Pollution in New Zealand

Image:Water pollution in the Wairarapa.JPG.]]

Pollution is an environmental issue in New Zealand with a number of measures being taken to reduce its severity. New Zealand is sometimes viewed as being "clean and green" but this can be refuted due to pollution levels, among other factors. New Zealand does have a relatively low air pollution level,{{Cite report |title=New Zealand's Environmental Reporting Series: Our air 2018 |publisher=Ministry for the Environment & Stats NZ |year=2018 |url=https://www.mfe.govt.nz/sites/default/files/media/Air/our-air-2018.pdf}} but some areas have high levels of plastic pollution.{{Cite news |last=Ainge Roy |first=Eleanor |title=New Zealand the most perilous place for seabirds due to plastic pollution |date=2 July 2018 |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/02/new-zealand-the-most-perilous-place-for-seabirds-due-to-plastic-pollution |access-date=9 April 2020}}

Types

=Water pollution=

Water pollution in New Zealand varies depending on the level of development in the water catchment areas. In recent years concerns have been raised about the effect of intensification of dairy farming on water quality. The Drying and Clean Streams Accord was established to address problems with water pollution due to dairy farming.

=Marine pollution=

Fertiliser runs off farms and yards into nearby rivers and streams, which carry it out to the ocean. It is also carried by the cloud and when it rains it drops in the ocean, which is carried by the current.

=Air pollution=

Excess levels of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) are a concern in several towns and cities across New Zealand, primarily due to the widespread use of woodburners for residential heating. This issue is exacerbated by local climatic conditions and topographical features that contribute to temperature inversions, trapping pollutants near the ground.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-09 |title=Our air 2024 |url=https://environment.govt.nz/publications/our-air-2024/ |access-date=2025-07-12 |website=Ministry for the Environment |language=en-GB}}

New Zealand has a relatively unique greenhouse gas emissions profile. In 2007, agriculture contributed 48.2% of total emissions, energy (including transport); 43.2%, industry; 6.1%, waste; 2.4%. In other Kyoto Protocol Annex 1 countries, agriculture typically contributes about 11% of total emissions.{{cite web|url=http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/climate/greenhouse-gas-inventory-2009/html/index.html |title= New Zealand's Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990–2007 |date=April 2009|publisher=Ministry for the Environment|accessdate=2 January 2010}} From 1990 to 2007, total greenhouse gas emissions in New Zealand increased by 22.1%. Emission increases by sector were - agriculture; 12.1%, energy; 39.2%, industry; 35.0%. Only the small waste sector reduced emissions, by 25.3%.

Legislation

Notable occurrences

[https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/98533543/contaminated-mapua-looked-like-heaven-but-was-like-hell-underneath Contaminated site at Mapua]
[https://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/Services/Regional-services/Waste-hazardous-substances-and-contaminated-sites/Tui-mine/ Tui mine tailings dam]

References

External links

[http://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/hazardous/ Hazardous substances page] at the Ministry for the Environment