Results of the Ministry of Health's environmental radioactivity monitoring programme are published annually in the Environmental Radioactivity in New Zealand and Rarotonga - Annual Report.
The atmosphere was monitored for radioactivity at Kaitaia, the Chatham Islands and Rarotonga; deposited radioactivity was monitored at Hokitika (through rainwater testing); and radioactivity in milk was monitored in the Waikato, Taranaki and Westland regions.
Any artificial radioactivity continued to be at levels that are below detection thresholds in many cases and significantly below levels that would give rise to health concerns. In particular, no radioactive contamination from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident was observed in the New Zealand environment. No significant change in the radioactivity status of the environment occurred in 2011.
Previous annual reports are found on the ESR website
Key Results
The atmosphere was monitored for radioactivity at Kaitaia, the Chatham Islands and Rarotonga; deposited radioactivity was monitored at Hokitika (through rainwater testing); and radioactivity in milk was monitored in the Waikato, Taranaki and Westland regions.
Any artificial radioactivity continued to be at levels that are below detection thresholds in many cases and significantly below levels that would give rise to health concerns. In particular, no radioactive contamination from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident was observed in the New Zealand environment. No significant change in the radioactivity status of the environment occurred in 2011.