Meghan Hodges
New Zealand is known for its natural beauty, but the state of its environment has been a growing concern. While New Zealand has relatively good air quality due to its low population density and island geography, the country's waterways are under threat. Water pollution in New Zealand is an increasing concern for those who use and care for waterways and for New Zealand regulatory bodies. An increase in population is linked to an increase in water pollution, due to a range of causes such as rural land use, industrial use, and urban development. Air pollution is also a concern, with levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) near major transport corridors in larger cities not meeting WHO 2021 guidelines.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Global rank in air pollution | 129/138 |
| Air quality | Relatively good due to low population density and island geography |
| Most common air pollutant | PM10 |
| Most harmful air pollutant | PM2.5 |
| Gas pollutants | Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) |
| Waterways | 60% unswimmable |
| Water quality | Under pressure from agriculture, hydropower, urban development, pest invasions, and climate change |
| Waterways with most pollution | Auckland |
| Waterways with pollution issues | Waikato, Whangamarino, Lake Waikare |
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What You'll Learn
New Zealand's air quality
New Zealand has relatively good air quality due to its low population density and island geography. However, over the past 15-20 years, the air pollutant of most concern in many parts of the country has been particulate matter (PM) from burning wood and coal. In some parts of New Zealand, many people are exposed to relatively high PM levels during the winter, primarily from home heating using wood and coal. In these areas, levels can exceed national air quality standards or guidelines, usually on colder winter days and nights when there is no wind to disperse the PM. PM10 is the most commonly monitored air quality pollutant, which includes both coarse particles (ranging from 2.5 to 10 µm in size) and smaller fine particles (PM2.5, with a diameter of 2.5 µm or less). PM2.5 is mostly generated by combustion (e.g. burning wood, coal, and diesel) and is likely to be more harmful.
Gas pollutants are primarily monitored in urban areas where traffic and industry are often the main sources. The levels of gas pollutants typically meet the national standard (NES-AQ). However, levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are usually higher and do not meet the World Health Organization (WHO) 2021 guidelines near major transport corridors in larger cities. Nitrogen dioxide monitoring results can be found at sites in Auckland, Mount Maunganui, Hamilton, Wellington, Masterton, Christchurch, Ashburton, and Timaru.
The New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi has an extensive monitoring network on state highways around the country. Air quality data helps scientists and decision-makers understand local air quality, identify what impacts it, and how it is changing over time. This informs the policies and actions needed to improve air quality and benefit people's health. The HAPINZ 3.0 report, released in July 2022, is the latest update in a series of reports assessing the air pollution health impacts experienced by New Zealanders. In 2024, New Zealand ranked 129th out of 138 countries for air pollution.
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Water pollution in New Zealand
One of the main sources of water pollution in New Zealand is agriculture, particularly intensive dairy production. The expansion of this industry has resulted in higher levels of nitrogen in the soil, surface water, and groundwater. This has led to ecological damage, including reduced biodiversity, fish kills, and disruption of food chains. Contaminated water sources also pose risks to human health, with waterborne diseases such as giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis resulting from microbial contamination.
Sediment from the erosion of hills and riverbanks, as well as from high-intensity storms and increased rainfall, has also contributed to water pollution. This sediment contains high organic contents that are changing sedimentation patterns and increasing deposition in lakes and coastal waters. Horticulture, arable farming, and plantation forestry have been found to have less of an impact on water quality than dairy farming.
In response to these issues, the largest dairy company in New Zealand, Fonterra, along with several government agencies, implemented the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord. The aim of this accord is to limit livestock access to waterways and encourage environmentally sustainable practices among farmers. Fencing off streams and riparian planting have proven effective in improving water quality, particularly in reducing pollution from surface runoff.
While there have been improvements in water quality across New Zealand in recent years, as of 2019, Auckland was the region with the most polluted waterways. With 62% of its rivers and lakes graded as poor for swimming and none graded as good, water pollution remains a significant issue in the country.
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Impact on indigenous Māori communities
New Zealand has relatively good air quality due to its low population density and island geography. However, over the past 15-20 years, the air pollutant of most concern in many parts of New Zealand has been particulate matter (PM) from burning wood and coal. In some parts of the country, many people are exposed to relatively high PM levels during winter, primarily from home heating. Levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are also usually higher and do not meet the World Health Organization's 2021 guidelines near major transport corridors in larger cities.
Indigenous Māori communities in New Zealand have been impacted by pollution and climate change. Māori are the indigenous people of New Zealand, comprising 15% of the total population. Colonial policies disrupted Māori cultural, political, and tribal relationships with the land, and encouraged the movement of Māori away from rural to urban areas for employment and resettlement. Māori communities are also affected by the unequal distribution of climate risks, which exposes marginalized communities to more environmental "bads" (pollution and toxins) than wealthier, privileged non-Indigenous communities. This phenomenon is known as environmental racism.
Studies have shown that Māori ethnic density is associated with improved Māori health and reduced racial discrimination. Increased Māori ethnic density is linked to decreased odds of reporting poor self-rated health, doctor-diagnosed common mental health disorders, and experienced racial discrimination. However, the benefits of Māori ethnic density are concealed by the detrimental effect of area deprivation, which is strongly associated with poorer health and increased racial discrimination. Addressing poverty and the inequitable distribution of socioeconomic resources by ethnicity and place in New Zealand is vital to improving health and reducing inequalities.
Climate justice refers to the equitable treatment of all peoples and freedom from discrimination in the creation of climate policies and mitigation and adaptation projects. In 2019, a new climate policy, the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act, was introduced in New Zealand with almost universal public and political support. This policy recognizes the dangers of misrecognition of Indigenous peoples within climate policymaking and aims to address the impacts of climate change on Māori communities.
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Dairy farming and water pollution
Dairy is New Zealand's biggest export earner, but the industry has frequently been accused of polluting the country's freshwater. While 95% of New Zealand's dairy is exported, the country must deal with the environmental impact of the remaining 5%, including cows' urine and faeces, excess fertiliser, irrigation, and supplementary food.
A 2017 environmental performance review from the OECD states:
> New Zealand's growth model is approaching its environmental limits. Greenhouse gas emissions are increasing. Pollution of freshwater is spreading over a wider area. And the country's biodiversity is under threat.
The review's assessment is supported by empirical data. Between 2013 and 2017, 95% of river length in pastoral land had nutrient or turbidity levels above default guideline values. Victoria University of Wellington's Dr Mike Joy has also highlighted the degraded state of New Zealand's waterways, noting that the amount of nitrogen applied to the land has increased by 629% since 1990. This has had a devastating impact on fish species, with three-quarters of New Zealand's fish at risk of extinction. High levels of nitrogen in drinking water can also cause rare but fatal blue baby syndrome in infants.
However, New Zealand's dairy farmers are attempting to balance production with the environment. Sustainable farming methods address issues such as nutrient pollution, water contamination, and soil degradation, and contribute to New Zealand's goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Organisations like Fish and Game New Zealand are working to reduce pollution, and the government has set targets to support the dairy industry's growth by 2025. Projects like the Forages for Reduced Nitrate Leaching programme have cut nitrate leaching by over 20%.
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Air pollution in major cities
New Zealand has relatively good air quality due to its low population density and island geography. However, in recent years, there has been a growing concern over air pollution in major cities and urban areas.
The main sources of air pollution in New Zealand's cities are traffic and industry. Gas pollutants, particularly nitrogen dioxide (NO2), are of significant concern in larger cities near major transport corridors. According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) 2021 guidelines, nitrogen dioxide levels near busy roads in cities like Auckland, Mount Maunganui, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, and Timaru often exceed the recommended limits.
Particulate matter (PM), especially during the winter months, is another significant contributor to air pollution in New Zealand's urban areas. The burning of wood and coal for home heating can lead to high levels of PM10 and PM2.5, with the latter being more harmful as it is generated by the combustion of fuels like wood, coal, and diesel. On cold, windless winter days and nights, these fine particles can accumulate, posing higher health risks to vulnerable groups such as older adults and children.
While New Zealand's air quality generally meets the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality (NES-AQ), there are specific areas of concern within major cities. The NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi has implemented an extensive monitoring network on state highways to help scientists and policymakers understand and address local air quality issues. Additionally, organisations like Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA) provide data and resources to raise awareness about air pollution and encourage actions to improve air quality for the benefit of people's health and ecosystem wellbeing.
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Frequently asked questions
New Zealand has relatively good air quality due to its low population density and island geography. However, in some parts of the country, people are exposed to relatively high levels of particulate matter (PM) during winter, primarily from home heating using wood and coal. Gas pollutants are mainly monitored in urban areas, where traffic and industry are the main sources.
Air pollution varies across New Zealand. For example, as of 2024, Auckland is the region with the country's most polluted waterways, with 62% of rivers and lakes graded poor for swimming.
Organisations like Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA) provide air quality data to help scientists and decision-makers understand local air quality, identify what impacts it, and develop policies and actions to improve it.
Yes, water pollution is an increasing concern in New Zealand due to various factors, including population growth, rural land use, industrial use, and urban development. About 60% of the country's waterways are unswimmable, and 95% of rivers flowing through pastoral land are contaminated. Additionally, wetlands are being irreversibly damaged by botulism outbreaks caused by high pollution levels. To address water pollution, regional councils have the responsibility to address water use and misuse issues under the Resource Management Act. Initiatives like the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord aim to limit stock access to waterways and encourage sustainable farming practices.
