New proposals to clean up the nations air are overdue

One of the country's top air quality scientists says new proposals to clean up the nation's air are long overdue. Under proposed changes in a Ministry for the Environment discussion document, households already using solid-fuel burners for heating could keep using them until they reach the end of life. But afterwards, they may then need to replace them with a more efficient wood or pellet burner. Under the changes smaller PM2.5 particle pollution would also be added to air quality standards for monitoring- instead of the larger PM10 particles. NIWA's principal air quality scientist, Ian Longley told politcal reporter Charlie Dreaver the new standard would bring New Zealand into line with most other countries.