Focus: Smoke from the Australian bushfires turned central and northern New Zealand skies yellow on Sunday. Video / Palo Markovic / Sarah Khan / MetService / Jason Oxenham
Police are urging members of the public not to call them raising concerns about orange skies caused by the bushfires in Australia.
Their 111 emergency call line has been inundated with calls from people but they have been urged to not to call about the colour of sky.
Police said the calls to the 111 number were either to report the haze is present or to ask why the sky has changed colour.
Orange sky above Auckland's One Tree Hill. Photo / Greg Bowker Visuals
Additionally, the Ministry of Health said the smoke currently over the country was not expected to impact the air humans breathe.
"However, it is possible that some people may still experience ill effects even though the pollution levels remain relatively low," The Ministry said.
"People who are more at risk include pregnant women, babies and children, those who suffer from asthma or other respiratory conditions, older people or those with chronic illnesses."
The skies above the ASB Tennis Centre as players hit up on Sunday afternoon. Photo / Jason Oxenham
In a statement, the police said they were aware the conditions might be concerning, but listed the proper reasons the number should be called:
• There is car accident where people might be hurt, or cars are blocking the road;
• Someone has been assaulted and the offender is still there;
• You are afraid for your safety and or for those around you;
• You need an emergency Police response.
Social media has been flooded with pictures of the smoky, orange-tinged skies with some people calling it "eerie and scary".
The skies above the ASB Tennis Centre as players hit up on Sunday afternoon. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Others say their thoughts are with Australia.
Dunedin people on 1/1: The sky is orange. Must be smoke from the fires. Chch people on 2/1: The sky is orange. Must be smoke from the fires. Auckland people on 5/1: THE SKY IS ORANGE OH NO IT’S THE APOCALYPSE CALL 111 WE’RE ALL GOING TO DIE
2.50pm..... photo from my study room window. It’s eerie and scary....... the effects of the bush fires in Australia dulled the sky in Auckland, it looks orange and dull black. pic.twitter.com/CyGgAGNMXt
This is the sky in Auckland this afternoon as the haze from the fires reached NZ....very eerie and pretty scary. If it’s like this here, what must Australia be experiencing 😞 pic.twitter.com/xQckuAiC8T
