These are summaries of recent State of the Environment (SOE) reports which highlight current and past trends of air quality in Otago.
These reports summarise the air quality data for each year.
May 2025
PDF | 269 KB
Discussing the results of the State of the Environment (SOE) monitoring for air quality for the year 2024.
March 2024
Harrison, Sarah
Otago Regional Council
PDF | 125 KB
Discussing the results of the State of the Environment (SOE) monitoring for air quality for the year 2023.
April 2023
PDF | 234 KB
June 2023
PDF | 399 KB
March 2021
PDF | 432 KB
June 2020
PDF | 452 KB
March 2019
PDF | 275 KB
March 2019
PDF | 254 KB
November 2016
PDF | 423 KB
October 2015
PDF | 415 KB
September 2014
PDF | 255 KB
We’re responsible for managing Otago’s ambient air quality and carrying out long-term continuous monitoring as part of our State of the Environment (SOE) programme.
These reports analyse the state and trends of Otago’s air quality.
Find out more about our air quality or to look at the real time data visit Land Air Water Aotearoa (LAWA)
June 2024
PDF | 2 MB
State of the Environment report State of the Environment report: Air quality trends 2005 – 2023
February 2016
PDF | 2 MB
This report evaluates the results of past 10 years (2005-2014) of air quality monitoring. The report assesses the current state of air quality in Otago centres and identifies air quality trends ove...
January 2010
PDF | 1 MB
This State of the Environment (SOE) report is a summary and discussion of PM10 monitoring results from 2005 to 2008. A previous report, Ambient air quality in Otago, Particulates (ORC, 2005a),...
July 2005
PDF | 1 MB
This report provides a summary of the ORC air quality monitoring programme for particulate matter, which has operated since 1997. It clearly identifies those towns where air pollution is a problem...
July 2005
PDF | 468 KB
To establish the levels of various air pollutants in Otago, ORCl began an air quality monitoring programme in 1997, which has included measurements of nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon...
September 2021
PDF | 4 MB
We undertake research to improve our understanding of the pressures and influences on air quality.
November 2023
Enviornet
PDF | 1 MB
An evaluation of management options to achieve air quality targets for PM10 and PM2.5 in Arrowtown, Clyde, Cromwell, Milton and Mosgiel.
March 2024
Sarah Harrison
PDF | 623 KB
Between Dec 2022 and Aug 2023, SO2 around Port Otago was monitored. Most results were very low. The highest concentration was 10.3 μg/m³ at the T&U Berth in Dec 2022. No seasonal trends were found. Further SO2 monitoring isn't needed, but PM2.5 analysis might help.
March 2023
PDF | 4 MB
This report presents the results of two air quality projects undertaken during 2023: black carbon monitoring in Arrowtown and spatial PM10 monitoring in Alexandra.
September 2022
PDF | 918 KB
This paper presents and discusses the results of a PM2.5 air quality monitoring survey undertaken in 14 of Otago’s airsheds during winter 2021.
April 2023
PDF | 2 MB
May 2020
PDF | 294 KB
July 2020
PDF | 452 KB
November 2020
PDF | 1 MB
March 2020
PDF | 740 KB
April 2016
PDF | 864 KB
Technology has been used as an effective method for reducing particulate emissions from domestic scale solid fuel burners in a number of urban areas of New Zealand.
April 2016
PDF | 8 MB
Some Central Otago towns experience poor air quality in the winter months, primarily due to meteorological conditions that limit the dispersal of smoke from wood burners used for domestic heating....
September 2016
PDF | 1 MB
This report details an assessment of emissions to air in Alexandra, Arrowtown, Mosgiel and Milton. The purpose of the inventory is to evaluate the contribution of different sources and to assess th...
April 2013
PDF | 99 KB
April 2013
PDF | 106 KB
December 2011
PDF | 1 MB
In this study, data on land-use patterns, fuel-type usage, weather and PM 10 levels was collected and analysed to explain differing air quality patterns around Balclutha.
September 2011
PDF | 422 KB
In winter 2009, ORC conducted a spatial air quality study using a portable monitor to sample PM10 at 23 locations throughout Mosgiel. The goal of this study was to identify overall patterns of PM10...
March 2011
PDF | 11 MB
This is a one-off report examining Dunedin air quality since 1997. A summary of the National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) spatial monitoring report is included.
July 2006
PDF | 393 KB
The survey looked at perceptions of air pollution levels in towns, and home heating methods during the cold 2006 winter.
January 2006
PDF | 1 MB
An air emission inventory carried out for the Otago region in 1999 found that domestic home heating and industry were the main sources of PM10 in Dunedin, Mosgiel and Alexandra.