Parts of NZ could be heading into a wetter summer – a blessing in disguise for allergy sufferers

In contrast, the other two seasons had comparatively moderate rainfall – enough to maintain grass growth and pollen production but with plenty of dry, sunny and windy days for higher levels of pollen to be released and spread. Above all, our research shows that pollen seasons can be highly variable – from one year to the next and likely between regions due to variations in La Niña and El Niño effects in different parts of the country. In the longer term, climate projections suggest Auckland will see increasingly drier and warmer springs and summers – and that’s likely to mean more pollen in the air and more bad news for those with allergies.

Author: Rewi Newnham, Professor in Physical Geography, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

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