Air quality in the Waikato region is generally high. But there are times when air quality can decline. Find out about air pollution and where contaminants come from. Learn how the weather affects air quality and about the worldwide issues of climate change and ozone depletion.
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The Waikato region generally enjoys good air quality, but in some areas air pollution can build up. This happens mostly in our inland city and towns.
Visibility monitoring in the Hamilton Basin shows that visibility varies a lot from day to day. On some days Mount Ruapehu (170 km away from Hamilton) is visible from some of the higher buildings in Hamilton. On other days, Mount Pirongia (30 km away) is not.
Use our map to find out about air quality around the region.
What affects air?
Most air pollution comes from localised point sources such as from large industries and non-point sources such as domestic heating and vehicles.
Air quality declines as:
- our population increases
- we use more resources
- we increase industrial activity.
Find out how home fires, motor vehicle emissions, industry and livestock farming affect air quality in the Waikato region.
Air pollution can also come from natural sources such as from geothermal areas, salt spray and plant pollen.
In a 2000 survey 23 percent of people living in the Waikato felt that vehicle emissions damage air quality. This was much higher in Hamilton where 36 percent mentioned vehicle emissions. Industrial emissions were the most commonly mentioned activity damaging air quality in South Waikato, Taupo and Otorohanga district council areas. Find out more about community views about our region’s air.
Keeping our air clean
Environment Waikato helps protect and improve air quality in the region. We monitor several important air contaminants:
We require resource consents for activities that might release a significant amount of contaminants into the air. Resource consents set conditions on discharges to air that prevent or limit unwanted effects on air quality.
We educate communities and businesses about how to help improve air quality and we support industry-based guidelines and codes of practice that help reduce air pollution.
For policy information on air check out the Regional Plan and Regional Policy Statement.
Check out our publications on air.