Air pollution is a concern for Masterton. Last month, the Wairarapa Times-Age reported the environmental standard for particulate PM10 - a small particle which can harm the lungs - was breached on 13 days last winter.
An even smaller particle, PM2.5, exceeded standards on 34 days.
The council's team leader air and climate, Tamsin Mitchell, said Masterton's air quality was to some degree at the whims of the weather. Low wind speeds and cold temperatures overnight meant air pollution from wood burners was not readily dispersed and could build up to unhealthy levels outdoors.
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research scientist Guy Coulson said poor air quality remained a health threat. Dr Coulson said raised levels of smoke and soot - known as PM10 - caused about 1000 premature deaths each year in New Zealand at the cost of about a billion dollars a year to society, according to the best estimates.
Some of the main illnesses caused by poor air quality were respiratory. Over the past decade, an association had also been found between pollution and cardiac problems, he said.
Air-quality issues in areas without traffic issues were generally a result of wood smoke. Small towns in low-lying areas were particularly affected. On colder nights when people used wood burners the weather tended to be still, which meant smoke did not get blown away, he said.
People should keep wood burners well maintained and use properly seasoned wood. Regional council websites provided tips on using a burner.
Still, New Zealand's air quality was not bad compared to other areas around the world, Dr Coulson said.
"Most places in New Zealand, the air quality's brilliant. There's just these small pockets where it isn't," he said.
"Compared to Chinese cities, for example, where you can't see more than a few hundred metres down the road because the air is so polluted, we're doing fine. But there's still room for improvement.
"There are still definite health problems and there are still economic and societal costs associated with it."
