Christchurch’s toll of pollution deaths

Christchurch has the country’s second-highest traffic pollution death rate, new statistics show.

The figures show air pollution kills about 3300 people in New Zealand each year – with vehicle emissions responsible for twothirds of those deaths, nearly 10 times the road toll.

The study shows air pollution is sending more than 13,000 people to hospital each year – and costing the country more than $15 billion.

Invercargill topped the deathrate rankings for air pollution from vehicle exhaust and domestic fires and industry combined.

It was followed by Christchurch city, then Waitaki, Timaru and Masterton districts.

Invercargill’s position shocked Environment Southland chairperson Nicol Horrell. He said the city may need to rethink its air pollution strategy and get more help from the Government and health officials.

Invercargill city recorded 219 premature deaths per 100,000 people aged 30 and over, from air pollution in 2016, while Christchurch had 206 deaths per 100,000 people.

For the first time the study was able to measure the health impacts of nitrogen dioxide, a toxic gas from petrol and diesel engines.

Scientists were startled to discover its impact – tripling Aotearoa’s air pollution hospitalisation statistics. Christchurch residents were almost three times more likely to die prematurely from air pollution than those living in Wellington city – which was way down the list.

National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) air quality scientist Dr Ian Longley said those living near busy roads were the worst affected. ‘‘If [you] live in a quiet residential street, there is some traffic pollution around but if you live next to a major road, the level will be double. Particularly if you live near roads which have a lot of congested traffic or those where there are a lot of clusters of tall buildings.’’

Associate Environment Minister Phil Twyford said the Government had brought in policies like the clean car standard and discounts to electrify the vehicle fleet, and the study’s findings gave that even more urgency.

But it also raised some thorny questions about how to manage other plans to cut emissions – such as moves to build up along transport corridors in cities to reduce the carbon footprints of residents.

‘‘Access to clean air I think also has to be part of that thinking.

‘‘And I think that will be part of the mix of things that we’re looking at when we’re setting good urban design standards for the new system.’’

Project lead Dr Gerda Kuschel said small reductions in pollution could make a big difference.

‘‘Every little bit that you can do to improve it, like even improving concentrations by 5% can make a massive difference to the health burden from air pollution, so there is hope.’’

The study used data from 2016 and car ownership rates have gone up since.