KEY POINTS:
Rotorua's air quality continues to exceed recommended health emission levels, Environment Bay of Plenty says.
Domestic wood burning was the major cause of air pollution in Rotorua and the poor air quality caused respiratory illnesses and 22 premature deaths a year.
A multi-million dollar study conducted by Health and Air Pollution in New Zealand (Hapinz) in July found open fireplaces at home and dirty exhaust fumes on the road and from factories were prematurely killing 1079 people nationwide a year.
Environment Bay of Plenty's chief executive Bill Bayfield said residents needed to realise that they could have a huge impact on the quality of the air their families, friends and visitors were breathing.
"Rotorua's residents are being put at risk from asthma and other respiratory problems because of the huge domestic wood burning problem we have," he said.
A community group had been set up to look into the problem of air quality , and action being considered included funding options to assist changing heating sources in homes and educating the public on better firewood management.
- NZPA
