Latest news with #ToiMoanaBayofPlentyRegionalCouncil
Scoop
24-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Next Milestone Reached On Rotorua's Journey To Cleaner Air
Press Release – Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council Bay of Plenty Regional Council councillor Lyall Thurston says while this milestone marks significant progress to improving the citys air quality, the journey towards cleaner air in Rotorua continues. After 15 years of collective effort by the Rotorua community and Bay of Plenty Regional Council to improve air quality in the city, Rotorua will officially shed its 'polluted' air quality status today. Rotorua has long struggled with poor winter-time air quality, due to smoke from wood burners getting trapped by Rotorua's unique landscape. Smoke contains tiny particles, called particulate matter, and to help manage activities that may negatively impact air quality there is a national standard for particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less called PM10. Under these standards, a geographical area (referred to as an 'airshed') is classified as 'polluted' if it averages more than one exceedance of the national standard per year for the previous five-year period. When an airshed is 'polluted', it means that Regional Council must decline certain consents for large air discharges as an extra safeguard while air quality is being improved. If an average of one or less exceedances of the national standard per year is maintained in this area for a continuous five-year period, the 'polluted' status can be removed from the airshed. Bay of Plenty Regional Council councillor Lyall Thurston says while this milestone marks significant progress to improving the city's air quality, the journey towards cleaner air in Rotorua continues. 'Over the past 15 years, a series of measures have been introduced by Regional Council to address winter-time air quality issues. These include banning older style burners, launching an extensive education campaign, and enhancing compliance efforts. As a result, the Rotorua Airshed has met the national criteria to have its 'polluted' status removed.' With research highlighting the ongoing health impacts associated with poor air quality, new national rules are expected in the future that will focus on limiting the release of smaller particles into the air. Councillor Thurston says this change will bring new challenges to places like Rotorua, where a lot of people use wood burners to heat their homes. 'While there are still improvements to be made, with numerous smokey fires in use, this milestone marks an opportunity to say thank you to those who have already made the change to cleaner heating, and recognise how collective change has made an impact for the benefit of all Rotorua residents and visitors. 'We want to also acknowledge the work by the other members of the Rotorua Air Quality Working Group, including Rotorua Lakes Council, Kainga Ora and the medical officers of health at Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora.' The Rotorua Airshed will officially lose its polluted status on Saturday 24 May. Under the current National Environmental Standards for Air Quality, if there are a certain number of exceedances in any five-year period, it will be reclassified as 'polluted' again. Regional Council is responsible for monitoring and managing air quality. For more information on its work to improve air quality in Rotorua, visit Background The Rotorua Airshed, a geographic area for air quality management, was established in 2005 to enable monitoring and the introduction of rules to help improve air quality. Regional Council has been monitoring air quality at two sites in the Rotorua Airshed since 2008, measuring small particles that can be inhaled, called particulate matter, against the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality. These standards ensure a minimum level of health protection for people living in New Zealand. Currently, there is only a national standard for PM10, (particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less), not the finer particulate matter called PM2.5, although this is expected to change in the coming years. For years, monitoring in Rotorua showed the city struggled with poor air quality over winter, primarily due to wood burner emissions being trapped by the city's unique topography. Numerous exceedances of the national limits were recorded. At its worst, Rotorua was the city with the worst winter-time air pollution in the country, impacting air quality and those vulnerable to respiratory issues. You can view the number of exceedances recorded here: Recent research highlighting the ongoing negative health impacts associated with poor air quality include Our air 2024, PM2.5 in New Zealand – Modelling the current levels of fine particulate air pollution and WHO global air quality guidelines: particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide. You can also view an update on air quality in Rotorua in the Agenda of Strategy and Policy Committee – Tuesday, 13 May 2025. New rules focusing on PM2.5 were consulted on through the Proposed amendments to the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality in July 2020. We are currently waiting on Government direction as to when these standards will be updated.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Creature that can 'punch [its] way through aquarium glass' found inhabiting new waters: 'It's not something to celebrate'
New Zealand officials are investigating the appearance of Japanese mantis shrimp in the country's northern coastal waters, reported Researchers trapping invasive Asian paddle crabs in Tauranga Harbor got more than they bargained for when they caught a Japanese mantis shrimp, according to a December Facebook post from the Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council. "It's the first time one has been found in the Bay of Plenty region, but it's not something to celebrate," officials said. While researchers have formally identified just one specimen, the public has reported several additional sightings. Officials are using these reports to assess how widespread the species might be in the harbor. The creature received its "thumb splitter" nickname because it's aggressive and "can punch [its] way through aquarium glass," officials explained. These unusual shrimp also make a distinctive "rumbling growl sound." When non-native species appear in new environments, they often disrupt the natural balance that keeps ecosystems healthy. The Japanese mantis shrimp was first spotted in New Zealand in 2010 in Kaipara Harbor, but its spread to a new area signals growing problems for native wildlife. These aggressive shrimp "can alter native habitats by digging burrows to live in and may compete with native species for food and space," experts said. This competition threatens local marine life that hasn't evolved to deal with these newcomers. The situation adds to existing problems with other invasive species like the Asian paddle crabs that researchers originally targeted. When native species decline, it affects the entire food web and can reduce the health of coastal waters that people rely on for fishing, recreation, and natural protection. Should we be actively working to kill invasive species? Absolutely It depends on the species I don't know No — leave nature alone Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. New Zealand's environmental authorities are taking swift action to address the problem before it grows. Experts are currently developing a response plan to monitor and potentially control the spread of these invasive shrimp. Officials have also begun educating the public about identifying the species, noting that "Japanese mantis shrimp can easily be confused with a native species that is of similar size and color." The key differences include "thinner maroon lines running down their bodies and a blue and yellow tail fan," according to officials. By reporting unusual marine life sightings to local environmental agencies, you can help scientists track invasive species. Early detection gives authorities the best chance to protect native ecosystems before permanent damage occurs. Some restaurateurs have successfully caught and served invasive species on their menus to combat overpopulation. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Creature that can 'punch [its] way through aquarium glass' found inhabiting new waters: 'It's not something to celebrate'
New Zealand officials are investigating the appearance of Japanese mantis shrimp in the country's northern coastal waters, reported Researchers trapping invasive Asian paddle crabs in Tauranga Harbor got more than they bargained for when they caught a Japanese mantis shrimp, according to a December Facebook post from the Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council. "It's the first time one has been found in the Bay of Plenty region, but it's not something to celebrate," officials said. While researchers have formally identified just one specimen, the public has reported several additional sightings. Officials are using these reports to assess how widespread the species might be in the harbor. The creature received its "thumb splitter" nickname because it's aggressive and "can punch [its] way through aquarium glass," officials explained. These unusual shrimp also make a distinctive "rumbling growl sound." When non-native species appear in new environments, they often disrupt the natural balance that keeps ecosystems healthy. The Japanese mantis shrimp was first spotted in New Zealand in 2010 in Kaipara Harbor, but its spread to a new area signals growing problems for native wildlife. These aggressive shrimp "can alter native habitats by digging burrows to live in and may compete with native species for food and space," experts said. This competition threatens local marine life that hasn't evolved to deal with these newcomers. The situation adds to existing problems with other invasive species like the Asian paddle crabs that researchers originally targeted. When native species decline, it affects the entire food web and can reduce the health of coastal waters that people rely on for fishing, recreation, and natural protection. Should we be actively working to kill invasive species? Absolutely It depends on the species I don't know No — leave nature alone Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. New Zealand's environmental authorities are taking swift action to address the problem before it grows. Experts are currently developing a response plan to monitor and potentially control the spread of these invasive shrimp. Officials have also begun educating the public about identifying the species, noting that "Japanese mantis shrimp can easily be confused with a native species that is of similar size and color." The key differences include "thinner maroon lines running down their bodies and a blue and yellow tail fan," according to officials. By reporting unusual marine life sightings to local environmental agencies, you can help scientists track invasive species. Early detection gives authorities the best chance to protect native ecosystems before permanent damage occurs. Some restaurateurs have successfully caught and served invasive species on their menus to combat overpopulation. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
