Worst air pollution Rotorua, today and tomorrow
Today (10 August): Air quality in Rotorua is fair. AQI and NO2 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (NO2: 21.4/100).
Tomorrow (11 August 2026): Air quality in Rotorua is fair. AQI improves to medium; SO2 increases to medium; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (SO2: 44.9/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
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Rotorua's air quality reflects the exceptional Bay of Plenty volcanic plateau position at 280 metres adjacent to Lake Rotorua and the famous Wai-O-Tapu geothermal field, with vehicle traffic on surrounding roads and the extraordinary geothermal H₂S and SO₂ volcanic emissions creating a distinctive and unavoidable geological air quality signature. Vehicle traffic and tourism operations contribute secondary sources, while the geothermal character makes Rotorua New Zealand's most distinctively volcanically-influenced urban air quality environment throughout most of the year.
Today - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Fair
21.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
8.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
21.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
14.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
4.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
0.9/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
6.7/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 11 August | Pollution peaks at 22:00
AQI:
Medium
44.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
8.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
25.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
14.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Medium
44.9/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
1.0/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
6.1/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Rotorua right now?
On 10 August 2026, overall air quality in Rotorua is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 21.4/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (NO2: 21.4/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Rotorua?
On 11 August 2026, air quality conditions in Rotorua will be similar to today, with NO2 forecast at fair at 25.7/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (SO2: 44.9/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Rotorua?
Air quality in Rotorua tends to be worse when road traffic together with seasonal tourism traffic build up and winds are light and dispersion is poor. Background emissions and local weather both shape how conditions change from day to day. Local weather patterns add further day-to-day variation.
Are air quality levels in Rotorua based on measurements or forecasts?
It is forecasts derived by downscaling forecasts provided by EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) by taking into account local conditions such as traffic patterns. CAMS bases its forecast on satellite measurements of particles and chemical compounds in the atmosphere. Airmine’s services were developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team.
Why doesn’t the forecast always reflect wildfire impacts?
Airmine’s forecast uses CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) as its background atmospheric model. While CAMS includes wildfire emissions, these are derived from satellite observations and are not available in real time. During rapidly evolving wildfire events, there may therefore be a delay before increased emissions are incorporated into the model. As a result, the forecast may temporarily underestimate PM₂.₅ and other pollutants associated with wildfire smoke.
During rapidly evolving wildfire events, CAMS may lag by approximately 1–2 days before increased wildfire emissions are fully represented, which can lead to temporary underestimation of PM₂.₅ concentrations in Airmine’s forecast.
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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 9 August 2026 at 20:27 CEST (Data is updated four times daily.)
This forecast is produced independently using Airmine's own atmospheric data and models.
Unless explicitly made clear, the content on this site has not been paid for by external organisations and is Airmine's sole responsibility.
Disclaimer: Forecasts are provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as medical advice. Actual pollen and air quality conditions may vary from the forecast. If you have allergies, asthma, or another medical condition, consult a healthcare professional. Please see our Terms of Service for important information about limitations of liability.
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