Te hau Air
Through education, regulation, and continuous monitoring, Horizons ensures the region’s air meets the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality and supports the wellbeing of our communities. The National Environmental Standards for Air Quality set the minimum level of air quality required to protect New Zealanders’ health.
Apply for a consent
Our staff are here to help you through the process. More information on what support we can give, as well as consent application forms, can be found further down this webpage.
Report air pollution
Find regional air quality data
About the region's air
We are lucky here. The prevailing winds that breeze over a dominantly rural landscape, combined with our low population density and a small number of industrial emissions, likely enable the Horizons Region to experience good air quality.
However, during winter and the dry summer months, some parts of the region are prone to lower standards of air quality. In some areas, local topography, altitude, and climate can encourage air pollutants such as particulate matter to settle, putting communities at risk of poor air quality.
What we monitor
Particulate matter.
These airborne particles can be generated by humans, such as those released into the air by burning wood or vehicle exhausts, or naturally occurring, such as pollen, sea salt, and wind-blown soil particles.
Scientists classify particulate matter (PM) by the following sizes:
PM₁₀ particles are smaller than 10 micrometres (µm) across
PM₂.₅ particles are smaller than 2.5 micrometres (µm) across
These particles are between five times smaller (for PM₁₀) and 20 to 28 times smaller (for PM₂.₅) than a single strand of human hair (which is approximately 50-70 µm across).
Where we monitor
We currently measure the concentrations (amount) of PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅ at the region’s two gazetted airsheds – Taumarunui and Taihape – where air quality was known to breach the Air Quality NES limits.
An “airshed” is a legally defined geographic area for air quality management.
Why we monitor
Poor air quality leads to poorer health outcomes for our friends, whānau and neighbours.
Particulate matter can adversely affect our health, especially the health of the elderly, young people, and other vulnerable communities. These minuscule particles can irritate our eyes, throat, and lungs. When we breathe it in, the particles can worsen allergies, asthma, and respiratory infections and contribute to serious health conditions such as heart disease.
Reduce your impact
To help keep our air clean and our neighbours healthy, Horizons' air quality scientists recommend a few simple steps:
Buy firewood well before winter, and split, stack and store it correctly as it seasons.
Sweep your chimney annually.
Burn dry firewood, as it burns more efficiently, provides more heat, emits fewer particles into the air, and reduces your carbon emissions.
Don’t burn treated wood, household waste (especially plastics and oils) or food scraps
If possible, ensure your home is well insulated.
If possible, install or upgrade to an Air Quality NES-compliant wood burner, or opt for a cleaner heating alternative, such as a heat pump.