News Direct: All stories

Google backs out of green search initiative

24 Apr 2008

Google ironically picked Earth Day (Tuesday) to controversially pull out of Ecocho, a new green search engine that was successfully launched just seven days ago in Sydney, Australia.

Security firm to operate on DoC land

23 Apr 2008

The Greens claim that a security firm, run by the same private investigators involved in hiring paid informants to infiltrate community groups, has applied to the Department of Conservation to patrol public conservation land on the Stockton Plateau.

Conservation land concession to ensure public safety

23 Apr 2008

An application by a Solid Energy security contractor, Provision, for a permit to undertake security services on public conservation land adjacent to Solid Energy’s sites in the Buller is to ensure public safety, Solid Energy said in a statement yesterday.

Farmer leader says carbon price restrictions will restrict food production growth

23 Apr 2008

Federated Farmers president Charlie Pedersen says New Zealand farmers are concerned about their ability to farm in a sensible and sustainable way.

Biofuel delay not necessary, say manufacturers

23 Apr 2008

Fuel cost increases due to the introduction of biofuels are likely to be insignificant compared with recent price hikes for petrol and diesel says the New Zealand Biofuel Manufacturers Association.

International Science Festival - July 5-13, 2008 - Dunedin

23 Apr 2008

The debate over whether New Zealand is better of with large or small wind-turbines will feature in the New Zealand International Science Festival in Dunedin in July.

Democracy undermined by spying

22 Apr 2008

Greenpeace says it is shocked at the arrogance shown by Gavin Clark, of Thompson and Clark Investigations (TCIL) after they were exposed for the second time trying to pay someone to spy and undermine the activities of the Save Happy Valley group.

Excuse me waiter .. can you clean up my creek...

22 Apr 2008

Queenstown hotel staff will give the town’s Horne Creek and Frankton Track a facelift today in recognition of Accor’s ‘Earth Guest Day’.

Bottled bio water being sold in Blake's name

22 Apr 2008

The Good Water Project is launching a direct to home and office service water delivery service.

Parker: Industry protection under ETS being considered

21 Apr 2008

Designing an emissions trading scheme which effectively reduces greenhouse gas emissions while being fair to industry is an important matter which requires careful consideration, Climate Change Minister David Parker says.

Greens on NZ emissions: When will we turn the corner?

21 Apr 2008

The Green Party says news that New Zealand's greenhouse emissions have continued to rise, though not as fast as previously, is still not good enough.

Labour’s credibility on climate change dies with latest figures

21 Apr 2008

Figures showing yet another increase in New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions are a fatal blow to the credibility of Labour’s climate change record, says National’s Climate Change spokesperson, Nick Smith.

NZ emissions up .5 million tonnes in 2006

21 Apr 2008

The latest annual greenhouse gas inventory report shows New Zealand’s emissions rose less than 1% between 2005 and 2006.

Solid Energy and private investigators' statements on spying claims

21 Apr 2008

Carbon News provides you with the full statements issued yesterday by Solid Energy and Thompson and Clark Investigations Ltd on claims published in the Sunday Star Times.

No proposal for congestion charging in Wellington

21 Apr 2008

Greater Wellington Regional Council has absolutely no proposal for congestion charging, Chair Fran Wilde said today.

New Government policy statement on gas governance

21 Apr 2008

nergy Minister David Parker today released the Government’s revised and updated Government Policy Statement (‘GPS’) on Gas Governance.

First NZ-only study finds Green IT low on NZ business agenda

18 Apr 2008

Beyond recycling and energy-efficient light bulbs, two-thirds of New Zealand businesses are struggling to act sustainably, according to the first New Zealand research into ‘Green IT’ by IBM and the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development.

Conservation Minister to meet Australian colleagues

18 Apr 2008

Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick today travels to Australia to participate in ministerial council meetings and discuss ways that New Zealand and Australian governments will face environmental challenges.

FRIDAY FORUM #9: BIOFUELS - May 9 - Penrose

18 Apr 2008

Title: FRIDAY FORUM #9: BIOFUELS - When: Friday, 9 May 2008, 9 am - 12 noon .Where: Conference Centre, 585 Gt South Road, Penrose

Who's the Green Car Maker of the Year?

17 Apr 2008

Citroën has been named as the Green Car Maker of the Year and its award-winning people mover, the Citroën C4 Picasso, has been named for the second year running as the Diesel People Mover of the Year in the annual 'What Diesel Car?' awards.

Commerce Commission issues Maui Pipeline Open Access draft determination

16 Apr 2008

The Commerce Commission has issued a draft determination in relation to an application under section 58 of the Commerce Act by two Todd companies in relation to access to the Maui pipeline.

Internet search engine pledges two trees for every 1000 searches

16 Apr 2008

The world’s first ‘green’ search engine that offsets carbon emissions with no cost to the user, has launched in New Zealand.

Boxboard behind recycling hotel coat hangar breakthrough

15 Apr 2008

Environmental ground has been broken in the local hospitality industry, with New Lynn print company, Westprint, developing a 100%-recyclable clothes hanger for Auckland’s The Langham hotel.

A good new corporate v green group spy story

15 Apr 2008

If you’re up for a good conspiracy story on big corporates employing former secret service officers to spy on green groups, here’s the best of the week - so far (not that we'd dream of anything like this happening here)..

Auckland’s first five-star environmentally sustainable building

15 Apr 2008

Auckland City Council's City Development Committee has approved the construction of a ventilated weather screen façade on the BNZ building at 80 Queen Street.

Forestry summit - Rotorua - July 22, 2008

14 Apr 2008

Improving the competitiveness of forestry’s supply chain is no longer an option – it’s absolutely essential, says Jon Dey, director of Resin Forest Engineering Research – a new company set up to focus on practical forest engineering projects in New Zealand.

No need for NZ to drag feet on biofuels

14 Apr 2008

New Zealand shouldn’t delay bringing in biofuel sales obligations and miss out on cutting greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the use of fossil fuels says a major potential investor.

Downloadable eco advice aims at 63% who want to help

14 Apr 2008

A new eco advice booklet is available off the internet from today to help the 91 per cent of New Zealanders who have said they want to know more about how they can protect the environment, says Environment Minister Trevor Mallard.

Urgent action sought on world food price shock

11 Apr 2008

Warning that soaring food prices could lead to increased poverty and unrest, several senior United Nations officials have called for urgent measures to tackle the global crisis, which threatens to hit the world's poor the hardest.

Nelson firm cited among world top 30 offset service providers

11 Apr 2008

New Zealand company Offset the Rest is the only company in Asia Pacific to be named as one of the top 30 carbon offset providers in the world.

Major emitters group: delay ETs till we see Australia's scheme

11 Apr 2008

As the dark clouds of a possible recession gather on the horizon, the prospect of facing increased fuel and electricity costs as a result of the most ambitious emissions trading scheme in the world is certain to be adding to business pessimism, according to the Greenhouse Policy Coalition.

All public consutlation documents now on one site

10 Apr 2008

A new on-line consultations website portal has been launched, believed to be the first of its kind for New Zealand.

Smith: Biofuels joins climate change debacles

9 Apr 2008

Biofuels is set to join the list of climate change policy debacles, with the Minister admitting sustainability standards will not be in place by 1 July, says National’s Climate Change spokesman, Nick Smith.

Ricoh sponsors climate change project on Celsias

9 Apr 2008

Ricoh has become a Founding Corporate Sponsor of a climate change project on Celsias.com.

Fuel economy star ratings go on cars for sale

8 Apr 2008

Fuel economy star rating labels go on show on all new and most late model used cars from yesterday.

Kiwis back waste levy, but not too clear on who gets the new tax money

8 Apr 2008

New Zealanders strongly support a levy on solid waste but they are divided on who should receive the money, according to survey results released by the Product Stewardship Foundation.

Windfarmers: More wind means security and reasonable price

8 Apr 2008

New Zealand must maximise use if its world class wind resource if it wants a secure and reasonabely priced electricity supply in future.

Green roof scoops green award

8 Apr 2008

Government agencies reveal size of their footprint

7 Apr 2008

The Government's34 core agencies have a 159,000 tonne carbon footprint

Energy users' Group: Consumers and business will pay $600m for ETS

7 Apr 2008

New Zealand consumers and businesses will pay nearly $600 million more in 2009 than their Australian counterparts because of the misalignment in timing of the New Zealand and Australian Emissions Trading Schemes, according to the Major Electricity Users’ Group (MEUG).

Carbon Trading - Mechanisms, Markets, Money - May 14, 2008 - Sydney

7 Apr 2008

Wednesday 14th May 2008: The Westin Hotel, Sydney With an Emissions Trading Scheme coming into force in less than 2 years, Australia is on countdown to Carbon Trading.

‘Green’ car conference a sham – expert

4 Apr 2008

New Zealanders shouldn’t be fooled by quick fixes to the current energy crisis, says the car buyers’ Dog & Lemon Guide.

Smith: End the mad rush on the bio fuels bill

4 Apr 2008

The Government must heed the message of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment that its biofuels bill is flawed and a risk to New Zealand’s clean, green brand, says National’s Environment spokesman, Dr Nick Smith.

Greens insist on biofuel sustainability standard

4 Apr 2008

The Green Party agrees with the Parliamentary Commissioner's advice that biofuels should not proceed in New Zealand unless they are sustainable, Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says.

Dunne: slam the brakes on biofuels

4 Apr 2008

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne has joined the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment in urging the Government and all parties to slow down and consider the real effects of the Biofuel Bill currently before Parliament.

Climate change "motorway" to higher value production

4 Apr 2008

The effects of climate change are one of the greatest threats we face, Agriculture Minister Jim Adnerton has told the Large Herds Association conference at New Plymouth. If we handle it the right way, it will also be our motorway to higher value production.

Mallard speech: Sustainable development at a sustainable price

4 Apr 2008

Here is the full keynote speech of Environment Minister Trevor Mallard, presented yesteray to Planning Institute members conferencing in Greymouth.

Consultation on climate change measures continues

3 Apr 2008

Climate Change Minister David Parker has welcomed the start of the next round of public engagement on the Labour-led government's important climate change policy of emissions trading.

New research reveals green, social issues drive 11% of buyers

2 Apr 2008

New research shows New Zealanders' purchasing decisions are influenced most by price and quality.

Trans-tasman biotech projects receive $3.8 million

2 Apr 2008

Three trans-Tasman biotechnology projects will receive a total of $3.8 million in grants under the Australia New Zealand Biotechnology Partnership Fund.