Extract:

Introduction

Auckland Council continuously collects air quality data to assess compliance with national standards and provide information to aid policy development and evaluation. The data the council collects enables us to quantify ambient air quality in the region and note spatial and temporal variations. This report presents a monthly update on air quality in Auckland. It has three sections: sections A and B present tables and graphics illustrating air quality status in the Auckland region based on the data collected from continuous monitoring sites across the region. For this edition, section C focuses on one monitoring site ̶ Penrose. The monthly update is prepared using validated data which is generally available one month after raw data is collected. This update covers data to 30th June 2022.

Summary

• Customs Street site recorded 94 exceedances of the National Environmental Standard for Air Quality (NESAQ) for Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂) (1-hour average) between 09/06/2022 and17/06/2022. An ambient air quality concentration limit of 200 μg/m³ (one hour average) for NO₂ must be met for all but nine hours each year. An investigation found that a mobile diesel power generator had been located next to the monitoring station whilst some repair work in the area was being carried out. The exceedances stopped immediately after the power generator was removed from the premises on 18th June 2022. As per the regulations, Auckland Council has given a public notification within one month of the breach.
• All monitoring sites recorded particulate matter (PM₁₀) concentrations higher than the same period of the previous year (January to June).
• All monitoring sites (except Penrose) recorded particulate matter (PM_2.5) concentrations higher than same period of the previous year.
• Although the highest NO₂ levels were measured at the city centre sites, the concentrations are lower than the same period of the previous year.

Read the frequently asked questions about the air quality monitoring in the Auckland region.

For more information or questions, please send inquiries to: environmentaldata@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Auckland Council, August 2022

Previous reports

January

February

March 

April 

May 

June 

July