In general Canterbury has good air quality. However in winter levels of PM₁₀ pollution in Christchurch and other Canterbury towns cause a serious health risk.

This pollution, which is mainly caused by burning wood and coal for home heating, will need to be reduced considerably by 2013.

PM₁₀ is monitored year-round in Christchurch and several other Canterbury towns. If the National Environmental Standards (NES) for Air Quality are not met by 2013, new or replacement consents for air emissions may not be granted in polluted areas.

To reduce air pollution by PM₁₀, subsidies for insulation and replacement heating  have been introduced in Christchurch, while the Air Plan (Proposed Canterbury Natural Resources Regional Plan, Chapter 3: Air Quality) has proposed rules on the use of open fires and burners link to burner flowchart. Emission standards for burners have been set by both the NES (standards for woodburners only ) and the Air Plan (standards for woodburners, pellet fires and liquid fuel burners).

Other air pollution issues in Canterbury include outdoor burning, agrichemical spraying, odours, air pollution from transport, air pollution from commercial activities and air pollution from other pollutants than PM₁₀.