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Taupo

Taupō is the Waikato region’s second largest urban area after Hamilton. It is in the Taupō Volcanic Zone at the northeastern end of Lake Taupō. It has one active monitoring site, on Gillies Avenue.

Taupō’s one active residential PM10 monitoring site at Gillies Avenue Reserve in central Taupō was established in November 2000. Prior to March 2007, PM10 was monitored here on a one day in three basis using a Partisol sampler. From March 2007 onwards PM10 was measured using an FH 62 BAM along with collection of meteorological data. The PM10 data was gravimetrically adjusted based on co-located sequential partisol monitoring. Since 27 January 2021, PM10 and PM2.5 have been measured using a Teledyne API T640x.

Town Summary
Air quality in this town

PM10 exceedances have occurred from time to time and the Taupō airshed is currently classified as polluted under the National Environmental Standards. From 1 September 2016 Taupo must have no more than one PM10 exceedance per 12 month period. The main source of poor air quality during winter is from home heating using wood. Because of its location within the Taupō Volcanic zone, there will be a larger contribution from volcanic/geothermal activity at times. The surrounding pumice soils are also likely to contribute to a higher summertime dust source.

Sources of air pollution

Home heating Industrial Outdoor burning Traffic Indoor sources Natural sources
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    • Sources of PM10 emissions
    • Sources of PM2.5 emissions
    Source Annual percentage Winter day percentage
    Home heating Home heating {{emissions.annualhome}}% {{emissions.winterhome}}%
    Industrial Industrial {{emissions.annualindustry}}% {{emissions.winterindustry}}%
    Outdoor burning Outdoor burning {{emissions.annualoutdoor}}% {{emissions.winteroutdoor}}%
    Traffic Traffic {{emissions.annualmotor}}% {{emissions.wintermotor}}%
    Relative breakdown
    Annual
    Winter day

    The table shows the proportions of the main sources of PM in this town from home heating, industrial activities, outdoor burning and traffic.  (Indoor sources and natural sources of air pollutants are not included in this breakdown). 

    These values come from 2013 data sourced from MfE’s data service.  Consistent methodology was used to calculate these estimates of PM emissions, which allows comparison between towns throughout New Zealand.  Some regional council published emissions information might differ if they were prepared in a different year or used another method. Contact your regional council for more information about PM and other emissions.

Seasonal variation

  • Show wind speed
  • Show temperature
Showing:

PM10

PM2.5

Wind speed (km/h)

Air temperature (℃)

What is this graph showing me?

The graph shows the monthly average PM concentrations at one representative site in this town for the year selected. In many towns in New Zealand, PM peaks in the winter when air temperatures and wind speeds are lowest as more people heat their homes during colder weather, and still conditions mean that there is no wind to disperse the air pollutants.

Sites 1
Monitored sites in Taupo

Monitored sites in this town can be categorised according to location:

  • Residential: Air monitoring site is in a suburban area with a relatively high population density, but not close to a busy road or industry.
  • Traffic: Air monitoring site is very close to a busy road or intersection.
  • Industry: Air monitoring site is close to industry, including heavy commercial and processing factories.
  • Coastal: Air monitoring site is close to the coast where there are high levels of sea salt in the air.
  • NES: A site monitored for compliance with the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality (NES-AQ).

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