Arrowtown is famous around the world for its beautifully preserved historic aesthetic, the autumn colour and the stunning natural surroundings. But it also has a less positive reputation – in winter the air pollution can be the worst in New Zealand, indeed the whole Southern Hemisphere. Being nestled against Tobins Face, Arrowtown’s topography prevents smoke […]
Air pollution: what you can do Read More »
Do you have a Ultra Low Emission Burner? If so, would you be prepared to help assess whether ULEBs can make a significant difference to our dangerously high levels of winter air pollution? Otago Regional Council have approached us with a project to measure the real-life emissions from ULEBs. The more accurate emissions estimates are,
Do you have a ULEB? Read More »
In winter Arrowtown has some of the most polluted air in New Zealand, thanks to the popularity of solid-fuel home heating. Air monitoring shows that the national standards for pollution are regularly exceeded. We are working alongside NIWA, ORC and the Cosy Homes trust to clear the air in Arrowtown. Under ORC regulations you are not
How dry is your firewood? Read More »
The Central Lakes Trust Insulation Grant Programme, administered by the Cosy Homes Trust, is now subsidising the installation of effective insulation in a wider range of homes than ever before. Under the scheme they will pay 70% of the cost of ceiling and underfloor insulation up to a maximum of $2800 per home. Eligibility requires a home
New Arrowtown insulation subsidies Read More »
After a successful pilot project in 2020, NIWA is again partnering with the Arrowtown Village Association to bring their Community Air Watch project to Arrowtown in winter 2021. The AVA, along with Dr Ian Longley, Principal Scientist Air Quality at NIWA, invite you to come to the Athenaeum Hall Supper Room on Monday 19 April
NIWA air quality update Read More »
In late July we submitted on the proposed amendments to the National Environmental Standards  for Air Quality (NESAQ). The submission, which was based on a very thorough report by committee member Peter Robinson, concentrates on the proposed change in particulate emission standards from PM10 to PM2.5, a much more rigorous way to set the national standard
National Environmental Standards for Air Quality Read More »
Over a decade’s worth of monitoring by Otago Regional Council has shown that while in summer the quality of the air in Arrowtown is among the best anywhere in New Zealand, during winter it is the worst. This pollution is almost entirely composed of woodsmoke from home heating. The impact on our health is considerable.
Arrowtown air – NIWA findings Read More »
The first month of NIWA’s air quality monitoring project in Arrowtown has coincided with 8 breaches of the National Standard, including six times in one week – every time the air temperature dropped below freezing. Let’s look at what’s happening around this: NIWA NIWA has installed 24 air sensors across town on power poles,
Cosy Homes Trust helping clear the air Read More »
On Thursday 9 May from 7 pm to 8 pm at the Athenaeum Hall, Ian Longley of NIWA will give a talk about a new clean air project for Arrowtown. Arrowtown has a persistent problem with air quality, both inside and outside, in winter. This is due to: wood burning, cooking and smoking inside houses;
Clean Air Warm Homes talk Read More »
If you’re still using an inefficient wood burner (thus contributing to Arrowtown’s air pollution) there’s good news from Otago Regional Council – it has recently increased the subsidy to replace it with an efficient, clean heat source to $2500. Inefficient burners (coal burners, pellet fires and wood burners) cannot be lawfully used under ORC’s Regional
Get $2500 towards a replacement heater now Read More »