SmogRank / Countries / New Zealand

Most polluted cities in New Zealand

4 measured cities, this year; 4 above the WHO annual guideline. Worst: Rangiora at 10.8 µg/m³, #524 in the world.

2 good  2 moderate

  1. 1RangioraCanterbury
    10.82.2×
  2. 2TimaruCanterbury
    10.62.1×
  3. 3ChristchurchCanterbury
    8.81.8×
  4. 4Dunedinlow-cost sensorsOtago
    5.51.1×
Good0–9.0
Moderate9.1–35.4
Sensitive groups35.5–55.4
Unhealthy55.5–125.4
Very unhealthy125.5–225.4
Hazardous225.5+

Estimated: cities without a monitor

New Zealand cities we can't measure, with model estimates for the last 7 days. Listed by population, not ranked: estimates aren't precise enough to rank. Model estimates from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), adjusted to measured cities nearby where there are any. Adjusted, a single day lands within ×1.5 of what a monitor would read about two times in three; unadjusted, it can be off by half or double. Treat them as a guide, not a measurement.

City7-day estimateBand
Auckland≈ 8 µg/m³Good
Wellington≈ 4 µg/m³Good
Manukau City≈ 8 µg/m³Good
Hamilton≈ 7 µg/m³Good
Tauranga≈ 6 µg/m³Good
Lower Hutt≈ 4 µg/m³Good
Palmerston North≈ 4 µg/m³Good
New Plymouth≈ 8 µg/m³Good
Hastings≈ 3 µg/m³Good
Napier≈ 3 µg/m³Good
Rotorua≈ 5 µg/m³Good
Porirua≈ 4 µg/m³Good
Invercargill≈ 4 µg/m³Good
Papatoetoe≈ 8 µg/m³Good
Nelson≈ 3 µg/m³Good
Whangarei≈ 7 µg/m³Good
Whanganui≈ 5 µg/m³Good
Upper Hutt≈ 4 µg/m³Good
Manurewa≈ 8 µg/m³Good
Gisborne≈ 3 µg/m³Good
Papakura≈ 8 µg/m³Good
Rolleston≈ 12 µg/m³Moderate
Paraparaumu≈ 4 µg/m³Good
Blenheim≈ 2 µg/m³Good
Masterton≈ 4 µg/m³Good
Remuera≈ 8 µg/m³Good
Taupo≈ 4 µg/m³Good
Avondale≈ 8 µg/m³Good
Otara≈ 8 µg/m³Good
New Lynn≈ 8 µg/m³Good
Mangere≈ 8 µg/m³Good
Ashburton≈ 7 µg/m³Good
Pukekohe East≈ 8 µg/m³Good
Wainuiomata≈ 4 µg/m³Good
Stoke≈ 3 µg/m³Good
Richmond≈ 3 µg/m³Good
Levin≈ 4 µg/m³Good
Whakatane≈ 5 µg/m³Good
Otahuhu≈ 8 µg/m³Good
Takanini≈ 8 µg/m³Good

Regions

Canterbury 3Otago 1

Measured cities in each region (30 days).

Updated 2026-10-01 16:07 UTC. Values are PM2.5 in µg/m³ (fine particles), the median of each city's monitors.