News Direct: Media releases
'Profound' drop in oxygen in the world's lakes in past 20 years
Today 10:45am
Media release | Globally, dissolved oxygen levels in lakes are dropping due to climate change and heatwaves, modeling suggests.
Iwi join discussion on geothermal potential
Fri 21 Mar 2025
Media release | Progressing a holistic strategy to unlock the potential of New Zealand's geothermal resources, possibly in applications beyond energy generation, is at the centre of discussions with mana whenua at a hui in Rotorua, Resources and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says.
New report exposes climate finance failures
Thu 20 Mar 2025
Media release | A new climate finance report highlights failings in funding urgent climate action.
Extreme atmospheric rivers could double in future climate
Wed 19 Mar 2025
Media release | New Zealand could face twice as many of the most extreme atmospheric rivers by the end of the century, according to new research by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.
Fiordland's marine habitats surveyed to develop first complete picture of biodiversity
17 Mar 2025
Media release | Scientists have long known Fiordland's marine habitats are home to a diverse range of species, from bright orange cup corals to huge black corals. A project to survey and catalogue these habitats is now underway to help support evidence-based management of this unique environment.
Shifting climate behaviours tops conference agenda
14 Mar 2025
Carbon and Energy Professionals (CEP) has just announced the first Keynote speaker for its conference in Auckland in May as Professor Lorraine Whitmarsh, MBE.
High share of quarterly renewable electricity generation as industrial demand for electricity fell
13 Mar 2025
Media release | The latest Energy Quarterly data release from the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) shows electricity generation in the October to December 2024 quarter was the lowest December quarter on record since 2016, says MBIE Domains Manager Amapola Generosa.
Third NZ weed evolves Roundup resistance
13 Mar 2025
Media release | Wild carrot could become difficult to control in vineyards, after becoming the third NZ weed to develop a resistance to the widely used herbicide Roundup (glyphosate).
EU carbon market on course for highest CO2 price in the world by 2030: report
11 Mar 2025
Media release | LONDON: Europe's new Emissions Trading System is expected to have the world's highest carbon price in 2030 at 149EU, BloombergNEF forecast reveals.
Major plan approved for sea-level rise in Lyttelton Harbour
7 Mar 2025
Christchurch City Council has approved a 100-year plan for adapting public assets to the impacts of sea-level rise in Whakaraupo Lyttelton Harbour.
The pot is already boiling for 2% of the world's amphibians
6 Mar 2025
Media release | Amphibians are increasingly vulnerable to global warming, according to new research.
Odds favour a warmer than usual autumn for parts of NZ
5 Mar 2025
Media release | Seasonal air temperatures are expected to be above average for the north and west of both the North and South Islands, according to NIWA's Season Climate Outlook for March-May 2025, with about equal chances for near average or above average seasonal temperatures for the east of the North Island and the east of the South Island.
Melting Antarctic ice sheets will slow Earth's strongest ocean current
4 Mar 2025
Media release | Melting ice sheets are slowing the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), the world's strongest ocean current, researchers have found.
Half of Kiwis seek action on climate
3 Mar 2025
One in two New Zealanders believe the Government should invest more to protect people and properties from extreme weather events, according to a new survey.
Govt easing rules to drive investment in electricity
27 Feb 2025
Media release | Restrictions on electricity lines companies investing in generation will be eased to help strengthen the energy network, Energy Minister Simon Watts and Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones say.
Atlantic Ocean currents might withstand future warming
27 Feb 2025
Media release | The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) may be able to withstand future global warming and could avoid collapse, a modelling study presented in Nature suggests.
Research examines links between human and planetary health
26 Feb 2025
Media release | Climate change and environmental degradation will cause new health problems that health professionals need to manage, says University of Auckland research fellow Dr Eileen Gilder.
Harvesting fog?
24 Feb 2025
Media release | A field study spanning a year showed that water collected from fog could ease water scarcity.
Workplace culture often overlooked in corporate sustainability plans
21 Feb 2025
Media release | Businesses can cut energy waste by creating a workplace where saving power feels encouraged, not enforced, research shows.
Putting rainforests into fuel tanks? Groups warn IMO against 'biofuel disaster'
20 Feb 2025
Media release | The International Maritime Organization and its 176 Member States must oppose the promotion of biofuels in international shipping and commit to a future powered by genuine clean energy, say Biofuelwatch and the Global Forest Coalition.
Shifting to a sustainable marine economy could contribute $14bn by 2035
18 Feb 2025
Media release | New Zealand's marine economy could make a bigger contribution to the Government's goal of doubling the value of exports over the next 10 years if it's able to transition to more sustainable practices, according to a new report by Westpac NZ.
Environmental groups clarify qualities of stewardship land in meeting with prime minister
17 Feb 2025
Media release | Earlier this week the Chief Executives of four leading ENGOs (EDS, Greenpeace Aotearoa, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Forest & Bird) presented the Prime Minister with a Memorandum that called out some of his ministers for misrepresenting the quality of stewardship land in public.
Climate change exhibition at Auckland University
13 Feb 2025
Media release | A powerful exhibition that showcases the devastating impacts of climate change in the Pacific has opened at Auckland University of Technology's Te Wai Ngutu Kaakaa Gallery.
Genesis and Foresta in biomass supply negotiation
12 Feb 2025
Media release | Genesis Energy Limited (GENESIS) and Foresta (NZ) Limited (FORESTA) have signed a term sheet to advance negotiations on the supply of torrefied black wood pellets for electricity generation at Huntly Power Station.
Signs of hope as Whangamarino Wetlands bounces back from fire
10 Feb 2025
Media release | The internationally significant Whangamarino Wetland has proven more resilient to fire than expected, thanks to the healthy state of the peatland before the blaze.
Clarity on elusive atmospheric 'detergent' reveals climate change realities
10 Feb 2025
Media release | The Earth's atmosphere has strengthened its ability to remove air pollutants, including the potent climate-warming gas methane, according to new research published this month in Nature Communications.
Carbon neutral music video - NZ's first?
7 Feb 2025
Media release | Celebrated singer and co-writer from iconic NZ band Goldenhorse, Kirsten Morrell, has today released what is said to be New Zealand's first carbon neutral music video.
More extreme weather predicted for subantarctic islands
4 Feb 2025
Media release | A Department of Conservation study is predicting more extreme weather for New Zealand's southernmost subantarctic island, which is likely to impact the sealions, albatross and other threatened species living there.
Hundreds of native species highly vulnerable to climate change
3 Feb 2025
Media release | A major assessment released by DOC shows many of New Zealand's native plants and animals are in for a rough time as climate change impacts increase.
Pukekohe rail electrification completed
3 Feb 2025
Media release | The completion of the Papakura to Pukekohe rail electrification project will provide commuters with more reliable and efficient journeys and help reduce congestion on our roads, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says.
Insurers welcome govt's climate adaptation response
31 Jan 2025
Media release | The Insurance Council of New Zealand Te Kāhui Inihua o Aotearoa (ICNZ) has welcomed the Government's commitment to introduce legislation to Parliament this year on a Climate Adaptation framework and prepare New Zealanders for the impact of climate change on lives, property and communities.
Lodestone Energy's third and largest solar farm powers up
30 Jan 2025
Media release | Lodestone Energy, Aotearoa's leader in utility-scale solar generation development, has reached another significant milestone with its third and largest solar farm to date, Te Herenga o Te Rā, starting generation.
LINZ begins 3D mapping of New Zealand coastline
29 Jan 2025
Media release | A new project is getting underway to map large parts of New Zealand's coastline in remarkable detail to help communities mitigate the impacts of climate change and understand our ever-changing coastline.
Reducing the environmental impact of synthetic refrigerants
28 Jan 2025
Media release | The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says.
New flood technology to prepare communities
28 Jan 2025
Media release | UC research is advancing geospatial technologies to improve flood risk assessment and mitigation, tackling critical global challenges.
Anti-climate action groups tend to arise in countries with stronger climate change efforts
27 Jan 2025
A new study suggests that counter climate groups emerge as a form of backlash to stronger environmental policies and institutions.
Higher temperatures may result in 2.3m extra deaths in European cities by 2100
24 Jan 2025
Temperature-related deaths in European cities could increase by up to 50% to reach up to 2.3 million additional deaths by the end of the century if we fail to tackle climate change, warn international researchers.
International trade law needs overhaul to address climate change: expert
23 Jan 2025
Media release | As wildfires ravage Los Angeles, oceans warm and carbon dioxide levels hit record highs, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is working through swathes of submissions regarding the legal obligations of states to address climate change and protect vulnerable communities and future generations.  
'A death sentence for our islands' - Pacific leaders respond to Australia approving new coal mines
20 Dec 2024
Media release | Despite making multiple international commitments to “transition away from fossil fuels” under both the UN General Assembly and the UN Climate Talks, the Australian government approved three new coal mines earlier today at Boggabri, Caval Ridge and Lake Vermont Meadowbrook.
Govt seeks partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned-land
19 Dec 2024
Media release | The Government has released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced.
Warmer seas chief suspect for seabird ‘wreck’
18 Dec 2024
Media release | Hundreds of seabirds found washed up along the west coast of the North Island are likely to have died from starvation due to climate change impacts.
Loss of local news means weaker communities as climate crisis bites
17 Dec 2024
Media release | Solutions must be found for communities that have lost their local news service and whose local democracy is at real risk, according to the incoming president of the New Zealand Journalism Education Association (JEANZ).
Canterbury Climate Partnership Plan officially launched
17 Dec 2024
Media release | The Canterbury Mayoral Forum has launched the Canterbury Climate Partnership Plan, a comprehensive strategy developed by all 11 councils in Canterbury that aims to address climate change and build a sustainable, resilient, and low-emissions future.
Methanexit? New report reveals risk of subsidising gas price hikes
16 Dec 2024
Media release | A dry winter in 2025 or beyond could enable our largest gas user – Canadian company Methanex – to push up gas and electricity prices, according to a new report, titled “Methanexit: should NZ be subsidising our largest gas user?”
Govt delivers standardised emissions measurement tool
16 Dec 2024
Media release| The Government is delivering on its Q4 commitment, restoring certainty and credibility to the agriculture sector by introducing a standardised, science-based method for measuring farm-level greenhouse gas emissions, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, has announced.
Low hydro lake levels require continued reliance on coal and gas for electricity
13 Dec 2024
Media release | The latest Energy Quarterly release from the Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment (MBIE) shows the difference weather conditions can make to energy generation in New Zealand.
Wood products pivotal to NZ meeting climate targets
12 Dec 2024
Media release | Government support for boosting wood processing as outlined in NZ’s second emissions reduction (ERP2) plan is a step in the right direction says the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association.
New Zealand left behind as Australia invests a further $A500 million in energy efficiency
11 Dec 2024
Media release | New Zealand investment in energy efficiency has fallen further behind Australia after the Albanese government doubled funding for energy efficiency retrofits of social housing.
$35,000 of Environmental Leaders Fund grants allocated
11 Dec 2024
Media release | Twenty-three Northland schools and early childhood centres are to share in $35,000 of Northland Regional Council Environmental Leaders Funding for projects ranging from ecosourcing and propagating native plants to a solar panel project.
Not too late to fix controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill
10 Dec 2024
Media release | Parliament is expected to pass the Fast-track Approvals Bill into law in the next few days.
NZ, India touch on climate and energy at leaders' meeting
Tue 18 Mar 2025
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi detailed plans for further cooperation between the two countries across a range of areas including climate and energy during their meeting in New Delhi this week.
If NZ wants to decarbonise energy, we need to know which renewables deliver the best payback
Fri 21 Mar 2025
By Alan Brent and Isabella Pimentel Pincelli | A national energy strategy for Aotearoa New Zealand was meant to be ready at the end of last year. As it stands, we're still waiting for a cohesive, all-encompassing plan to meet the country's energy demand today and in the future.
Fonterra linked to illegal deforestation, claims Greenpeace
5 Mar 2025
Dairy giant Fonterra's supply chain is linked with illegal deforestation, according to Greenpeace Aotearoa, after New Zealand's major importers of palm kernel have been found to be illegally operating palm plantations in Indonesia.
Consultation on standard for measuring biogas and biomethane carbon intensity
19 Feb 2025
As biomethane and biogas become more common, New Zealand needs a consistent approach to measuring the carbon intensity of these fuels, according to the Bioenergy Association.
Logging train revival to help 'deteriorating' Napier-Taihape road
29 Jan 2025
By Linda Hall, Local Democracy Reporter | Logging trains are back on the tracks running five days a week on the Napier-Palmerston North line to Napier Port, taking trucks off the 'deteriorating' Napier-Taihape Rd.
Carbon credit deal to provide windfall for Maori landowners
Fri 21 Mar 2025
By Moana Ellis, Local Democracy Reporting | An isolated Maori Land Trust in the central North Island has sealed a groundbreaking carbon credit deal, securing millions for its 4000 owners and tens of thousands of beneficiaries.
Greenpeace accuses govt of weakening environmental protections to gain trade advantage
13 Mar 2025
The government's Infrastructure Investment Summit kicked off today, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon opening the summit with a clear message - "New Zealand is open for business".
