Gore records first air quality exceedance for 2026

Gore recorded its first exceedance of the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality since 2024 last week.

On Thursday 9 July, the Gore Main Street monitoring site recorded a 24-hour average PM10 concentration of 55.02 micrograms/m3 (micrograms per cubic metre of air), over the standards’ threshold of 50 micrograms/m3.

Environment Southland Team Leader Air and Terrestrial Science, Nick Talbot, said consecutive days of cold temperatures and low wind speeds led to a buildup of pollutants overnight on Thursday, causing the exceedance.

“Down here, we all want warm, healthy homes and clean air in our towns. While we can’t control the cold, still weather, we can all take steps to reduce the impact on the air we breathe.”

Burning dry wood is one of the simplest ways people can reduce smoke and improve the air we all breathe. It also means you get more heat from your firewood, which is better for households and better for air quality.

“It’s important we continue to work together to reduce air pollution, as poor air quality can have an adverse impact on people’s health. Particulates can easily penetrate the lungs, especially for those who are more susceptible to health complications, such as children, the elderly and others with respiratory or cardiac conditions,” Nick said.

Environment Southland monitors air quality in Murihiku Southland and shares live PM10 readings for the Invercargill and Gore airsheds online at: www.es.govt.nz/Air