The recently released IQAir report (2024 IQAir World Air Quality Report | IQAir,) has highlighted New Zealand as one of the few countries meeting WHO air quality standards. However, this paints an incomplete picture.
Air pollution remains one of the greatest environmental threats to human health globally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 99% of the global population lives in areas that do not meet recommended air quality guideline levels. In 2021 alone, 8.1 million deaths were attributable to air pollution, with 58% of those deaths caused by air polluted with fine particulate matter (PM2.5).
New Zealand’s Air Quality: A Mixed Picture
The IQAir report, which appears to give New Zealand a clean bill of health, is based on a sparse dataset, with significant areas, particularly in the South Island, lacking data. These areas have been identified in other reports, like the official “Our Air 2024” released by StatsNZ and the Ministry for the Environment, as experiencing particularly high concentrations of PM2.5 in winter. Moreover, the IQAir report includes data from both regulatory sources and low-cost sensors with varying quality ratings. The calibration or correction performed on these sensors is not explicitly detailed, which can impact the final PM2.5 concentrations reported. Unfortunately, most news stories about this report fail to mention these nuances.
The Reality of PM2.5 in New Zealand
New Zealand does have a PM2.5 problem. The health and economic impacts of current air pollution levels ar
e significant. Statements like “New Zealand is one of a handful of countries that meet the WHO guidelines” can be misleading. While some parts of the country have low concentrations of PM2.5 by global standards, many other places, especially where solid fuel heating is common, have high or very high concentrations. In the worst cases, the concentrations are completely unknown because most cities do not monitor PM2.5.
As reported by MfE in 2024, a number of cities in New Zealand experience more than 25 days with concentrations above current guidelines.
Health and Social Impacts
We have recently found that the impacts of air pollution from motor vehicles are much higher than previously understood, causing health issues for thousands of people each year along with substantial social costs. In 2019, human-made air pollution in the form of PM2.5 and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was associated with 3,239 premature deaths, 13,237 hospitalisations, and over 1.771 million restricted activity days. Air pollution from motor vehicles alone accounted for 71% of the estimated total hospitalizations and 68% of total air pollution related premature deaths in 2019.
A Call to Action
Despite these challenges, there is hope. New Zealand’s air quality research community is actively working to support communities and local authorities in tackling the problem. By pressuring local authorities to quantify the extent of the problem and develop comprehensive plans, we can improve our air quality. This involves using a wide range of tools for both measurements and mitigation measures.
We all have a role to play in safeguarding the health and well-being of our communities. By working together, we can ensure a cleaner, healthier future for everyone in New Zealand.
