The country's air quality standards will be loosened under a Government proposal released yesterday morning.
Environment Minister Nick Smith has released a discussion document proposing amendments to the national air quality standard.
(If you would like to make a submission on the proposed amendments please see the link at the bottom of this page.)
It follows a year-long review by a technical advisory group which recommended the standard be changed.
Smith called the previous standard "unrealistic" and "unfair".
"The Government wants a standard that achieves material improvements in air quality without imposing unnecessary costs on businesses and communities," he said.
"These changes are about improving air quality but in a pragmatic and realistic way. It will ensure we do not put thousands of jobs at risk or unnecessarily ban home burners and open fires in areas with only occasional air quality problems."
The standard is an attempt to curb air pollution, which research estimated causes about 1100 New Zealanders to die prematurely each year, with an associated health cost of $1.14 billion.
Under the existing standard, areas called "sheds", where the air quality is closely monitored, would only be allowed to exceed the national pollution standards once a year. In air sheds that did not reach the standard, industrial consents would not be granted until the exceedances were under the threshold.
Now, under changes proposed by the advisory group and endorsed by Smith, the number of exceedances would be lifted to three per year - which is in line with the World Health Organisation standards. The prohibition on industrial consents will be pushed out to 2018.
The review of air quality standards was a National Party election promise and a key initiative out of last year's Job Summit.
Public submissions on the discussion document close on July 9. For more information on the submission process please click here.
You can make submissions on the discussion document on the Ministry for the Environment’s website http://www.mfe.govt.nz/survey/x10submpropaqs.htm
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