We are working together with the Air Quality Collective to find out more about the contribution of outdoor burning to smoke in the air in the Alexandra-Clyde basin.

Outdoor burning, whether rural, residential or commercial, has a negative impact on air quality. These impacts vary depending on what is burnt, and how it is burnt, as well as the local weather conditions.

In Otago urban areas, our monitoring shows that the main source of particulate matter pollution (microscopic solid particles and/or liquid droplets) is smoke from home heating, but in order to best manage air quality we need to know more about how outdoor burning contributes to rural and urban air pollution. 

Outdoor burning refers to burning things like wood debris and green waste outside in the open. It does NOT include home heating inside a house.

Below is a short video of the impact of an outdoor fire in Alexandra.

We are working together with The Air Quality Collective (TAQC) to investigate the contribution of outdoor burning smoke in the Alexandra-Clyde basin. Air quality sensors are being deployed between the two towns from autumn to spring 2025. Further information can be found here.

Share your air quality experience

The Air Quality Collective (TAQC) is an independent organisation consisting of scientists with decades of experience working in the air quality field, both locally and internationally. TAQC seeks to innovate and improve air quality in Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia and beyond.

If you live in the Alexandra-Clyde basin, we’d love to hear from you if you see, smell, or feel impacted by outdoor burning smoke (such as burning wood debris and green waste).

Note this does NOT include home heating.

Please fill out the survey form below to share your experiences of outdoor burning and how it has affected you and/or your household in the Alexandra-Clyde basin. 

The survey is open from 1 April to 30 September.

Share your air quality experience

If you have any questions about this outdoor burning air quality study, you can send us a message at: customerservices@orc.govt.nz

Pollution hotline

The below survey below is not for reporting pollution.

If you would like to report an instance of pollution to air, land or water in Otago, please use our 'Report pollution' form instead. You can also call our 24/7 Pollution hotline: 0800 800 033

After the air monitoring is finished in September, all the data, including the information from the surveys, will be analysed and summarised in a report which will be delivered to the regional council next summer in early 2026.

Please fill out the survey below to share your experience(s) of outdoor burning (this does NOT include home heating) — how it has affected you and/or your household in the Alexandra-Clyde basin regarding air quality.

This form is not for reporting pollution (if you want to report an instance of pollution, go to this webpage).

Feel free to share this survey with anyone you know who live in the Alexandra-Clyde basin who has been affected by outdoor burning.

Survey closes 30 September.