Black mark for Hastings' air quality after record June

Hastings' first winter air quality exceedance was recorded this week. Photo / File

After a milestone June, Hastings has received the first black mark against its air quality record this winter.

On Monday, Hastings' first air quality exceedance of July was recorded - an exceedance is when smoke becomes trapped in the air above urban areas.

This was also the first exceedance of winter, with none recorded in June for the first time since continuous testing began in 2006.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council climate and air scientist Dr Kathleen Kozyniak said yesterday this was "a little unexpected" as Hastings had been doing well this year.

"However the combination of fine weather, low to no wind and cooler nights, with people lighting fires at home typically leads to smoke building up, even after a fine and sunny day."

The council measure these through particulate matter (PM10), with an exceedance being any reading above 50 micrograms per cubic metre averaged over 24 hours - the council's site at St Johns recorded an average level of 55 micrograms to midnight Monday.

Weather conditions meant smoke levels in the air rose steadily from Sunday morning.

After last month's milestone, Dr Kozyniak had said there was an overall improving trend, and in terms of health any winter month without an exceedance "is a win for Napier and Hastings residents".

Napier has not had an exceedance of the air quality standards for two years. The city may only exceed the limit once a year, while Hastings can exceed no more than three times, before reducing to only one exceedance a year by September 2020.

Before the council's HeatSmart programme began in 2009, there was a high number of annual exceedances, particularly in Hastings and to a lesser degree in Napier.

The programme was set up to improve air quality in Hawke's Bay by reducing air pollution from home wood-burners and fires because of the adverse effects on people's health.

Since it started more than 9500 fireplaces had been upgraded or replaced, with insulation retrofits and upgrades in many homes.

Open fires inside households in Napier and Hastings air sheds were outlawed in 2012 and use of non-compliant wood-burners will be prohibited from next January for Hastings and from January 2020 for Napier.