Australian bush fires: Haze over New Zealand expected to continue over weekend

Thursday, 28 November 2019

A thick haze blanketing the North Island from bush fires burning in Australia is expected to continue for days to come.

But it's not expected to cause a significant health risk.

The 65 fires currently ravaging parts of New South Wales and Queensland have destroyed hundreds of homes and claimed four lives.

Because of northwesterly winds, the smoke has blown across the Tasman Sea, and while it has mostly affected the South Island in recent weeks, it has moved up the country.

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Bill Trompetter, a senior scientist at GNS and an air quality specialist, said the smoke could pose a slight health risk but nothing compared to smoke from the SkyCity Convention Centre fire last month.

Trompetter said the concentrations levels of the smoke and how elevated it was would have to be determined, which was expected to be done by Auckland Council.

 Auckland Council Senior Specialist - Contamination, Air and Noise, Paul Crimmins, said the council's air quality monitoring network hadn't indicated any notable decline of air quality as a result of the bush fires. 

'This indicates there are no significant health risks associated with Auckland's air quality at present,' Crimmins said.

'Depending on the wind conditions, smoke from the Australian bush fires has the potential to be pushed nearer to ground level across New Zealand.'

Keeping an eye on the Air Quality Index reported by Auckland Council's air quality monitoring network will help public health agencies assess if there are any risks and recommend any actions for people to reduce health risks, Crimmins said.

On Thursday, MetService meteorologist Andrew James said smoke could still be seen over the Tasman Sea and New Zealand.

A southerly wind change was needed to push the smoke away but nothing was expected for at least 'the next few days'.

The air would then be coming from the south of Australia rather than 'what we have at the moment which is a northwest situation where most of the air is coming from that Australian coast where those bush fires are'.

James said no southwesterly winds were showing on the radar for the next six days.

'People will notice it has generally been a bit hazy and that will continue for the next few days.'

Bushfire smoke can irritate the nose and lungs when breathed in, especially for people with asthma or other lung conditions, according to one expert.

Allergy New Zealand chief executive Mark Dixon said hay fever sufferers could find the smoke makes their condition worse.

'If smoke is in the air, it is best to avoid this by staying indoors with windows and doors closed as far as possible. You should also have your asthma medication on hand.'

He said October through to February was when grass pollen is around most and is usually released in the morning.