News Direct: All stories
10 YEARS AGO...
6 Oct 2021
Ten years ago, the Ministry of Agriculture released figures showing nearly 10 million carbon credits had been issued for pre-1990 forests.
Peacocke to be climate-ready neighbourhood
6 Oct 2021
Media Release - Plans for the new Peacocke community will help create the first climate-ready neighbourhood in Hamilton.
Hawke's Bay partners with the Nature Conservancy
6 Oct 2021
Media Release - Hawke's Bay Regional Council partnering with global environmental organisation The Nature Conservancy.
10 YEARS AGO...
5 Oct 2021
Ten years ago, a leading European environmental agency reported that global CO2 emissions had increased by 45% since 1990 - reaching a then all time high of 33 billion tonnes. (By 2019 the figure was 36.44 billion.)
Environmental outlook for Oceania rated severe: Caritas
5 Oct 2021
Media Release - Caritas has shifted the dial to 'severe' for four of its five environmental indicators, while climate finance for the poor has remained stubbornly at 'woefully inadequate' for seven years.
10 YEARS AGO...
4 Oct 2021
Ten years ago, a leading UK environmentalist said the time had come for New Zealand to put a price on the intrinsic value of nature.
10 YEARS AGO...
1 Oct 2021
Ten years ago, the price of carbon in New Zealand dipped under $14, driven down by fears the Greek debt crises was going destabilise the world economy.
10 YEARS AGO...
30 Sep 2021
Ten years ago, New Zealand Steel was allocated 500,000 free carbon credits - worth nearly $10 million – to cushion it from the impact of a price on carbon under the ETS. (At today's price those credits would be worth more than $30 million.)
Government commits $28.7 million to decarbonising industry
30 Sep 2021
Media Release - The Government is continuing to back businesses in their switch from fossil fuels to cleaner power to fuel their industry, with the announcement of 23 new projects that will receive government co-investment from Round Two of the Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry (GIDI) Fund. The recipients will receive $28.7 million and will match this with $54.5m of their own funding.
Commonwealth youth demand climate action
30 Sep 2021
Media Release - More than 2,000 young leaders and youth-led organisations from across the Commonwealth are urging governments to respect the needs and contributions of the world’s most vulnerable groups, in the lead up to global climate talks in Glasgow in November.
10 YEARS AGO...
29 Sep 2021
Ten years ago, a government committee recommended giving farmers carbon credits to encourage them to use nitrogen inhibitors.
Stronger NSW 2030 emissions reduction goal signals increased investment opportunity
29 Sep 2021
Media Release - The NSW Government has announced it will halve emissions from 2005 levels by 2030.
Food waste feeds climate change
29 Sep 2021
Media Release - NZ Food Waste Champions 12.3 are calling on the Government to reduce food waste as a climate change solution. On 29 September, it is International Food Waste Awareness Day.
10 YEARS AGO...
28 Sep 2021
Ten years ago, a government committee recommended leaving the egg industry out of the ETS.
Government welcomes collaboration between Vector and X
28 Sep 2021
Media Release - A move by Vector to form a strategic collaboration with X, (formerly Google X) to work together on the virtualisation of the Auckland electricity grid highlights the type of innovation that can help decarbonise and decentralise the electricity system, says Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods.
Air New Zealand and MBIE join forces to scope out sustainable aviation fuel industry
28 Sep 2021
Media Release - Air New Zealand’s journey to net-zero has reached another significant milestone today with the Airline and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) joining forces to bring Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) one step closer to becoming a reality in New Zealand.
10 YEARS AGO...
27 Sep 2021
Ten years ago, then Prime Minister John Key was accused of selectively quoting the work of a prominent environmental scientist in an effort to bolster his claim that New Zealand was clean and green on the BBC Hardtalk programme.
UN Food Summit commits to tackling world hunger and climate change
27 Sep 2021
Media Release - More than 150 countries made commitments to transform their food systems, while championing greater participation and equity, especially amongst farmers, women, youth and indigenous groups.
Civil society groups declare UN Food Summit 'anti-people'
27 Sep 2021
Media Release - The Global People’s Summit (GPS) on Food Systems slammed the recently concluded UN Food Systems Summit (UN FSS) for paving the way for greater control of big corporations over global food systems and misleading the people through corporate-led false solutions to hunger and climate change.
10 YEARS AGO...
24 Sep 2021
Ten years ago, the Gillard Government in Australia said modelling showed the economy would continue to grow steadily even with the introduction of a price on carbon.
Have your say on the Clean Vehicles Bill
24 Sep 2021
Media Release - The purpose of the Land Transport (Clean Vehicles) Amendment Bill is to reduce the overall amount of carbon dioxide produced by cars in New Zealand. It would aim to increase the supply and variety of zero- and low-emission vehicles available to buyers by applying a clean vehicle standard to importers of new and used light vehicles.
Even the Suzuki Swift can’t escape Labour’s tax: National
24 Sep 2021
Media Release - Transport Minister Michael Wood needs to urgently clarify who will be exposed to his Car Tax, National’s Transport spokesperson David Bennett says.
Hutt council signs up to race to zero initiative
24 Sep 2021
Media Release - Hutt City Council has voted in favour of signing up to the Race to Zero climate initiative, joining more than 730 cities around the world that have publicly committed to reducing carbon emissions.
10 YEARS AGO...
23 Sep 2021
Ten years ago, the Green Party launched a new policy promising 100,000 green jobs through state investment in renewable energy.
Climate Commission ignored climate benefits of cutting synthetic nitrogen: Greenpeace
23 Sep 2021
Media Release - A hidden report uncovered by Greenpeace shows that the Climate Change Commission ignored its own internal advice that could cut agricultural climate emissions by a third or more.
10 YEARS AGO...
22 Sep 2021
Ten years ago, the OECD praised the Lake Taupo Water Quality Trading Scheme but said the country was sitting on an environmental time-bomb caused by agricultural nutrients polluting our waterways.
Sinking lid on hydrofluorocarbon
22 Sep 2021
Media Release - As part of moves to reduce the use of harmful greenhouse gases, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has released its third annual decision on special permits to import hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
Clean Vehicles Bill passes first checkpoint
22 Sep 2021
Media Release - The Land Transport (Clean Vehicles) Amendment Bill will help New Zealand drive down transport emissions by cleaning up the light vehicle fleet, Transport Minister Michael Wood says.
10 YEARS AGO...
21 Sep 2021
Ten years ago, Christchurch-based Windflow Technology (which went into receivership in 2019) announced its windmills would power a biofuel plant in the Shetland Islands.
NZ company gets Aussie grant for waste to building material plant
21 Sep 2021
Media Release - New Zealand company saveBOARD has received a A$1.74 million grant from the Australian and New South Wales Governments towards setting up a A$5 million facility that will turn packaging waste into high performance building material.
10 YEARS AGO...
20 Sep 2021
Ten years ago, the UN Environment Programme was urging the Asia Pacific Region to embark on a on a green industrial revolution to take advantage of improvements in resource efficiency.
Minister must ditch Clean Vehicle Bill: National
20 Sep 2021
Media Release - The Motor Industry Association’s withdrawal of support for Labour’s Clean Vehicle Bill is yet more reason for Transport Minister Michael Wood to ditch his car tax plan, National’s Transport spokesperson David Bennett says.
Organic NZ Award winners
20 Sep 2021
Media Release - In an online event hosted by Ruud "the Bugman" Kleinpaste, six winners from across the organic sector were recognised for creating exceptional organic products that work for people, planet, wildlife, and the climate.
Refinery closure will increase barrier to low emissions transport
17 Sep 2021
Media Release - The announcement that the Marsden refinery is to be closed will increase the barrier to easy achievement of low emissions transport, says the Bioenergy Association.
Lack of action on climate stressing out young people
17 Sep 2021
Media Release - Parents for Climate Aotearoa (P4CA) with a weary heart welcome the global study into climate anxiety in children and young people. The survey illustrates the depth of anxiety many young people are feeling about climate change.
10 YEARS AGO...
16 Sep 2021
Ten years ago, the UN and more than 200 financial institutions warned that huge losses, both financial and environmental, would result from a failure to agree on a climate change agreement that spurs private sector investment in efforts to reduce deforestation and forest degradation.
Wetlands imperiled as Govt caves to industry: Forest & Bird
16 Sep 2021
Media Release - Forest & Bird is calling out the Government for backtracking on crucial freshwater reforms and has written a letter to Environment Minister David Parker vowing to fight the changes.
10 YEARS AGO...
15 Sep 2021
Ten years ago, the head of a panel reviewing the ETS said farmers should be brought under the scheme and said in time they could find themselves profiting from ability to offset emissions through forest planting. (Needless to say, farm emissions are yet to come under the ETS.)
10 YEARS AGO...
14 Sep 2021
Ten years ago, the then climate change minister Nick Smith was predicting NZUs would be fetching $50 by 2017 - in fact prices peaked at just $21 that year, and only reached $50 last month.
Investors want climate change information
14 Sep 2021
Media Release - More than four in every five (81%) retail investors think climate related information is important to their investment decision making, with half saying companies have a responsibility to address climate change.
10 YEARS AGO...
13 Sep 2021
Ten years ago, the then Labour opposition was touting plans for SOEs to help kick-start an export-driven clean tech sector.
Organic Week @ Home
13 Sep 2021
Media Release - COVID-19 may have stopped our planned in-person events, but there are loads of fun ways you can still celebrate Organic Week at home.
10 YEARS AGO...
10 Sep 2021
Ten years ago, the Asian Development Bank was warning climate change would see an increase in hunger and food shortages among the Pacific's poorest people if action wasn't taken.
National won't attend COP26
10 Sep 2021
Media Release - Covid-19 has meant that New Zealanders have had to sacrifice a great deal. They have missed funerals, weddings, births, and all manner of other special moments, National’s Climate Change spokesperson Stuart Smith says.
10 YEARS AGO...
9 Sep 2021
Ten years ago, OXFAM and WFF proposed a carbon tax on international shipping - saying it could break a decade long impasse. (plus ça change, plus c'est la même etc.)
Global conservation leaders vote for moratorium on ocean mining
9 Sep 2021
Media Release - Voting members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress--a major global gathering on nature that brings together 1,400 members from more than 170 countries--this week passed a motion calling for a moratorium on ocean mining.
Greater Wellington welcomes $1.2 billion boost
9 Sep 2021
Media Release - Greater Wellington Regional Council has welcomed Tuesday’s announcement by Minister of Transport Hon Michael Wood of the Government’s transport funding priorities for the next three years contained in the National Land Transport Programme.
10 YEARS AGO...
8 Sep 2021
Ten years ago, Pure Advantage was criticising the government for trying to attract fossil fuel investment into the country.
Investment in public transport is not enough: Greens
8 Sep 2021
Media Release - The Green Party welcomes the $6 billion being invested in public transport, walking and cycling through the National Land Transport Programme, as announced by the Minister of Transport today, however says it is nowhere near enough.
New courses focus on climate action, activism and creating vision
Fri 12 Sep 2025
Media release | Dark Times Academy’s final lineup of courses for 2025, launching in mid-September, will focus on taking action on climate, learning about practical activism, and creating visions for the future.
