News Direct: All stories
Native tree numbers on the rise in Bay of Plenty
23 Dec 2021
Media Release - The 775,000 native trees and shrubs planted by Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana and volunteers in the past financial year are expected to remove 307,515 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere over the next 80 years.
WCC seeks waste minimisation proposals
22 Dec 2021
Media Release - Expressions of Interest are now open for Wellington City Council’s new Waste Minimisation Seed Fund which focuses on diverting organic waste from the landfill.
Wellington councils draw down first green loans from Local Government Funding Agency
21 Dec 2021
Media Release - Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington have become the first local authorities in New Zealand to draw down green loans from the Local Government Funding Agency (LGFA).
Air New Zealand seeking innovators for next generation aircraft
21 Dec 2021
Media Release - Air New Zealand wants to get a zero emissions aircraft in the air in the next five years and is calling on traditional aviation manufacturers as well as entrepreneurs and innovators from around the world to help achieve its goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The bird that measures Antarctic ice
20 Dec 2021
Media Release - It’s a bird, it’s a plane…It’s a laser-shooting electromagnetic ice device!
10 YEARS AGO...
20 Dec 2021
Ten years ago, MAF reported that insufficient progress was being made on the Clean Streams Accord with just two out of its five targets met.
Toitu Brighter Futures Awards 2021 announced
20 Dec 2021
Media Release - Toitû Envirocare recognises its top performing clients with the Toitû Brighter Future Awards. These awards symbolise Toitû Envirocare’s values underpinned by best-practice and science-based sustainability expertise, along with a belief in a brighter, more sustainable future.
10 YEARS AGO...
17 Dec 2021
Ten years ago, a group of countries at the Durban COP committed to adopting a legally binding agreement to keep the average global temperature rise to below 2 degrees by no later than 2015.
NZ should follow Netherland's lead and drastically cut stock numbers: Greenpeace
17 Dec 2021
Media Release - On Wednesday the Netherlands announced a plan to drastically transform the agriculture system which is expected to reduce livestock numbers by close to a third. Greenpeace Aotearoa says this sets an example for the New Zealand Government to follow.
10 YEARS AGO...
16 Dec 2021
Ten years ago, the UN launched its own carbon footprint app. The app provided a variety of suggestions and guidelines to show users how they could limit the environmental degradation of ecosystems.
‘Keep it clear’ when buying plastic bottles: Hamilton City Council
16 Dec 2021
Media Release - Hamiltonians are being encouraged to ‘keep it clear’ when choosing a soft drink bottle.
10 YEARS AGO...
15 Dec 2021
Ten years ago, Australian scientists were getting excited about the potential of biochar to combat climate change.
Open letter to ministers of forestry and climate change: Ekos
15 Dec 2021
Media Release - Dear Ministers, Ex-tropical cyclones smash our country and cause huge damage to our economy. Under a warming climate these cyclones will get stronger and do even more damage, harming our rural communities.
10 YEARS AGO...
14 Dec 2021
Ten years ago, then-cabinet minister Nick Smith was in the news for all the wrong reasons. A cabinet reshuffle had seen the minister with responsibilities for domestic carbon emissions dropped from the front bench.
10 YEARS AGO...
13 Dec 2021
Ten years ago, Carbon News was reporting that the plummeting price of carbon was hurting the government's books.
US$53 million boost for Tongan climate and disaster resilence
13 Dec 2021
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved two new projects totaling US$53 million to boost the climate and disaster resilience of Tongan schools, roads, and ports.
Land and water ecosystems, 'stressed to a critical point': FAO
13 Dec 2021
Land and water resources are “stressed to a critical point”, following significant deterioration over the past decade, according to a major new report released on Thursday by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
10 YEARS AGO...
10 Dec 2021
Ten years ago, the World Wildlife Fund’s South Africa chief, Morne du Plessis, said governments had failed to halt climate change and it was time for business to fill the breach.
Canterbury floods more severe due to climate change
10 Dec 2021
Media Release - Researchers studying the effects of climate change on severe weather events in New Zealand have found that the extreme rainfall that brought flooding to Canterbury in May 2021 was 10% to 15% more intense as a result of human influence on the climate system.
Green Party calling for PKE phase out
10 Dec 2021
Media Release - The Green Party is calling on the Minister of Agriculture, Damien O'Connor to phase out the use of the Palm Kernel Expeller (PKE) on farms to help address the climate crisis.
10 YEARS AGO...
9 Dec 2021
Ten years ago, Pure Advantage was warning that turning the Denniston Plateau into a coal mine was a bad look and inconsistent with our clean green image.
Bay of Plenty climate projects given a boost
9 Dec 2021
Media Release - Two community led climate change adaptation projects have received funds from Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council this week to explore the future impact on their community and begin planning.
10 YEARS AGO...
8 Dec 2021
Ten years ago, a leading New Zealand climate scientist, Andy Reisinger, said there was no realistic prospect of the world not overshooting the 1.5 degree target.
Wellington wetland restoration milestone
8 Dec 2021
Media Release - Ten thousand wetland plants have now been added to Taupô Swamp, a milestone in restoration work supported by Ngâti Toa Rangatira and Greater Wellington.
10 YEARS AGO...
7 Dec 2021
Ten years ago, the price of carbon appeared to have hit the bottom of a downward spiral. In Europe CER's closed at NZ$9.15, up from NZ$8.50 the day before. In New Zealand carbon was trading just above that $9.50 - about half the price being achieved in May of that year.
NZ Green Investment Finance partners with NZ Post to accelerate EV transition
7 Dec 2021
Media Release - New Zealand Green Investment Finance (NZGIF) and NZ Post have signed a $20 million financing agreement to accelerate the transition of the NZ Post fleet and its delivery contractors’ vehicles, to electric vans (E-Vans) or low emissions vehicles (LEVs).
Shift happens - BNZ's Future of agribusiness report
7 Dec 2021
Media Release - The Bank of New Zealand's (BNZ) Shift Happens Future of agribusiness report reveals a divided primary sector, adapting to the challenges of climate change and regulation, demanding more from rural connectivity, and grappling with COVID-induced …
10 YEARS AGO...
6 Dec 2021
Ten years ago, the then New Zealand climate change negotiations minister Tim Groser said good progressed had been made on an agreement to link New Zealand and Australia's carbon markets.
Coastal shipping will help keep New Zealand’s supply chain buoyant
6 Dec 2021
Media Release - Transport Minister Michael Wood has welcomed the release of the Coastal Shipping Investment Approach State-of-Play report as an important step towards a more sustainable coastal shipping sector, which will further diversify New Zealand’s supply chain.
Giant crowdfunded note to PM on climate emergency anniversary
3 Dec 2021
Media Release - On the one-year anniversary of Jacinda Ardern’s Climate Emergency declaration, Greenpeace has positioned a cheeky, four storey high, crowdfunded "climate emergency to-do list" on a wall near Parliament in Wellington.
10 YEARS AGO...
3 Dec 2021
Ten years ago, the Australian government announced a contestable biochar research fund worth $2 million.
International meeting could open up ocean mining, drastically undermining ocean health
3 Dec 2021
Media Release - Critics are sounding the alarm that an upcoming meeting of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the international body that regulates and controls mining activities in the world’s ocean that lies beyond national jurisdictions, could push through ocean mining regulations in as little as two years.
Record jump in energy and carbon savings from NZ efficient product sales
2 Dec 2021
Media Release - The increasing energy efficiency of appliances sold in New Zealand has saved $38 million over one year and reduced carbon emissions by the equivalent of taking 19,600 cars off the road1, according to EECA.
10 YEARS AGO...
2 Dec 2021
Ten years ago, the price of carbon was spiralling downwards in Europe. The price of a tonne of carbon in Europe was just NZ$9.30 compared to NZ$11 in New Zealand.
10 YEARS AGO...
1 Dec 2021
Ten years ago, scientists were warning that toxic cadmium levels, soil compaction and carbon loss were looming as major problems for farming.
Our seas are sizzling again: Niwa
1 Dec 2021
Media Release - Coastal sea temperatures around Aotearoa New Zealand have risen well above average, NIWA forecasters say.
Hamilton's emissions up
1 Dec 2021
Media Release - A Hamilton City Council report has revealed that operational emissions have risen compared to 2020 - a year that saw Covid-19 lockdowns cause a big drop in emissions.
10 YEARS AGO...
30 Nov 2021
Ten years ago, Business New Zealand and The New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development merged to form the Sustainable Business Council.
New Zealand's first hydrogen truck unveiled
30 Nov 2021
Media Release - New Zealand’s first hydrogen-electric truck, Hyundai’s XCIENT FCEV, was unveiled last Friday in Mount Wellington by the Transport Minister, Hon Michael Wood.
Tourism industry challenge to cut carbon
30 Nov 2021
Media Release - Aotearoa New Zealand’s tourism industry is being challenged to lead the fight to reduce carbon emissions, with a major new initiative announced at Tourism Summit Aotearoa yesterday.
NZ Super Fund ranked among the world’s most responsible asset allocators
30 Nov 2021
Media Release - The NZ Super Fund has once again been named a world leader in a ranking of the responsible investing practices adopted by the world’s top sovereign wealth funds and government pension funds.
10 YEARS AGO...
29 Nov 2021
Ten years ago, Fonterra announced it was forcing all its farmers to fence their streams. However, fresh water ecologist Mike Joy questioned the effectiveness of the ban that allowed farmers to leave streams that were narrow enough to jump over unfenced.
Emissions Reduction Plan falls well short: Wise Response Society
29 Nov 2021
The overall emissions budget proposed by the Ministry for the Environment is not nearly ambitious enough,’ says Chair of the Wise Response Society, Prof. Liz Slooten. ‘The IPCC requirement to keep global warming to 1.5C by 2030 means a median reduction of 45%. New Zealand should have an emissions reduction budget of 60%.’
10 YEARS AGO...
26 Nov 2021
Ten years ago, the Australian government announced that any decisions about the development of seam coal gas or large scale mining operations would be based on rigorous science.
Fish & Game supports calls for forestry re-focus
26 Nov 2021
Media Release - Fish & Game NZ is supporting calls for an urgent rethink on the rapid proliferation of exotic forests currently being supported by central government, and instead refocus on native plantings for better long-term environmental and social outcomes.
Timaru’s on-demand public transport hits 200,000 ride milestone
26 Nov 2021
Media Release - Timaru’s on-demand public transport hits 200,000 ride milestone Innovation has paid off in Timaru as the city’s new on-demand public transport service goes from strength to strength.
10 YEARS AGO...
25 Nov 2021
Ten years ago, Westpac was describing the international carbon market as decimated following dramatic falls in the price of carbon in Europe, New Zealand and other markets over the previous week.
Auckland's living bus shelters coming to life
25 Nov 2021
Two of Auckland’s bus shelters have come to life with more than 1000 plants adorning their walls and roofs.
10 YEARS AGO...
24 Nov 2021
Ten years ago, activists hacked Solid Energy's website and uploaded a video that contrasted scenes of natural New Zealand with shots of opencast coal mines.
10 YEARS AGO...
23 Nov 2021
Ten years ago, the Forest Owners' Association was predicting New Zealand would be selling carbon credits to Australia, Japan and parts of the United States and Canada, but not Europe.
NZ's first chance in 20 years to catch up on waste
Fri 30 May 2025
Media release | The government has announced proposals for updating the Waste Minimisation Act and the Litter Act. For the first time in nearly 20 years, Kiwis have a chance to catch up with other countries to reduce our waste and litter.
