Worst air pollution Rotorua, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): 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: 22.0/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Rotorua is good. AQI improves to good; NO2 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 5:00 PM (PM2.5: 18.7/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app
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 - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Fair
22.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
10.0/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
22.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
15.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
4.7/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
0.9/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
8.9/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 17:00
AQI:
Good
18.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
18.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
8.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
11.9/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
14.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
3.5/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
0.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
4.1/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Rotorua right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Rotorua is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 22.0/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (NO2: 22.0/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Rotorua?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Rotorua will be better than today, with AQI forecast at good at 18.7/100. Pollution peaks around 5:00 PM (PM2.5: 18.7/100).
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.
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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 16 July 2026 at 10:33 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.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app