ODT

NewsMay 16

Desire signalled to rebuild farmer trust

The Otago Regional Council is keen to repair the damaged trust between some of the region's farmers and the council after concerns about rising charges and communication issues were highlighted this week.

WorldJanuary 13

Beijing pollution 'worst on record'

Air quality in Beijing was the "worst on record" this weekend, according to environmentalists, as the city's pollution monitoring centre warned residents to stay indoors with pollution 30-45 times above recommended safety levels.

NationalOctober 18

No swimming: 52% impure NZ

An official study finds more than half our popular river spots are too polluted tobe used safely, reports Jamie Morton, of The New Zealand Herald.

DunedinOctober 17

Pollution improvement still short of target

The Otago Regional Council's latest winter air quality report card shows there has been some improvement in pollution levels, but there is concern most of the region's towns will not meet national standards by next year as planned.

NationalOctober 17

Aiming to close pollution loophole

A new Bill aims to tighten controls on sustained pollution of waterways by closing a legal loophole.

NewsJanuary 30

ORC defends measures to enforce coal ban

Otago regional councillors deny suggestions their proposed enforcement process for those who continue to burn coal is too lax.

NewsOctober 2

More compliance by sheep farmers needed

Rules requiring stock to be kept at least 3m from water-courses during intensive winter grazing are being enforced on all types of farms in Southland.

The MixSeptember 25

Exhausting some options

Cheap used cars imported from Japan have been the transport of choice for budget-conscious New Zealand motorists for almost a quarter of a century. But dealers who import the cars say the good times are about to end.

EditorialSeptember 11

Dirty heating and clean air

Do you hit people in the pocket or hit them in the lungs? That is the conundrum faced by the Otago Regional Council as it proceeds with much tighter rules for minimising air pollution.

QueenstownAugust 24

Shared pollution response sought

The Otago Regional Council needed to become "accountable" to the Lakes district community in terms of its response to pollution, Mayor Vanessa van Uden said at a full council meeting in Queenstown on Tuesday.

NewsAugust 3

Wood burner use determines emission level

How wood burners are used is a major contributor to winter air pollution in urban areas, new research is finding.

DunedinMay 24

Parking tickets polluting Otago Harbour

A wave of plastic-coated parking receipts washing up on Quarantine Island - some almost a decade old - shows something is not right in Otago Harbour, an island resident says.

QueenstownFebruary 1

Minor pollution spill goes undetected

A minor pollution spill on the Frankton Track went undetected last week after contractors mistook the cause as a blocked stormwater manhole and rotting tree matter. Queenstown Lakes District Council infrastructure services general manager Mark Kunath said when the contractors first investigated a report of odour on January 18, they found a blocked stormwater manhole, which was cleared.

QueenstownFebruary 1

Minor pollution spill goes undetected

DunedinDecember 20

Dune contamination tests done

More detailed tests for contamination in the sand dunes at Dunedin's Middle Beach have been completed and with results are expected within days, Dunedin City Council staff say.

NewsNovember 29

Winter air pollution slowly easing

Otago's latest winter air quality report card shows the region's most polluted towns are still exceeding national standards, although some are showing a steady reduction over time.

Central OtagoNovember 21

Heat pump worries

People telling other people heat pumps do not heat homes in Central Otago as well as log burners is a challenge the Otago Regional Council is facing as it tries to clean up the region's air.

QueenstownSeptember 2

Frankton air quality tests clear

Air pollution in Frankton does not appear to be a major problem, preliminary results from a short-term sampling programme have shown.

QueenstownAugust 12

Arrowtown air quality

Arrowtown had just two high-pollution days this week, bringing this year's total number of high-pollution days to 38.

Central OtagoAugust 5

Respiratory illness surprises

Exceeding national air quality maximum pollution limits for two days out of every three in Central Otago last month did not lead to a noticeable increase in people with respiratory problems needing medical help, a health administrator says.

NewsJuly 22

Pollution complaints rise

A record number of people are reporting pollution incidents to the Otago Regional Council, as "perceived environmental harm" becomes less acceptable, council environmental services manager Martin King says.

QueenstownJune 10

Arrowtown air quality

The most common air pollutant is PM10 - particulate matter with a diameter of less than 10 microns. These very small particles are produced from partially burnt fuel.

QueenstownJune 4

Arrowtown air quality

The most common air pollutant is PM10 - particulate matter with a diameter of less than 10 microns. These very small particles are produced from partially burnt fuel.

QueenstownMay 27

Arrowtown air quality

Today, the Queenstown Times resumes its weekly column focusing on air quality in Arrowtown.

NationalMarch 15

Polluted site not dangerous: MoH

The clean up process at one of New Zealand's most polluted sites is unlikely to cause long-term health problems, the Ministry of Health says.