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Pollution Hotline

Call the 24/7 Pollution Hotline on 0800 884 883 and tell our Response Team about any damage to the environment - whether it’s in the air, on the land, in our waterways, or along the coast. They also handle complaints about activities that don’t meet the rules.  

If you see or smell it happening, call now 

 Pollution Hotline: 0800 884 883  

If it’s not urgent  

Fill in our online form below
Please note: Forms are not monitored after hours or on weekends. 

We rely on people letting us know about activities that could be harming our taiao (environment). All personal information is treated confidentially. Before you contact us, make sure we’re the right people for the job – see the list below for what we do and don’t deal with.

 Air 

  • Offensive odours
  • Burning of rubbish
  • Smoky outdoor fires
  • Spray drift from agricultural or industrial activities
  • Dust clouds from earthworks or other sources

Land and waterways 

  • Pollution in rivers, streams, or lakes
  • Chemical, sewage or oil spills on land or into water
  • Dead animals in waterways
  • Livestock in waterways or on stop banks
  • Disturbance of stream, river or lake beds 
  • Alteration of wetland
  • Sediment runoff from earthworks into waterways or onto roads
  • Vehicles leaking contaminants into waterbodies 

Sea and coastal 

  • Oil slicks
  • Chemical or sewage spill
  • Dead seals or penguins
  • Disturbance of the foreshore or seabed in the coastal marine areas
  • Fishing in the Motiti Protection Area
  • Complaints relating to ships at Port
  • Contaminants like marine pests or anti foul discharged into the coastal environment during hull cleaning

  • Floating log in Tauranga Harbour?
    If it’s a harvested log, contact the Port of Tauranga on VHF channel 12 or 16, or by calling 07 572 8888. If it’s not a harvested log, and posing a hazard, call 0800 5 KNOTS (0800 55 66 87).
  • Flooding or erosion on private property?
    Visit our River Management page. 
  • Fallen tree in a waterway?
    If the tree has fallen from private land, it’s the landowner’s responsibility. If it’s in a Regional Council river scheme, contact our Rivers and Drainage team on 0800 884 880.
  • Rubbish on side of highway?
    Contact NZTA on 0800 4 HIGHWAYS.
  • Excessive car exhaust fumes?
    Contact NZ Police on *555 from a mobile phone.
  • Someone cutting down a native tree?
    Contact MPI or your local council.
  • Injured seal, whale or wildlife on the beach?
    Call the Department of Conservation on 0800 DOC HOT.
  • Seen a wallaby? 
    Report it here.
  • Boaties speeding on a lake or the sea?
    Report to the Harbourmaster.

For more information on the health impacts and symptoms from accidentally coming into contact with contaminated water, land or air please contact the Toi Te Ora (Bay of Plenty District Health Board) Healthline on 0800 221 555 or visit their website.

Contact your city or district council for: 

  • Noise complaints
  • Cloudy or discoloured tap water 
  • Dead animals on public land
  • Property owners causing a nuisance (rubbish, vermin, dogs, noise)
  • Rubbish dumped on public land
  • Vibrations from earthworks machinery
  • Animals on the roadside 
  • Abandoned vehicles on roads or the coast
  • Someone cutting down or damaging native trees  

  1. Call as soon as the pollution is happening
  1. Share your name and phone number – this helps if we need more information. Your details are always kept confidential
  1. Describe what you saw or smelled – what kind of pollution you think it is
  1. Tell us exactly where it is – the more details the better
  1. If known, say who you think is causing it
  1. Let us know if you’ve contacted any other agencies (like the fire service or your local council)
  1. If you’ve taken photos, mention that and share them if you can
NOTE: Fields marked by an * must be completed.

Alleged offender details

Incident location

Customer details

Yes
No