Smoke that Rex Graham says is from orchard burnoffs drifts across the Heretaunga Plains above Havelock North and Hastings.
Smoke that Rex Graham says is from orchard burnoffs drifts across the Heretaunga Plains above Havelock North and Hastings.
Former Hawke’s Bay Regional Council chairman Rex Graham has a burning desire to stop orchardists from coating the Heretaunga Plains in smoke every winter.
Graham sends regular photos to the council he once chaired of smoke from orchard burnoffs drifting over Hastings and Havelock North.
But he says he’s startingto feel as if the council doesn’t want to know about it, let alone do something about it.
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (HBRC) suggested a recent photo might show fog.
“While photos can be useful, our first step would be to determine if the substance in the image is smoke – not fog or something else," the council told Hawke’s Bay Today.
“If it is smoke, we can then identify the source and assess whether any rules under the Resource Management Plan – like burning prohibited materials – are being breached.”
A spokesperson said the council’s pollution response team thoroughly surveyed the Hastings airshed the day Graham’s photo was taken (May 22) and found little evidence of any breaches.
Graham said that the more he thought about “this cynical and condescending response from the regional council staff, the more it disturbs me”.
HBRC found no evidence of breaches on May 22 and suggested Rex Graham's photo (above) might show fog.
“They are the regulators and yet they do not want to understand or deal with the issue. They are no different from climate change deniers.
“We will never stop this pollution if this attitude and arrogance prevails.”
Katrina Brunton, HBRC’s general manager of policy and regulation, said it could be difficult to differentiate between smoke and fog in the early mornings from long distances.
“We would investigate alleged fires if we have addresses to respond to, otherwise it would be difficult to pinpoint the location.
“Following the receipt of these or similar photos, enforcement officers did an extensive search of a large area of the Heretaunga Plains attempting to locate the source but were unable.”
In 2023-24 HBRC received approximately 80 complaints of burning during winter. More than 70 infringement fines were issued.
Orchard burnoffs are allowed under the Regional Air Quality rules, but they must meet specific conditions.
When the regional council is notified of a burn, it investigates. If it’s found to be in breach of the rules, the response follows a set process, starting with education and engagement and escalating to enforcement where needed.
Graham said: “It’s a confounding contradiction that the law forbids fires within the airsheds except for orchard burnoffs, which are by far the worst sources of air pollution.”
HBRC said it relied heavily on information from the public, as well as from its staff who might see smoke while out working.
“These reports are critical in helping our pollution response team act quickly.”
Graham said all the photos he sent to HBRC showed smoke from fires, some of which were outside the airshed.
“In all cases, this smoke ended up in the Hastings and Napier airsheds.”
Rex Graham says all of his photos show smoke, not fog, going into the airshed.
Dr Nicholas Jones, Public Health Physician and Medical Officer of Health for Health NZ in Hawke’s Bay, said officials worked with HBRC and supported its “We breathe what you burn” campaign.
“Mr Graham has contacted public health to share his concerns about illegal burning.
“Any fires burning inside the airshed (or when smoke from a fire outside the airshed results in pollution within the airshed) are of public health concern, particularly during cooler winter months when smoke can become trapped closer to the ground.
“Smoke and pollutants from fires can cause several health problems, including breathing difficulties, coughing, shortness of breath or eye, nose and throat irritation. People most sensitive to smoke are those with heart or lung conditions, pregnant people, young children and the elderly.”
Graham said the HBRC pollution response team generally did a great job, but its staff could not get to all the fires, which happened every day and were spread over a large area.
“One of the challenges is that it’s difficult to see this smoke when you are under it, but the fine particles within this smoke are dangerous to our community, which is being subjected to this pollution every day.
“Growers and lifestylers have options, and many of them use them, but sadly we still have some idiots who have total disregard for our communities’ wellbeing.”
What is an airshed?
An airshed is a legally designated air-quality management area. In New Zealand, regional councils and unitary authorities have identified areas to be managed as airsheds for the national environmental standards for air quality.
The majority of airsheds may have levels of pollutants that exceed the national environmental standards for air quality. Some airsheds are also identified based on factors such as:
the number of people living in the airshed now or in the future
unique weather patterns and geography
local air emissions, such as local industrial activity, which need to be specifically considered and managed.
Why do we have airsheds?
HBRC says airshed rules exist because smoke from backyard fires in urban areas, though they may seem minor, adds up quickly.
On cold, still days, it lingers and affects air quality.
“If everyone lit backyard fires, it would quickly become a serious pollution issue. These rules help protect our whānau and community from the harmful health effects of smoke, especially in winter when it gets trapped close to the ground.”
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
