Welcome to the second quarterly air quality update for 2026.

It has been more than two years since the last confirmed PM₁₀ exceedance in the Mount Maunganui airshed (19 March 2024). This reflects a continuing effort by both industry and councils to improve air quality in the area. If the airshed reaches five consecutive years without breaching the National Environmental Standards, its current ‘polluted’ classification will be reassessed.

Calls to the Pollution Hotline

From 1 April to 30 June, we received 26 calls to the 24/7 Pollution Hotline about air quality issues in the Mount Maunganui Airshed. Of these, 20 related to odour. The key odour complaints are still related to bitumen manufacturing.

At the recent Mount Air Quality Working Party hui in May, we heard an update from the two main asphalt manufacturers in the Mount Maunganui industrial area.

Allied Asphalt shared an update about the new manufacturing equipment they are trialling, with the old plant scheduled to be removed mid-2026.
Higgins is looking to reduce the volume of asphalt produced at their Mount Maunganui site, making use of their new mobile plant based in Tauriko. They are still trying to identify an appropriate site for a permanent move to Tauriko.

Notifications to the Pollution Hotline around air quality
in the Mount Maunganui Airshed

Particulate matter

Exceedances of the National Environmental Standards for PM₁₀ were as recorded at the Rata Street (54 µg/m3) and Ranch Road (90µg/m3) monitors on 2 June 2026. Note, the Ranch Road monitor is outside the official airshed.

All exceedances are suspected to be caused by stormy sea conditions experienced within the Mount Maunganui area on these dates. Exceptional circumstance applications will be lodged for these breaches.

We are still yet to hear from the Minister for the Environment regarding the 11 April 2026 exceptional circumstances application we made on 19 May.

You can view verified industrial air quality data here (desktop only).

Mount Maunganui Industry Environmental Accord

Priority One's Mount Maunganui Industry Environmental Accord has been signed by 31 businesses in the industrial zone, committing them to take further action to improve their environmental footprint.

As at May 26, the signatories have committed to 251 actions, with 122 complete, 120 underway or scheduled, showing solid momentum. Paul Cooney, Chairman of the Mount Air Quality Working Party, noted at a meeting in March 2026: "The impact of actions undertaken by businesses who have signed up to the Priority One Mount Industry Environmental Accord are making a positive contribution to air quality improvement."

It was also noted that businesses are investing in cleaner technologies and making positive changes in on-site activities, and have a greater awareness of obligations to manage and mitigate discharges."

Although not specifically air quality related, the Port of Tauranga’s new stormwater treatment system is a significant investment that goes beyond its resource consent requirements.

As a signatory to the Accord, the Port continues to report transparently on its environmental performance. This new treatment facility is the Port's biggest infrastructure project to date to improve stormwater quality. It features a custom-built, above-ground holding tank for up to one million litres of water, and a clarifying system that cleans the ‘first flush’ in heavy rainfall.

Tauranga City Council update: More trees coming

The Mount to Arataki Spatial Plan, adopted in March 2024, builds on the detailed Mount Industrial Study that involved extensive engagement with mana whenua and stakeholders.

The study established a vision, guiding principles, and actions to be delivered over time by the City Council and partners. A key priority is improving amenity and biodiversity in the industrial area through a landscape plan. Work on this strategy is now beginning, with a focus on partnering with businesses and stakeholders to deliver coordinated, long-term improvements.

A number of Dust Management Plans still overdue

As required by the Environment Court, all unsealed sites within the Mount Maunganui Airshed must have a Dust Management Plan in place. The level of detail required depends on the size of the unsealed yard and the likelihood of dust being generated. These plans were due by 28 February 2026.

Our Regulatory Compliance Team is now working with those businesses who have not yet submitted a plan and is focused on helping them get this completed.

If this applies to you, please contact Senior Regulatory Project Officer Sam Weiss at sam.weiss@boprc.govt.nz as soon as possible. He can talk you through:

The Unsealed Yard Dust Management Plan Guideline
The Unsealed Yard Dust Management Plan template
Map of Sensitive Sites in the Mount Maunganui Airshed. To use the map, enter an address or navigate to a location, then adjust the scale (for example, to 500 m).

In addition to the Dust Management Plan, properties with unsealed yards over 400m² will need resource consent by April 2028.

Ballance is an example of a business that has recently concreted an unsealed site (see before and after below).

Resource Management Reform Update

The Government is replacing the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) with a new planning system. This includes a Planning Bill, which introduces a framework for planning and regulating the use, development and enjoyment of land, and a Natural Environment Bill, which establishes a framework for the use, protection and enhancement of the natural environment.

After the bills are passed into law, and receive Royal Assent, we will enter a transition period, where existing RMA rules and new systems will run in parallel, with the current framework.

What this means for air quality
It’s business as usual for now. All current air quality rules, discharge consents, and monitoring requirements still apply. Consent holders must continue to meet their existing obligations, while any future changes will be introduced gradually as the new system is implemented.

Learn more about the Resource management reforms here.

Consenting updates

Most large-scale industrial consents within the airshed have been through a renewal or review process over the past two years, often leading to revised conditions reducing discharge limits. With the progress of the Interim Permitted Activity Rule (IPAR) for bulk solid handling and unsealed yards new consent applications are expected in early 2027.

Lawter NZ Ltd

The consent decision, issued by an independent Commissioner Panel in early May 2025, has been appealed by Ngāti Kuku. Court-assisted mediation took place on 15 October 2025, with another mediation completed on the 19 June 2026. There are still outstanding matters not resolved, and the parties are required to file a joint report with the Court by 30 September 2026. A court hearing is set down for the first available date following 3 February 2027.

What Mount residents are telling us

We’re continuing to build our understanding of what matters most to Bay of Plenty communities through our Bay Say residents’ survey.

The May survey included a specific focus on the Pollution Hotline, giving us feedback on residents’ understanding of the service, how and when they use it, and where there are opportunities to improve our services.

We will share more about what we learned from Mount Maunganui residents in the next air quality update.

Mount Air Quality Working Party

The next Mount Air Quality Working Party is scheduled for Friday 16 October 2026. Notes from the previous meeting can be found here.

Regional Delivery and Evaluation Committee

The Mount Maunganui Industrial Programme reports to the Regional Delivery and Evaluation Committee. Notes from the previous meeting can be found here. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 15 September.

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For more information on Mount Maunganui industrial air quality, please visit www.boprc.govt.nz/mountindustrial

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