Holiday alert: Please note that kerbside collections between 25-27 December and 1-3 January will be pushed out a day (even recyclers need a holiday). For more on Rubbish & Recycling in our district, see our dedicated webpage.

Council offices will close at midday Wednesday 24 December 2025 and reopen 8.00am Monday 5 January 2026. For urgent issues, call us on 03 441 0499 (Queenstown) or 03 443 0024 (Wānaka). For non-urgent issues, please us the Snap Send Solve App. We hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Pollution Response

Whakarata parahanga

Pollution response is managed jointly by Queenstown Lakes District Council and the Otago Regional Council (ORC).

Report a form of pollution

Any form of pollution is serious and it is important that any spills are contained quickly and safely.  Please phone our 24 hour pollution hotline if you notice a pollution spill.

Queenstown 03 441 0499 Wānaka 03 443 0024

Information to provide when reporting a pollution spill:

  • Your name and phone number.
  • Location of the pollution and the suspected source.
  • Whether you saw someone cause the spill.
  • The nature of the spill – for example is it bubbling or foaming?
  • What do you think the substance might be.
  • Whether you think the spill might cause harm to people and property.

Who is responsible for what?

Air Pollution:

Otago Regional Council
Phone: 03 474 0827

Land Pollution:

Queenstown Lakes District Council
Phone: 03 441 0499 (Queenstown) or 03 443 0024 (Wānaka)

Water Pollution:

Shared between Queenstown Lakes District Council and Otago Regional Council.