Exposure to poor air quality
This section presents the percentage of the population living in areas with poor air quality in 2016.
Clean healthy air is vital for our health and wellbeing. Poor air quality is defined as being above the World Health Organization (WHO) 2021 guideline levels for PM2.5 and NO2 (annual mean concentrations of 5µg/m3 and 10µg/m3 respectively). Air quality not meeting these recommended levels can adversely affect people’s health.
These results come from the HAPINZ 3.0 study, published in July 2022. This study modelled the air quality in small areas (census area units) around New Zealand in 2016, based on actual measurements of air quality.
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Over 80% of New Zealanders live in areas where PM₂.₅ exceeds current guidelines
In 2016, 81.0% of the New Zealand population lived in areas exceeding the 2021 WHO PM2.5 guidelines. This represented 3,818,500 people living in areas with an annual mean PM2.5 above 5µg/m3.
Regions with the highest percentage of their population exposed to PM2.5 above the WHO guideline included Nelson (97.9%), and Auckland (91.3%) (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Percentage of the population living in areas where PM2.5 exceeded the WHO 2021 guideline (5µg/m3), by region, 2016
Note: To explore more data at the territorial authority level, view the HAPINZ 3.0 dashboard.
Over 30% of New Zealanders live in areas where NO₂ exceeds current guidelines
In 2016, 31.4% of the New Zealand population lived in areas exceeding the 2021 WHO NO2 guidelines (Figure 2). This represented about 1,480,000 people living in areas with an annual mean NO2 above 10µg/m3.
Regions with the highest percentage of their population exposed to NO2 above the WHO guideline included Auckland (59.4%), Canterbury (53.7%) and Nelson (43.2%) (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Percentage of the population living in areas where NO2 exceeded the WHO 2021 guideline (10µg/m3), by region, 2016
Note: To explore more data at the territorial authority level, view the HAPINZ 3.0 dashboard.
Decrease in population exposed to high levels of PM₂.₅ since 2006
The percentage of the New Zealand population living in areas with high PM2.5 (ie PM2.5 above the 2021 WHO guideline of 5µg/m3) decreased from 2006 (85.1%) to 2016 (81.0%) (Figure 3). Nonetheless, four in five people were still exposed to high PM2.5 in 2016.
The rate also decreased among Māori from 2006 (83.6%) to 2016 (77.6%). However, almost all Pacific peoples (94.4%) were exposed to high PM2.5 in 2016.
Figure 3: Percentage of population living in areas with PM2.5 higher than the WHO 2021 guideline (5µg/m3), total population and by ethnic group, 2006 and 2016
Note: To explore more data at the territorial authority level, view the HAPINZ 3.0 dashboard.
Increase in population exposed to high levels of NO₂ since 2006, with persisting inequities for Pacific peoples
The percentage of the New Zealand population living in areas with high NO2 (ie NO2 above the 2021 WHO guideline of 10µg/m3) increased substantially from 2006 (23.5%) to 2016 (31.4%) (Figure 4). A similar increase was seen for Māori from 2006 to 2016 (15.9% to 23.1%).
The rates were much higher for Pacific peoples, with over half (54.5%) exposed to high NO2 in 2016.
Figure 4: Percentage of population living in areas with NO₂ higher than WHO 2021 guideline (10µg/m3), total population and by ethnic group, 2006 and 2016
Note: To explore more data at the territorial authority level, view the HAPINZ 3.0 dashboard.
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