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When the monitoring programme began
The environmental radioactivity annual reports have reported on environmental radioactivity levels in the New Zealand and South Pacific region since 1960.
Initially, environmental monitoring was conducted to measure radioactive fallout from nuclear weapons tests in the northern hemisphere. Following that, it was conducted for fallout from the French nuclear weapons testing programme in the Tuamotu Archipelago.
When the French atmospheric radiation testing programme ended in 1974, monitoring continued for residues from atmospheric tests and to detect any venting from the underground tests.
Find out more about the Environmental Radioactivity Monitoring Programme.
Latest report
This report collates the results of the monitoring programme for the period 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025. During this period, the activity concentrations detected by all monitoring regimes were well below those considered to constitute a radiological risk to human health.
