What Environmental Resources are Affected?

Environmental incidents can be grouped according to the environment (called ‘resource') they affect. In 2008-09, the largest number of incidents (380) – compared to 217 in 2007-08 - affected our air resource. Greater awareness amongst the public of the rules prohibiting backyard burning in the Whangarei airshed may have contributed to this rise. For more information on the rules, go to www.nrc.govt.nz/air

Incidents affecting inland waters - rivers and streams - recorded the second largest number of incidents (282), followed by incidents that affected the coastal marine area (139), land (130) and coastal waters (21). The chart below shows the percentage of incidents recorded for each resource during 2008-09.