News Direct: All stories
Emissions testing the key, say motor traders
17 Dec 2010
The Motor Trade Association says a recent study by the NZ Transport Agency into air pollution overlooks at least one simple step that could be taken to reduce the level of contaminant in the air.
NZ wave-power machine wins award
17 Dec 2010
A New Zealand-developed and designed wave-power device has been awarded Statement of Design Feasibility certification by an international certification agency, Det Norske Veritas.
Farmers can check effluent systems
17 Dec 2010
Dairy farmers in the Rotorua lakes catchments can now find out how well their effluent management system is working.
Lanzatech hits the hot 50
10 Dec 2010
Energy technology company LanzaTech (http://www.lanzatech.co.nz/) has climbed higher in the world ranking of the “50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy”.
Wind group: Court gives nod to wind farms
3 Dec 2010
The Environment Court’s approval of Contact Energy’s proposed Waitahora wind farm recognises that well-designed wind farms are entirely appropriate in windy, elevated farmland, says the Wind Energy Association.
Nova Energy buys EGas customers
3 Dec 2010
Nova Energy has purchased the customer database fromliquidated energy company EGas.
Can we have a word, say kids at Cancun
3 Dec 2010
The Cancun climate change negotiations are being stormed by hundreds of young people calling for fair, ambitious and legally binding intergovernmental action on climate change - and our own New Zealand Youth Delegation is right in the midst of it.
Climate change talks must deliver - Oxfam
3 Dec 2010
Negotiators must begin UN climate talks with far more urgency and resolve following a year of weather-related disasters, record temperatures, flooding and rising sea levels, international agency Oxfam says.
Water use key to crop sustainability
19 Nov 2010
Research under way into the relationship between carbon content and water retention has the potential to increase New Zealand's crop sustainability.
Green homes good investment, says Harcourts
19 Nov 2010
Eco-friendly homes are the way of the future, says real estate firm Harcourts.
Ecotours operator wins environment award
19 Nov 2010
Queenstown flying fox eco-adventure company Ziptrek Ecotours has won highly acclaimed recognition in the adventure capital for its outstanding efforts towards sustainability.
Tonnes of electronic waste collected on eDay
12 Nov 2010
Kiwis cleared their homes and offices of an estimated 900 tonnes of old computer equipment and mobile phones today in New Zealand's fourth national eDay.
Glacier research gets shot in the arm
12 Nov 2010
Research that will improve understanding of how climate change will affect New Zealand’s glaciers and enable more accurate planning for water resource and tourism management in the South Island is being turbo-charged.
Fuel-efficient Mini Cooper hits the market
5 Nov 2010
The car dubbed the most fuel-efficient in last month’s EnergyWise Rally is going on sale in New Zealand.
EVENT: Carbon Forum Asia 2010 - on now in Singapore
29 Oct 2010
Of the 2414 CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) projects to date, 77.6 per cent or 1875 are registered in Asia, representing a total of more than 360 million CER (Carbon Emissions Reduction) units.
Southern builder launches sustainable homes
29 Oct 2010
Multi award-winning commercial and residential construction company Rilean Construction is launching a range of energy-efficient, healthy and affordable homes.
Sales of gas-guzzlers on the rise
29 Oct 2010
Signs that consumers are starting to adjust to higher petrol prices have started to emerge, with Turners Auctions’ third-quarter sales results showing an increase in sales in mid-to-large-engine vehicles.
Event: Showcasing Sustainable Business, November 5
22 Oct 2010
Queenstown Lakes District businesses with a bent towards sustainability will get together for an expo next month.
Sustainability wins award for hostel
22 Oct 2010
YHA Wellington City has won the Backpacker Accommodation category in the prestigious Tourism Industry Association of New Zealand awards.
Oxfam criticises Global Climate Fund
8 Oct 2010
The poorest people who need the most help to adapt to a changing climate are largely being by-passed by the small amount of climate funds now being disbursed, says a new Oxfam report published at the UN climate change talks in Tianjin, China.
Greenpeace stages protest over oil drilling
8 Oct 2010
"Oil"-smeared people walked through central Wellington on Wednesday to protest Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee’s reckless determination to dig and drill for more dirty fossil fuels while ignoring the impacts on climate change.
Event: National e-conference on sustainability, November 15-16
8 Oct 2010
Modern technology is enabling 400 people in six cities to attend a national conference on emerging sustainability, without the need for travelling out of town or finding accommodation.
EVENT: Carbon Forum Asia, Singapore, October 27-28
8 Oct 2010
As the world intensifies its preparation for the end of the Kyoto Protocol in 2012, Carbon Forum Asia returns to Singapore, setting the stage for continued global conversation on the future of climate challenge abatement.
SKM recognised as sustainability trailblazer
24 Sep 2010
Leading engineering, sciences and project delivery firm Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) has won the Trailblazer Large and Corporate Multi-National Business award at the 2010 Northern Sustainable Business Network Awards, presented in Auckland last week.
EVENT: Carbon Forum Asia 2010: October 27-28, Singapore
27 Aug 2010
As of July 2010, the United Nations Framework on Climate Change Convention has registered more 2300 CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) projects globally, an increase of more than 35 per cent over a year ago.
Awards for leading science innovators
27 Aug 2010
Four of New Zealand’s leading lights have been acknowledged for their contributions to innovation at the 2010 Bayer Innovators Awards.
Southern Ocean reveals role in greenhouse gas regulation
27 Aug 2010
The fossil record from oceans around New Zealand reveals a sudden discharge of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere at the end of the last ice age, raising the possibility that a similar process may occur as a result of global warming.
$6 billion of new investment likely to go to EPA
27 Aug 2010
The Environmental Protection Authority is expected to receive infrastructure applications totalling more than $6 billion by the end of next year, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.
Te Uku wins Meridian environmental award
20 Aug 2010
Meridian Energy’s commitment to high environmental standards at its Te Uku wind farm have won Environment Waikato’s inaugural earthworks ‘Site of the Year’ award.
Foresters want ban on illegal lumber imports
13 Aug 2010
The government needs to urgently adopt measures to prevent products from illegally logged forests being sold in New Zealand, says the Forest Owners' Association.
MAF allocates funds for soil erosion work
13 Aug 2010
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has allocated two more erosion treatment projects a total of $7.62 million under its Sustainable Land Management Hill Country Erosion Fund.
Televisions can now earn an Energy Star
13 Aug 2010
The Energy Star energy efficiency mark is being extended to televisions.
Farmers like large recycling bag for plastic
6 Aug 2010
The Agrecovery Wrap recycling programme has introduced a large recycling bag.
Waterweed idea wins science prize
23 Jul 2010
An idea for iwi to turn waterweed into energy has won Foundation for Science, Research and Technology funding worth $107,500 over three years.
Curry theory adds spice to emissions science
23 Jul 2010
Forget low-energy lightbulbs and solar-powered homes – curry spices could hold the key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Scientists switch on super computer
23 Jul 2010
One of the most powerful supercomputers of its kind has been switched on at the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research.
NIWA harnesses Nelson’s sunshine
23 Jul 2010
They are silent, produce no emissions when operating, and create electricity - and NIWA has got 56 on the roof of its Nelson office.
National’s biofuels policy a shambles, says Labour
23 Jul 2010
Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee’s constant blundering is leaving the New Zealand biofuels industry hamstrung, Labour’s associate energy spokesperson Chris Hipkins says.
Yealands to turn vine prunings into power
23 Jul 2010
Yealands Estate has received funding from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority for a project that will cut the winemaker's carbon emissions to zero.
Entries open for Concrete3 Sustainability Awards
23 Jul 2010
The Cement and Concrete Association's 2010 Concrete3 Sustainability Awards are open for entry, offering those involved in building New Zealand’s future a chance to have their achievements recognised and to draw inspiration from others.
Greens applaud AA advice on tyre pressure
23 Jul 2010
New Zealanders could save money and hundreds of thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions by inflating their car tyres correctly, says the Green Party.
National 'takes chainsaw' to afforestation grant scheme
16 Jul 2010
Budget documents show that the Government will downscale the Afforestation Grant Scheme by $2m per year over the next three years, before eventually ceasing it, the Labour Party says.
Labour: National needs a plan, not just a recession and rain, to beat emissions
16 Jul 2010
The Government can claim no credit for today's official greenhouse gas emissions statistics, which show the first ever reduction in transport sector emissions and a decrease in electricity sector emissions due to less coal-fired generation, Labour's environment spokesperson Charles Chauvel says.
Greens: Govt relies on rain and recession to reduce emissions
16 Jul 2010
The Green Party says John Key’s Government is relying on heavy rain and recession to lower greenhouse emissions, while simultaneously building more motorways.

Chinese firm pumps $18m into LanzaTech
16 Jul 2010
New Zealand-based clean technology company LanzaTech has attracted US$18m of Series B financing from investors led by China focused venture capital firm Qiming Ventures.
Sustainability down the list, say Greens
2 Jul 2010
The hope of building a sustainable Auckland Super City is under threat by the relegation of sustainable development positions to a fifth-tier job under Auckland Council’s workforce plan, the Green Party says.
Event: Energy Roundtable
2 Jul 2010
An event which promises to bring people from the energy sector together to share ideas on smart new technologies will take place in Wellington in September.
Govt fails to provide climate-friendly choices, say Greens
2 Jul 2010
The John Key Government has failed to provide climate-friendly choices to help households avoid the higher costs that could result from their Emissions Trading Scheme, says the Green Party.
Seniors voice opposition to ETS
2 Jul 2010
New Zealanders over 55 do not think the Emissions Trading Scheme should continue to be introduced when seven out of 10 of New Zealand’s main trading partners have not introduced similar schemes, says Seniors Card.
Taxpayers face $1.1 billion Kyoto liability, say authors
25 Jun 2010
New Zealand’s failure to reduce emissions to its Kyoto Protocol target means the taxpayer still faces a $1.1 billion net liability after all the ETS charges have been paid.