Air

Breathing clean air is essential for our health, wellbeing, and quality of life. When air becomes polluted from home heating, vehicles, industry, or natural sources it can affect our lungs, heart, and overall health. Poor air quality can also impact the health of plants, animals, and ecosystems.

Particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and gases such as nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) are the main contaminants affecting urban air quality. PM2.5 the smallest particles can travel deep into the lungs and bloodstream, and long‑term exposure has the greatest health impacts, especially for children, older adults, and people with heart or lung conditions.

Protecting air quality helps keep our communities healthy and supports the mauri of te taiao.

Air Quality in Nelson

Air quality in Nelson has improved significantly over the past two decades, particularly since the introduction of the Nelson Air Quality Plan (2002), which introduced controls on domestic heating, outdoor burning, and industrial emissions.

As a result:

PM10 concentrations now comply with the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality (NESAQ)
several airsheds are no longer considered “polluted”
Nelson no longer has any airsheds classified as polluted under NESAQ criteria

However, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) remains a concern in some areas. Monitoring shows PM2.5 concentrations above the World Health Organisation (WHO) 2021 Guidelines in Tāhunanui and Nelson South, particularly during winter.

Key points:

Domestic heating remains the largest source of PM10 and PM2.5 across all airsheds
Industry also contributes significantly to PM2.5 levels in Tāhunanui
Further improvements are likely to be needed as air‑quality standards continue to tighten

You can explore current and historic air‑quality results through:

Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA) - Air Quality Nelson Region

Note: Nelson Centre/North and Stoke monitoring sites are now inactive after recording no exceedances for more than five years.

Understanding Air Quality in Nelson

Council manages air quality through monitoring, standards, and practical advice, with a focus on reducing smoke and fine particles that affect health.

Explore the topics below to learn how air quality is managed and how you can help keep Nelson’s air clean.

What We're Doing

Council continues to:

Operate and upgrade the air monitoring network
Implement the Nelson Air Quality Plan
Support the Good Wood scheme for cleaner firewood
Publish State of the Environment reporting to track environmental conditions and trends and inform future management and investment
Regulate solid fuel burners (only compliant burners can be installed)
Ensure aerial spraying of agrichemicals meets permitted activity standards to protect air
Monitor and enforce standards for aerial agrichemical spraying to minimise drift and contamination
Prepare for upcoming changes to national air quality standards
Apply annual monitoring and science charges to relevant resource consents to fund environmental monitoring and research across freshwater, coastal, and air environments.

What You Can Do

You can help improve air quality in your neighbourhood:

Use only compliant wood burners - approved burners
Burn dry, seasoned wood from trusted Good Wood suppliers
Follow best‑practice burning methods
Avoid backyard burning
Choose lower‑emission heating when upgrading
Reduce car use where possible
Report excessive smoke or pollution 0800 NO POLLUTE
Help neighbours or whānau learn clean‑burning habits

Small changes at home help keep our community’s air clean and healthy.