• Key points
  
• What agencies are doing
  
• What you can do to help
  
• More information
  
• What we want to achieve
  

Key points

This indicator measures the levels of fine particles in the air in selected urban areas. These are referred to as PM₁₀ particles, which are particles smaller than 10 microns (there are 1000 microns in 1 millimetre). PM₁₀ can cause respiratory problems, especially for asthmatics, small children and the elderly and can result in hospital admissions and premature mortality in sensitive people. PM₁₀ also affects air by reducing visibility. Less visibility reduces safety, reduces views and could affect tourism.

• In our region, PM₁₀ levels are good or acceptable for most of the year.
• However, levels of fine particulate matter in the air, mostly from wood burners, exceed the regional guideline for a few days each year in many of the urban areas currently monitored. This happens mostly in winter during calm periods.
• Of the urban areas monitored, Tokoroa exhibits the largest number of exceedances per annum.

Number of exceedances per year of the regional guideline for particulate matter

Source: Environment Waikato

What agencies are doing

• We have gazetted 20 airsheds in the Region and have identified five airsheds where the NES for PM₁₀ is breached.
• Environment Waikato is examining options for meeting the NES and Regional Guideline including regulating domestic sources of PM₁₀.
• We are providing public notification of exceedences of the NES for PM₁₀ during the winter months when these occur.
• Environment Waikato is expanding our PM₁₀ monitoring programme to include Ngaruawahia, Waihi and Turangi by 2011.
• We are increasing our PM₁₀ monitoring network at a rate of one new location per year until adequate coverage is achieved for all non-complying airsheds.
• We are developing education material about the effects of PM₁₀ discharges from domestic sources - explaining what and how to burn so that people can help to reduce PM₁₀.
• We have tested vehicle emissions, promoting vehicle maintenance.
• We encourage land use planning that minimises reliance on motor vehicles.
• We encourage the development of efficient and effective public transport.

What you can do to help

• If you’re thinking about home heating, think about using electricity or gas as an alternative to burning wood or coal, especially if you live in an area where PM₁₀ levels are high. If you do purchase a solid-fuel burner, ensure it’s the right size to heat your home and find out about its efficiency and emissions rating. If you are burning wood or coal then the key to reducing air pollution from smoke is to burn small, hotter fires that produce less smoke.
• Keep your car well tuned so that it burns clean and creates no visible smoke. Whenever possible, try to reduce the number of times you use a private vehicle. Consider carpooling, using public transport (trains, buses and shuttles), cycling or walking.

More information

More detail on this indicator, including how and where this information is collected, is available here.

What we want to achieve

The community outcomes we are seeking to achieve by monitoring urban air quality are:

• The iconic landscapes and natural features of our environment define and sustain us. We respect and celebrate them as taonga.
• Our natural environment is protected and respected. Its ecological balance is restored, its air, soil and water quality is improved and its native biodiversity is enhanced.
• The traditional role of iwi and hapu as kaitiaki is acknowledged, respected and enabled.
• Our region’s waterways have consistently high water quality.