Cold Comfort: Ashburton’s air pollution on track for worst winter in six years
Ashburton is on track for its worst air pollution winter in more than six years, after breaching the high-pollution threshold twice.
Ashburton has had two incidents of breaching the national air quality standards so far this winter, which already matches its worst winter in recent times, the two breaches in 2018.
The monitoring site located in a residential area on Cambridge St recorded the breaches on April 25 and June 7.
It had only two incidents in the five years from 2019 to 2023.
Ashburton’s worst year was 2006 when it had 28 breaches but steadily improved to record its first year with no breaches in 2020.
In surrounding areas, Kaiapoi had six breaches and Timaru had three, while Washdyke, historically the worst offending site with 35 breaches in 2023, recorded the most with 14 days exceeding the national standards.
Environment Canterbury (ECan) principal science analyst Teresa Aberkane said home heating is a major contributor to air pollution in Canterbury.
“Weather and topography also play a big part in how long woodsmoke stays in the air.
“During the winter our cold, still, frosty days mean the smoke from home heating isn’t blown away overnight and gets trapped until morning when the air warms up or the wind picks up.”
ECan monitors air quality at 10 sites across eight airsheds, focusing on particulate matter (PM), specifically PM10 (particles smaller than 10 micrometres in size) and PM2.5 (particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres in size).
These tiny particles are important to monitor because they are small enough to be breathed in, Aberkane said.
When breathed in, PM10 can deposit in the upper airways and cause irritation, as well as affecting the lungs and heart.
PM2.5 can lodge deep into our lungs and reach the bloodstream, potentially leading to serious respiratory, heart and lung problems.
“We’ve seen significant improvement in Canterbury’s air quality over the last two decades, thanks in large part to the efforts of Cantabrians who have switched their smoky burners for lower emission forms of heating, such as heat pumps or ultra-low emission burners.”
Poll: Should we be giving the green light to new mining projects? 💰🌲
The Environmental Protection Authority announced this week that a proposed mine in Central Otago (near Cromwell) is about to enter its fast-track assessment process. A final decision could come within six months, and if it’s approved, construction might start as early as mid-2026.
We want to know: Should mining projects like this move ahead?
Keen to dig deeper? Mike White has the scoop.
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53.1% Yes
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46.9% No
‘Tis the season to not get scammed ...
As Christmas gift shopping moves increasingly online, scammers are ramping up their activity across the country.
Dunedin’s Investigation Support Unit is seeing more and more people fall victim to scams and other fraudulent activity, particularly on Facebook Marketplace.
There are a few ways to avoid the scams and keep yourself safe doing online trades this holiday season, says Southern District Service Delivery Manager Senior Sergeant Dalton.
🔒 “A good first step when looking to purchase something on Marketplace is to check when the seller’s Facebook profile was created. If it’s very recent, there is a higher risk that they have just created this account for a one-off fake item.”
🔒 Another important step is to make sure the seller’s profile name and bank account name match up. “We’re seeing a lot of scammers claiming their bank account name is different because it belongs to their partner or family member - that’s a huge red flag."
🔒 “When you’re selling, never trust a screenshot anyone sends you showing that payment has been made. Check your own bank account to make sure a payment has gone through."
🔒 “Quite frankly, it’s best for all parties to agree to pay, or be paid, for items in cash and in-person. Ideally in a public place with CCTV coverage."
🔒 "If you’re buying a car, check Carjam.co.nz to see if it’s stolen or if there’s money owed on it.”
A reminder: Suspicious activity can be reported on 105
Turn Wallpaper Scraps into Beautiful Blossoms
These blossoms made from Resene wallpaper left over after decorating will mean your décor will be blooming gorgeous, no matter the season. Find out how to create your own wallpaper flowers with these easy step by step instructions.
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