The Ministry of Health’s environmental radioactivity monitoring programme analyses trends in environmental radioactivity in the region and warns of any influx in radioactivity. The programme confirms recent trends of decreasing radioactivity levels in the New Zealand environment, despite recent nuclear incidents that have occurred in the northern hemisphere.
Environmental radioactivity monitoring programme
In this section
- The Environmental radioactivity annual reports have reported on environmental radioactivity levels in the New Zealand and South Pacific region since 1960. Read more
- 1960s The Ministry began environmental radioactivity monitoring in the New Zealand and South Pacific regions to assess radioactive fallout from nuclear weapons tests. Read more
- The main purpose of the current programme is to monitor artificial radioactivity. However, the naturally occurring radioactive materials beryllium-7 and lead‑210 are also monitored for comparative and scientific purposes. Read more
- The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in March 2011 resulted in significant initial releases of radioactive material to the atmosphere and ocean. Read more