Welcome to the third quarterly air quality update for 2026.

It has been more than two and a half years since the last confirmed PM₁₀ exceedance in the Mount Maunganui airshed (19 March 2024), excluding exceedances caused by sea salt that have been verified, or are currently being assessed, as exceptional circumstances. 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

The number of odour complaints was less than half that received during the previous reporting period.

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

Odour Incident at Dried Distillers' Grain Storage Facility

In late June, a stockfeed product known as dried distillers' grain began heating and fermenting while in storage, most likely because of moisture contamination during transport or storage. The incident generated offensive odours that affected nearby properties for several days. The affected material was subsequently identified, isolated, cooled, and removed from the site.

Following an investigation, the Regional Council issued two infringement notices to the storage and transport operator, RMD Transport Limited, and two infringement notices to the product owner, Bunge New Zealand Limited. Each infringement notice carries a fee of $4,000 under the current Resource Management Infringement Regulations.

Asphalt-related activities

Allied Asphalt's old asphalt plant has been decommissioned and removed, and the new plant on the same site is now fully operational. Stack testing has recently been completed, and is well within consented limits.

Higgins’ Hewletts Road plant is still in operation, as well as their mobile plant in Tauriko.

Particulate matter 

The Regional Council has applied to the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (formerly Ministry for the Environment) for the exceedances to be treated as an exceptional circumstance, due to the suspected high contribution of wind-borne sea salt. The Ministry notes that sea salt is probably the main cause of the exceedances. However, given the frequency of these events in Mount Maunganui, the Regional Council will need to undertake laboratory analysis to demonstrate that this is the case.

An update on Priority One's Mount Maunganui Industry Environmental Accord

The Mount Maunganui Industrial Accord has been signed by 31 businesses in the industrial zone, committing them to take voluntary actions to improve their environmental footprint.

Based on the latest Accord action tracking, signatories have identified and reported 256 actions, with 126 completed and 121 underway or scheduled. These initiatives are helping to reduce environmental impacts and support improved air quality outcomes across the Mount Maunganui industrial area. New actions are regularly added to the register.

Looking ahead, the project is entering its next phase, with a greater focus on peer-to-peer learning and collaboration. To maintain momentum and share practical examples of environmental improvements, a programme of site visits has begun, enabling businesses to see initiatives firsthand, exchange ideas and learn from one another's experiences.

Unsealed Yards and Dust Management Plans

Council staff recently visited businesses operating unsealed yards larger than 400 m² that had not yet submitted a Dust Management Plan (DMP) to ensure they understood the rule requirements and their obligations. All but one site has now provided a DMP.

From April 2028, resource consent will be required for any site with an unsealed yard greater than 400 m², unless otherwise authorised. Businesses will continue to be encouraged to incorporate stormwater infiltration measures where practicable, such as permeable surfaces, swales, retention ponds and rain gardens. These measures help recharge groundwater, reduce pressure on the stormwater network, and minimise downstream flooding.

Consents update  

Most large-scale industrial consents within the airshed have undergone renewal or review processes over the past two years, largely resulting in revised consent conditions and reduced discharge limits.

With the Interim Permitted Activity Rules (IPARs) for bulk solid handling and unsealed yards progressing toward expiry, consent applications are expected to start being lodged towards the end of 2026.

Lawter NZ Ltd

The decision granting consent, issued by an independent Commissioner Panel in May 2025, has been appealed by Ngāti Kuku.

Court-assisted mediation remains ongoing, with the next reporting date scheduled for 30 September 2026. Should mediation not result in a resolution, the Court has directed that a hearing be scheduled at the first available opportunity after 29 January 2027.

Stella Passage

A hearing was held in the last week of July. A decision has been released and is available on the Fast track website.

Mount Plan update 

The plan focuses on practical actions to minimise PM₁₀ emissions in the Mount Maunganui Airshed, where industrial activities sit alongside homes, schools, childcare centres and Whareroa Marae. It sets out how the Regional Council will use its regulatory role, alongside collaboration and education, to support cleaner air outcomes.

Feedback on the draft plan has now been received from stakeholders and is being considered. The Regulatory Implementation Action Plan will be presented to the Mount Air Quality Working Party at its October meeting. Final approval for the plan will then be sought at the Regional Council’s October Strategy and Policy Committee meeting. 

Resource Management Reform Update

The Government’s resource management reforms are continuing to progress, with the new planning system expected to be enacted in early October. While the reforms represent a significant shift in New Zealand’s resource management framework, implementation will occur over several years, with transitional arrangements put in place to ensure continuity for councils, consent holders and communities.

The Regional Council is monitoring developments closely and working through the implications for our plans, processes and communications.

You can learn more here. 

What Mount residents are telling us

In May, 955 people from around the Bay of Plenty shared their views on the work of the Regional Council, including pollution response. Our staff also spoke directly with community members at four events, answering questions and encouraging people to report pollution incidents.

Most respondents (87%) had never used the 24/7 Pollution Hotline, and 57% said they had no environmental concerns in their local area.

Responses from Mount Maunganui (postcode 3116) suggest residents are more aware of local environmental issues than the regional average. Around 77% had never used the Pollution Hotline, and 43% said they had no environmental concerns. The most commonly raised concerns were air quality, followed by odour and industrial discharges.

The survey results have been mapped by postcode and environmental issue, helping Council better understand local concerns and target future education and engagement activities.

Mount Air Quality Working Party

The next Mount Air Quality Working Party hui is scheduled for Friday 23 October 2026. Notes from the previous meeting can be found here. Tauranga's local Members of Parliament have been invited to attend.

Regional Delivery and Evaluation Committee

The next Regional Delivery and Evaluation Committee hui is scheduled for Tuesday, 8 December 2026. More info here.