NEW ZEALAND URBAN AIR QUALITY

 When we think of New Zealand we think of pristine conditions, clear lakes, clean snowy mountaintops and green fields.  A research program into sustainable management of urban air quality in New Zealand that will ensure a healthy and safe living environment for its people is underway involving several government departments, Universities of Auckland and Canterbury, several health authorities and a number of overseas research groups.  The program will focus on results that can be utilized by central and regional government to manage New Zealand's air resource and maintain a sustainable urban environment in terms of human health and amenity values.  The methodology utilized through the program will be:

• Utilizing new computer modelling programs.

• Developing better measurement techniques.

• Tracking and mapping of air pollution.

• Testing the effects of new government and industry policies.

• Understanding trends in emissions.

• Assessing health effects.

• Determining how weather and climate affect urban air quality.

 This project is an initiative of the New Zealand government's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd., commonly known as NIWA.

Web Site; www.niwa.co.nz