliance with national standards and regional rules.
For the most part, this monitoring shows that air quality across the Bay of Plenty is good and improving, however we do face challenges with dust and odour in the Mount Maunganui area and smoke from wood burners in Rotorua over winter.
We monitor air pollution against the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality, which are designed to protect human health by setting limits for:
For Bay of Plenty, this monitoring is focused on small dust particles that can be inhaled called particulate matter as well as sulphur dioxide, hydrogen sulphide and nitrogen dioxide. Monitoring of these pollutants enables Regional Council to work out the impact different activities have on the environment.
You can view this air quality data on LAWA. For more detailed information you can access our Environmental Data Portal (desktop only). Additionally, consultants may wish to access meteorological modelling data sets at Councils ftp website (ftp.boprc.govt.nz, Metfiles folder, username metfiles, password UtDJbmomBkgv6214).
We report all exceedances of the national standards as a Public Notice on our website and in the local newspaper, and we periodically update this spreadsheet.
Air pollution is a mix of tiny particles and gases that can be produced naturally or from human activity. The main sources of air pollution in Aotearoa New Zealand are:
We manage air pollution through the Air Quality chapter of the Regional Natural Resources Plan, which aims to maintain and improve air quality across the region by setting rules for those who want to discharge contaminants into the air. We recently updated this plan through Plan Change 13.
Contact the Pollution Hotline if you have any problems with air pollution - 0800 884 883.
In 2023 we contracted an air quality specialist to update the emission inventory for Bay of Plenty as well as more targeted inventories for Mount Maunganui, Rotorua and Whakatāne. This is a comprehensive desktop exercise that gives us a big-picture view of where air pollution is coming from and how it might be changing over time. This helps Regional Council understand long-term trends and inform air quality planning.
These updated emission inventories (located at the bottom of this page) confirmed the main sources of air pollution across Bay of Plenty are:
Natural sources, like sea salt and pollen, were excluded.
Burning dry wood in a low-emission wood burner produces less smoke and more heat. Tips for cleaner burning:
Outdoor fires must follow fire safety and air discharge rules. Learn more on our Outdoor Burning page.
Road transport is the largest contributor to air pollution in Aotearoa New Zealand, producing 46% of all carbon dioxide emissions. Each litre of petrol used produces 2.5kg of carbon dioxide, along with carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, particulates and lead.
Globally, motor vehicles produce:
The tiny particles in vehicle emissions can reach deep into lungs, increasing the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular problems—especially for children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions. The particles discharged by chainsaws, mowers, boats and similar combustion engines can have the same effect.
Excessive exhaust smoke can indicate engine problems. Exhaust emissions tests are managed as part of Warrant of Fitness inspections, and NZTA share some helpful information about this process.
In New Zealand, It is an offence for a vehicle to emit a stream of smoke or vapour for more than 10 seconds. It carries an instant fine by the NZ Police of $150. To report a smoky vehicle, you can call *555 from a mobile phone.
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