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.
Pollution
Beijing pollution 'worst on record'
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.
No swimming: 52% impure NZ
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.
Pollution improvement still short of target
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.
Aiming to close pollution loophole
Aiming to close pollution loophole
A new Bill aims to tighten controls on sustained pollution of waterways by closing a legal loophole.
ORC defends measures to enforce coal ban
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.
More compliance by sheep farmers needed
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.
Exhausting some options
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.
Dirty heating and clean air
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.
Shared pollution response sought
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.
Wood burner use determines emission level
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.
Parking tickets polluting Otago Harbour
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.
Minor pollution spill goes undetected
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.
Minor pollution spill goes undetected
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.
Dune contamination tests done
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.
Winter air pollution slowly easing
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.
Heat pump worries
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.
Frankton air quality tests clear
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.
Arrowtown air quality
Arrowtown air quality
Arrowtown had just two high-pollution days this week, bringing this year's total number of high-pollution days to 38.
Respiratory illness surprises
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.