For the first time in 20 years, Rotorua has officially been declared free from its “polluted air” status, thanks to a big team effort by the community, local councils, and health officials.
The city had been known for its poor winter air quality, caused mainly by smoke from wood burners trapped by Rotorua’s special landscape. Now, it has met the national clean air standard for five years in a row — a major win for public health.
In 2008, Rotorua had 37 days where tiny pollution particles in the air went over the national safety limit. These particles, called PM10, are small enough to be harmful when breathed in. To be removed from the “polluted” list, Rotorua had to stay under this limit for five years straight.
That journey began in 2020, when the city recorded just one day above the limit. In the next four years, Rotorua had no days that broke the rules, finally earning clean air status.
Regional Councillor Lyall Thurston called it a “major day” for Rotorua and New Zealand. He credited education campaigns and programs like the Rotorua Hot Swap Scheme, which helped people replace smoky old wood burners with cleaner heating systems like heat pumps.
While the air is cleaner now, Thurston said it’s important to keep following the rules and making good choices. “The battle will always be there,” he said, “but with support from the community, we can keep breathing clean air.”
