It can be difficult to avoid pollen, as it floats in the air and can be easily inhaled, but
there are steps you can take to reduce exposure during pollen season.1,4
- Stay indoors as much as you can, especially on windy days
- Keep your windows at home and in the car closed
- Avoid mowing the grass, and wear a face mask if you have to go near freshly cut grass
- Remove any weeds and grasses that trigger your symptoms from around your house
- Protect your eyes with sunglasses, and carry a face mask with you
- Avoid going outside after thunderstorms as the pollen count tends to be high
- Use preventer treatments for hay fever
Using a pollen calendar
A pollen calendar can be useful for finding out what types of pollen are in your area.
Pollen calendars also forecast how much pollen will be in the air using a pollen count.
Like weather forecasts, pollen forecasts are estimates, but they can be used to prepare and plan your day during pollen season.3
This can help you avoid or minimise your exposure to potential triggers.3 For example, if you know that the pollen count is
relatively high in the morning, you can schedule outdoor activities for the afternoon instead.
Depending on where you live in New Zealand, the peak pollen season will vary:
Trees are normally the first plants which start to pollinate as the weather begins to
become warmer at the end of winter or early spring, and this typically starts in the
north of the North Island before moving down towards the South Island up to a
month later.4
