Many in the rural township are complaining about "a haze of smoke'' which has been hanging in the sky since the beginning of last week.
Waikouaiti resident Barbara Sloan believed the smoke was caused by farmers in the area setting fire to vegetation, and, because there had been no wind recently, it was hanging over the township.
It meant she could not hang her washing out without it stinking of smoke, and her house also smelled of smoke, even though her windows and doors were shut, she said.
"I'm just getting annoyed because you get a nice day, and the sun doesn't really come through because of all the smoke.
"You get a really still day, like we've been having a lot of lately, and it just lingers around the town.
"I went out to a quiz night last night, and when I got home, all I could smell in the bedroom all night was smoke.''
Mrs Sloan had contacted the Otago Regional Council twice about the issue, but it had not been resolved.
"It annoys me they [the ORC] go on about the Clean Air Act and people with their log burners, and they let farmers burn off like this.''
Another resident, Linda Greer, agreed that the smoke had been building and was affecting the quality of air around the township. However, she said it was "part and parcel of farming and living in a rural area''.
An ORC spokesman said the council had received "a number of complaints'' in relation to smoke in the Waikouaiti area, and it was investigating them.
"While the investigation is under way, we are unable to comment further,'' he said.
