Rotorua has a wintertime air quality issue caused by smoke from home heating fires.

'The smoke affects the health of our community, especially the young, the elderly and those with respiratory illnesses,” says www.cleanairrotorua.co.nz

'This is a Rotorua community health issue and each of us can play our part in cleaning up the air.”

To improve Rotorua's air quality, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council says it has already helped lots of homeowners upgrade their old fires to cleaner-burning technology.

'This has made a difference but we still have a way to go.

'The only way we will meet Government's standards (for safe, breathable air) is to upgrade the remaining old solid fuel burners left in the city.”

New rules make it illegal for you to use wood burners, multi-fuel burners and coal burners from 31 January 2020.

If you own a legally established solid fuel burner that was installed before 2006, we have options to help you upgrade it.

'We have two schemes available to help residents heat up their homes and clean up the air.”

Click here for a health report titled 'The Growing Up in NZ Child Cohort Study'.