Allergy Seasons in New Zealand

Calendar by Allergy New Zealand

New Zealand has mild temperatures, moderately high rainfall, and many hours of sunshine. The sunniest city is Tauranga, the wettest - Wellington, the driest Christchurch and the warmest city is Auckland. 

January and February are the warmest months, and July is the coldest month of the year. In summer, the average maximum temperature ranges between 20-30ºC and in winter between 10-15ºC.
New Zealand has relatively little air pollution and very strong UV rays during the summer months.
The country has a unique variety of native flora, mostly evergreen.  The introduced plants are the main source of pollen allergies. Rye is the most troublesome plant and the major cause of springtime hay fever. The pollen season starts about one month earlier at the top of the North Island than the bottom of the south Island. Pollen concentrations are slightly lower in coastal areas. Inland pastoral areas such as Hamilton and Palmerston North, can have relatively severe allergy seasons. In Auckland the main pollen season is between October and February, and  - unlike Europe and USA - is not well defined.
People of New Zealand, however, are not as affected by humidity and temperature changes as Western Europe is [1].  Similar to the rest of the world [2], prenatal and early life exposure to pollen can offer protection  against asthma, respiratory  allergy and eczema, but continued exposure may be required to maintain optimal protection [3].

1. Asher MI, Stewart AW, Mallol J, Montefort S, Lai CK, Aït-Khaled N, Odhiambo J; ISAAC Phase One Study Group. Which population level environmental factors are associated with asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema? Review of the ecological analyses of ISAAC Phase One. Respir Res. 2010 Jan 21;11:8.

2. Burr ML, Emberlin JC, Treu R, Cheng S, Pearce NE; ISAAC Phase One Study Group.
Pollen counts in relation to the prevalence of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma and atopic eczema in the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Clin Exp Allergy. 2003 Dec;33(12):1675-80.

3. Douwes J, Cheng S, Travier N, Cohet C, Niesink A, McKenzie J, Cunningham C, Le Gros G, von Mutius E, Pearce N. Farm exposure in utero may protect against asthma, hay fever and eczema. Eur Respir J. 2008 Sep;32(3):603-11. Epub 2008 Apr 30.

Allergy seasons in Germany

Seasonal allergies in Germany are typical for central Europe.The Federal Office for Nature Conservation (Bundesamt für Naturschutz or BfN) divides the country into 73 geographical regions that are in three major zones: German Plain in the north, the German Upland in the central region and the German Highlands in the south. National parks of Germany are famous for their woodlands. Mueritz National Park is rich with conifer woods, oak and beech trees. Nature lovers also appreciate elm, ash, larch and birch making the country very colorful and vibrant.

Unfortunately, these beautiful plants could also bring sneezing, wheezing, and runny nose. According to this report by BfR, around 12 % of 13-14 year-olds and 14 % (Erfurt) and 22 % (Hamburg) respectively of 20 up to 44 year old adults suffer from seasonal rhinitis or hay fever in Germany. The incidence has increased in recent years. East Germany resident are affected less than those in West Germany. Among those born from 1942 to 1951, 19.8 % (West Germany) and 11.7 % (East Germany) of people had hay fever; in the birth cohorts 1952 to 1961 the figures were 21.5 % (West) and 12.9 % (East). In the birth cohorts 1962 to 1971 the number of hay fever sufferers was as high as 26.8 % (West) and 14.7 % (East).

Here is an approximate 2011 calendar (based on data by University of Berlin and Institute of Meteorology) showing high and lows for Hazel, Alder, Birch trees, Rye grass and other pasture grasses, and weeds such as Mugwort and Ambrosia (common ragweed widespread in North America).   

Allergies depend on sun, wind and rain, so fluctuate every year. Compare, for example, these grass pollen data collected for 1998, 2000 and 2003 (data from the German archive).