8. STEVE CHADWICK (Labour—Rotorua) Link to this
to the Minister for the Environment
What steps has the Government taken to reduce health risks associated with poor air quality?
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE (Minister for the Environment) Link to this
I am sure all members of the House and most New Zealanders would agree that maintaining a clean and healthy environment is a strategic investment in the country’s future. That is why this Government has introduced 14 National Environmental Standards for Air Quality, banned activities that discharge toxins into the air, such as the burning of tyres, oil, and coated wire, reduced the sulphur in diesel from 3,000 parts per million to just 50 parts per million, and is looking at a further reduction, funded $800,000 of air quality monitoring equipment for regional councils to help them to meet those standards, established a Warm Homes project to investigate how to encourage a move to cleaner heating and warmer homes, and introduced design standards for new domestic woodburners.
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE Link to this
The Government has just committed a further $750,000 to assist Canterbury’s Clean Heat project and Nelson’s Clean Heat - Warm Homes scheme. In New Zealand fine particle air pollution contributes to an estimated 870 premature deaths a year, and the problem is clearly worse in some areas than others due to topography and climate. That sort of investment in clean and efficient home heating will doubtless help to reduce air pollution, and it is a most important investment in the health of New Zealanders in such areas.