Air quality reports

Here you can find links to detailed reports about urban air quality. These include measuring particular air pollutants, various sources of air pollution, woodburner studies and assessing if targets are likely to be met. Many of the reports were written in the early 2000s and have contributed to the improvements in air quality we now experience.

Air quality in the Waitaha Canterbury region science snapshot

Our latest air quality science snapshot report gives an overview of our air quality monitoring results from our eight airsheds (urban areas with a history of air pollution) across the region.

Key points:

  • Seasonal pollution: Air pollution in Waitaha is mostly problematic in winter.
  • Primary pollutants: Particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) are key pollutants of concern.
  • Standards and guidelines: Pollutant levels are compared to NESAQ, CARP, New Zealand AAQ guidelines, and WHO guidelines where NZ standards are absent.
  • Exceedances: PM10 and PM2.5 exceed regulatory limits across Canterbury airsheds; CARP targets aim for compliance by 2030. BaP levels exceeded in Christchurch and Timaru.
  • Sources: Home heating is the main contributor to PM10, PM2.5, and BaP, though industrial sources like the industrial area of Washdyke also contribute.
  • NO2 levels: Concentrations in Christchurch, Timaru and Ashburton were within NESAQ limits but above World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, with vehicles as the main source. 
  • Monitoring: SO2, CO, O3, and benzene are monitored at limited sites as their concentrations have historically been low.

 Download previous science snapshots

Air quality snapshot 2024

Download science snapshot
PDF File, 3.73MB

Measuring air quality

Download reports from 2001 to 2015 detailing measurements of particular air pollutants, for example, particulate matter (PM10), carbon monoxide (CO), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs):

Download reports focusing on particular towns like Waimate, Timaru, Geraldine, Ashburton, Christchurch, Lyttelton, Kaiapoi or Rangiora:

Air pollution sources and emission studies

Air pollution in Canterbury comes from a range of sources. The main contributors within local airsheds are home heating, motor vehicles, and industrial activities. Other, smaller sources include rail transport, fuel storage, marine aerosols, and rural burning.

To better understand the scale and impact of each source, emission inventories are used to estimate total emissions of air pollutants. These inventories form the basis for identifying major contributors to air quality issues.

Source apportionment studies, which analyse particles collected on filters, help pinpoint where pollution is coming from. These studies have consistently identified home heating, particularly older woodburners and open fires, as a major source of PM10 (particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter). This research informs policy decisions, including the development of emission standards for domestic heating appliances to help improve air quality.

Modelling and forecasting

These reports use dispersion and particulate matter modelling to assess tropospheric ozone and PM levels in Canterbury, guiding air quality management and seasonal pollution interventions.

Reports used in development of Canterbury’s air plans (NRRP, CARP)

Compliance with national standards: Many reports assess Christchurch’s and other towns’ progress in meeting the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality (NESAQ) for PM10. Forecasting analyses predict whether Christchurch would meet PM10 targets by 2013, with data suggesting targeted interventions to reduce pollutant levels.

Policy and community interventions: Our Clean Heat Project encourages cleaner heating technologies and energy efficiency, aiming to lower emissions from residential heating. Additional reports evaluate specific pollutant levels in various airsheds (e.g., Kaiapoi, Rangiora) and suggest localised strategies for air quality improvement.

Air quality surveys

Other air quality reports

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