Clearer picture needed on air quality to safeguard our health

The Government needs to beef up the monitoring of a harmful airborne particle in order to protect New Zealanders’ health, the Green Party said today.

The call follows today’s release of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s "The State of Air Quality in New Zealand" report.

Among recommendations made by Commissioner Dr Jan Wright was a call for the Ministry for the Environment to include monitoring and reporting of the potentially fatal airborne particle PM2.5.

Main sources of PM2.5 in New Zealand include wood burning, diesel vehicles, sea salt and sulphate production. Breathing PM2.5 can lead to respiratory illness, even death. It is the particle found in high levels in China’s largest cities, caused in part by vehicles and coal burning.

Currently, New Zealand’s national air standards only require a limit on the concentration of PM10, a less harmful particle. 

“Dr Wright’s report reveals flaws in the way air quality is monitored in New Zealand and how distorted the reporting can be,” said Green Party environment spokesperson Julie Anne Genter. “If PM2.5 is the particle that has the most potential to affect human health, it makes sense that we monitor and report on this for the long term.

“While great work has been done in reducing the amount of particulate matter entering the environment through the reduction of coal fires in homes, insulation and other measures, the reporting of it tells only half the story.

“We support Dr Wright’s recommendation that the Ministry for the Environment review monitoring long term exposure to PM2.5 and set policy around this.

“New Zealand’s ‘generally good’ air quality shows how effective cleaner transport options and insulation in New Zealand homes can be at reducing pollution, but let’s not ignore the impact of PM2.5,” said Ms Genter.

ENDS

For more information:

Julie Anne Genter MP, 021 061 1164

Kimberley Rothwell, Political and Media Advisor, 04 817 6723, 021 253 8915

Latest Environment Announcements

Story

Forestry sector must compensate for slash damage

The Green Party welcomes today’s release of the report of the Ministerial Inquiry into slash and sediment, and are clear that the forestry industry...
Read More

Story

Greens launch petition to protect conservation lands from mining by Mineralogy International Limited

The Green Party has today launched a petition calling for conservation land to be protected from mining by big overseas companies such as Mineralog...
Read More

Story

National's drought of ideas won't help farmers facing climate change

Christopher Luxon and the National Party have once again presented another lazy, back-of-the-napkin policy to Aotearoa.
Read More

Story

Freshwater crisis needs stronger government action

New Zealand’s rivers, lakes and freshwater are in crisis and there needs to be a more ambitious Government plan to clean them up and protect agains...
Read More

Story

Greens welcome waste strategy release and work

The Green Party is today welcoming the release of the Government’s waste strategy, but says it has a big gap without action on the container return...
Read More

Story

NZ needs strong protection against water privatisation

New Zealanders deserve strong protection against the future privatisation of water assets, the Green Party says.
Read More