Auckland's air quality

Complaints

Air pollution complaints are usually about smoke, smells, dust or agrichemical spray drift from backyard and open burning, motor vehicles, industry, and spray drift.

Complaint types

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If you make a complaint about air pollution, it will be forwarded to either an ARC officer or your local district or city council, depending upon the nature of the complaint.

Making a complaint

Follow the procedures outlined below for complaints regarding industry, motor vehicles, spray drift, domestic fires and outdoor/backyard burning.

Industry

Complaints about industry are generally about odour and dust.
If the complaint is about an industrial site, contact ARC on 09 366 2000.
For complaints in the Franklin and Rodney district, contact the local council except for ARC consented sites.

The ARC does NOT deal with complaints from businesses about cooking or restaurant type odours, or dust and noise pollution from building sites. Please contact the local council for these complaints.

Gas

If the odour is from a gas leak:

• find out where the smell is coming from
• if it is on the street, call Vector on 0800 764 764
• if it from a property, contact your gas supplier if it is from the mains or a gas fitter (see Yellow Pages) if it is from an appliance
• if the gas leak is a fire risk, call the New Zealand Fire Service on 111
• if the gas leak is at your work place, contact OSH.
  

Motor vehicles

The ARC is no longer running 0800 Smokey. The police enforce the '10 Second Rule'. If you want to complain about a smoky vehicle, please contact the Police.

Spray drift

You can report a spray drift incident to:

• Auckland Regional Council - 09 366 2000
• your local Health Protection Officer if spraying has affected your health - 09 623 4600
• Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry if spraying has damaged your property, particularly plants or crops - 0800 80 96 66.

Remember that to report an incident, you need evidence. The ARC can help you investigate a spray drift incident. The council can also help you work with your neighbours to find solutions and avoid further incidents. If the spray drift incident is in contravention of the rules of the Proposed Auckland Regional Plan: Air Land and Water (ALW Plan), enforcement action may be an option.

Domestic Fires

Domestic fires need to be operated without causing smoke, ash or smells. Causing nuisance to your neighbours is NOT allowed.

To make a complaint about domestic fires please call the ARC on 09 366 2000.

The ARC is currently running an education campaign on woodburners. Refer to our fact sheet on woodburners and domestic fires for tips on how to operate these applicances.

Backyard/Outdoor burning

The burning of rubbish and garden waste is NOT allowed in urban areas. You can burn untreated wood for cooking (umu, hangi or BBQ) and you can use braziers for heating but only if it does not cause a problem for your neighbours!

To make a complaint about backyard/outdoor burning in any of the following areas:

• Auckland City (including Waiheke)
• Manukau City
• North Shore City
• Papakura
• Waitakere City

Please call Chubb on 09 571 0932

If the complaint is in Rodney District please call 0800 426 5169.

If the complaint is in the Franklin District please call 09 237 1300.

For more information view our Airfacts 9: How to operate Woodburners and Domestic Fires and Airfacts 14: Outdoor burning.