News Direct: Media releases
Expert Panel invites EDS to comment on Bendigo goldmine
Today 11:30am
Media release | The Environmental Defence Society has been invited to provide comment on the Bendigo-Ophir gold mine by the expert Panel tasked with deciding the fast-track project.
Commonwealth Investment Summit showcases climate solutions
Thu 12 Mar 2026
Media release: The Commonwealth | Entrepreneurs from across Commonwealth small island developing states (SIDS) in the Pacific and Caribbean are presenting practical climate and economic solutions to global investors this week at the Commonwealth Investment Network (CIN) Summit.
Study highlights the hidden climate cost of the Israel–Gaza war
Thu 12 Mar 2026
Media release: Lancaster University | A new study estimates that the Israel–Gaza war has generated around 33 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e), highlighting the often-overlooked environmental impact of armed conflict.
Native plant shows promise for tackling `forever chemicals’
Wed 11 Mar 2026
Media release: University of Auckland | One of Aotearoa New Zealand’s taonga plants, harakeke, shows promise as a treatment for removing “forever chemicals” from drinking water.
Building more sustainably in the wake of cyclones
Tue 10 Mar 2026
Media release | A new University of Auckland project aims to turn about 1200 Auckland houses destroyed by cyclones into a resource for a more sustainable future.
No support for disestablishing Ministry for the Environment
Tue 10 Mar 2026
Media release | Zero Waste Aotearoa does not support disestablishing the Ministry for the Environment and bundling its environmental protection functions into the proposed MCERT Mega Ministry.
Labour selects former UN climate official George Hampton for Christchurch Central
Mon 9 Mar 2026
Media release | The Labour Party has selected senior United Nations climate official and business owner George Hampton as the candidate for Christchurch Central for 2026.
Hawke’s Bay students challenged to make change
Mon 9 Mar 2026
Media release | Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is calling on Hawke’s Bay school students to get involved in the 2026 Climate Change Challenge, a student-led initiative focused on practical climate action in schools.
Families will pay more without clean car standard
6 Mar 2026
Media release | The Green Party says scrapping the Clean Car Standard will mean New Zealanders end up paying more to run their cars.
PPA template aims to cut transaction costs and accelerate renewable investment
6 Mar 2026
Media release – DLA Piper | An energy industry initiative led by BusinessNZ Energy Council, Zeale (formerly EVA Marketplace) and DLA Piper has released New Zealand’s first publicly available, standardised template for corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs), designed to reduce transaction costs and unlock more financing to accelerate renewable energy projects.
Climate Resilient Communities Fund open for applications
4 Mar 2026
Media release | Northland Regional Council’s popular Climate Resilience Communities Fund is open for applications.
High-tech flights tackle climate modelling dilemma
2 Mar 2026
Media release – University of Canterbury | An ongoing challenge in global climate modelling is being addressed by HALO-South a German-Christchurch collaboration.
Pacific climate advocates welcome pre-COP31 meeting in Fiji and Tuvalu
27 Feb 2026
Media release – 350.org | Climate advocates across the Pacific will now prepare for the Pre-COP31 meetings in Fiji and Tuvalu, with the Pacific Islands Forum confirming the hosts yesterday.
EDS puts environmental lawmaking under the spotlight
26 Feb 2026
Media Release |The Environmental Defence Society has launched the first in a series of investigative pieces into how environmental laws are being made in Aotearoa New Zealand.
UNESCO report: Major blind spot in ocean carbon research could undermine global climate predictions
26 Feb 2026
Media release | A new report by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO reveals a critical lack of understanding of how the ocean absorbs and stores carbon.
EDS proposes drafting changes to fix new resource management laws
24 Feb 2026
Media release | The Environmental Defence Society has lodged its final submission on the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill with Parliament’s Environment Select Committee, including detailed tracked-change drafting to address significant weaknesses in the legislation.
World’s largest A/C firm to open multi-million dollar NZ facility
24 Feb 2026
Media release: Daikin NZ | A multi-million-dollar Christchurch facility to be opened by the world’s largest air conditioning manufacturer will integrate upcycled climate-damaging refrigerant from end-of-life heat pumps into its operations, preventing it from entering the waste stream.
Sea ice coverage could drop 20% in Antarctica's worst-case scenario
23 Feb 2026
Media release – Frontiers | A new study on the Antarctic Peninsula shows that the choices we make in the next decade will determine Antarctica’s fate for centuries.
IEA Declaration strengthens international co-operation on critical minerals
20 Feb 2026
Media release – NZ Government | New Zealand has joined international leaders at the 2026 International Energy Agency Ministerial meeting in committing to strengthen global co-operation on critical minerals to strengthen long‑term energy security.
Partnership to advance Pacific science and environmental leadership
19 Feb 2026
Media release | Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in Pacific-led science, research and capacity-building, with a strong focus on environmental sustainability and ocean stewardship.
78% of NZers want bottom trawling banned as Govt pushes to catch more coral in South Pacific
17 Feb 2026
Media release | New polling shows overwhelming support from New Zealanders for a ban on bottom trawling in the South Pacific high seas, says Greenpeace.
Transformational gift to support natural environmental research at Victoria University
17 Feb 2026
Media release | Te Wāhanga a Manaia – Faculty of Science and Engineering at Victoria University is celebrating a remarkable $5 million gift from the George Mason Charitable Trust to support multidisciplinary research into the natural environment.
Vanuatu introduces draft UN resolution on ICJ demanding full climate compensation
11 Feb 2026
Media release: Vanuatu Government | Vanuatu has introduced the zero draft of a United Nations General Assembly resolution to endorse the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion on the obligations of states in respect of climate change, delivered on 23 July 2025.
World fight against invasive species comes to Auckland
10 Feb 2026
Media release: University of Auckland | From countering invasive pink salmon in Norway to controlling feral cats in the Cayman Islands, knowledge on eradicating invasive species will be shared by international experts in New Zealand.
A turning point for our ocean: why the High Seas Treaty matters for the Pacific
10 Feb 2026
Media release: UNDP | The global ratification of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty marks a decisive moment in international cooperation and ocean governance. Referred to as the High Seas Treaty, the agreement establishes a legally binding framework to protect marine biodiversity in areas of the ocean that lie beyond national jurisdiction.
NZ-UAE partnership boosts advanced tech
9 Feb 2026
Media release | A new Antarctic science partnership with a leading UAE university will grow New Zealand’s advanced engineering and modelling capability, supporting high-value jobs, encouraging economic growth, and enabling smarter climate risk management, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Dr Shane Reti says.
Greenpeace warns of NZ bowing to US mining bullying
5 Feb 2026
Media release | News that the New Zealand government is in talks with the Trump administration on a critical minerals deal is drawing fierce criticism from Greenpeace Aotearoa, who warn of unchecked environmental destruction, Te Tiriti violations, and Aotearoa becoming a pawn in the US’s quest for further geopolitical control.
Fast-moving floodwater poses hidden danger for cities
3 Feb 2026
Media release: University of Canterbury | Floodwater doesn’t have to be deep to be dangerous — sometimes it just has to be moving.
Waituna Lagoon in better health for World Wetlands Day
3 Feb 2026
Media release: Department of Conservation | A new survey of Waituna Lagoon in Southland shows a significant improvement in health for the internationally important Ramsar wetland compared to a year ago.
Govt cuts biosecurity levy for international travellers
2 Feb 2026
Media release: New Zealand Government | From today, the biosecurity part of the Border Processing Levy will drop by 30 percent for most arriving travellers, Minister for Biosecurity Andrew Hoggard says.
Deforestation and cropland expansion driving stronger heatwaves
29 Jan 2026
New research has revealed that land clearing and rapid development can sharply intensify heatwaves beyond the impacts of global warming, offering important lessons for many countries already grappling with record-breaking heat.
Kiwis back renewables over fossil fuels, polling reveals
28 Jan 2026
Media release: WWF-New Zealand and Lawyers for Climate Action | New nationwide polling shows strong public support for renewable energy over fossil fuels, growing concern about New Zealand’s climate backsliding, and widespread unease that a return to offshore oil and gas exploration could expose the country to trade and legal risks.
Mercury powers up new geothermal generator
26 Jan 2026
Media release | A new fifth unit at Mercury’s Ngā Tamariki Geothermal Station, near Taupō, has begun delivering generation to the grid.
Offshore windfarms enhance function of coastal waters and diversity of aquatic life
19 Dec 2025
Media release | A study conducted by researchers from Murdoch University in Australia and Dalian Ocean University in China has found that offshore windfarms can improve marine ecosystems and diversify aquatic food chains.
Community removes 2.6 tonnes of litter from across Lower Hutt
18 Dec 2025
Media release: Sustainable Coastlines | More than 300 volunteers came together for Clean Up The Hutt on Saturday, removing 31,493 litres of litter from coastlines, waterways, and underwater sites across nine locations in Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt.
Three Greenpeace activists removed by police from Fonterra
17 Dec 2025
Media release | Three Greenpeace activists were removed by police from Fonterra’s downtown Auckland offices, following a protest on Monday at the Shareholders’ Fund meeting over the corporation’s role in the contamination of rural communities’ drinking water.
Westpac NZ announces partnership to form Blue Economy hub in Nelson
17 Dec 2025
Media release | Westpac NZ has announced a new three-year partnership with the Nelson Regional Development Agency and Kernohan Engineering to help accelerate the development of a sustainable marine economy – also known as the blue economy.
Degraded estuaries feel the heat
16 Dec 2025
Media release| Degraded estuaries are less resilient to the impacts of heatwaves, new research from Earth Sciences New Zealand shows.
South Island marine reserves get the go ahead
15 Dec 2025
Media release: Environmental Defence Society | A new network of marine reserves off the Otago and south-Canterbury coast is being finalised after years of effort.
Mission for ancient climate clues beneath 500m of antarctic ice gets underway
15 Dec 2025
Media release: Antarctica New Zealand | An international team has set up a remote camp on the ice 700 km from the nearest base (New Zealand’s Scott Base) to attempt to drill for mud and rocks holding critical insights about the fate of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet in our warming world.
High risk of economic losses from Cook Islands nodule extraction and sales – new study
12 Dec 2025
Media release: Greenpeace | The economic potential of seabed polymetallic nodules in the Cook Islands has been overstated, according to a new independent study commissioned by Greenpeace International.
NZ and US studying "huge unknown" in Antarctic climate science
11 Dec 2025
Media release: Earth Sciences New Zealand | Scientists are measuring a huge unknown in climate science: how much heat Antarctica emits into space.
Oil and gas majors would create $78bn more value by stopping exploration
11 Dec 2025
Media release | Ten of the world’s largest oil and gas companies would create significantly more shareholder value by ending exploration and sharply curtailing upstream development, according to new analysis released today by ACCR.
RMA replacement bills introduced – fixes are needed
10 Dec 2025
Media release: Environmental Defence Society | In a massive shakeup of our core environmental and planning laws, the Government has introduced legislation to Parliament to replace the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA).
Auckland Council launches $1m grant to supercharge community climate action and emergency readiness
9 Dec 2025
Media release | Auckland Council is investing big in community climate action with the launch of Te Ara Urutau – Climate and Emergency Ready Fund, offering more than $1million to help community organisations across Tāmaki Makaurau take bold, practical steps to tackle climate change and be emergency ready.
Carbon market conduct pioneer passes on the baton
8 Dec 2025
Media release | The International Carbon Reduction and Offsetting Alliance (ICROA), a pioneer in early voluntary carbon market conduct, has announced that it will wind down operations by late 2026.
More Aucklanders than ever taking climate action
8 Dec 2025
Media release: Auckland Council | Aucklanders are embracing climate action in record numbers, with more people getting involved each year and the momentum is building.
Right approach required for river work expectations
5 Dec 2025
Media release | Tasman District Council is focused on ensuring long-term resilience and protection for our river and floodplains.
NZ and US deepen Antarctic science partnership
4 Dec 2025
Media release: New Zealand Government | New joint research initiatives focused on climate and ecosystem change expand on the long-standing collaboration between New Zealand and the United States on Antarctic science and logistics, says Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Dr Shane Reti.
New alliance launched to speed up nature regeneration across Tāmaki Auckland
4 Dec 2025
Media release | The Sustainable Business Network (SBN) has launched a groundbreaking initiative to tackle the ecological crisis impacting the Tāmaki Auckland region.
Climate Commission called to Waitangi inquiry over alleged breaches
Tue 10 Mar 2026
By Liz Kivi | The Climate Change Commission is being called to front up to the Waitangi Tribunal and give evidence over alleged legal breaches of its obligations to Māori.
Renewables surge cuts power emissions, but oil dominates fossil fuel use
Today 11:30am
By Shannon Morris-Williams | New Zealand’s fossil fuel emissions fell in 2025 as strong renewable electricity generation reduced the need for gas-fired power, but oil consumption is rising and now accounts for a record share of fossil emissions.
Govt's solar on farms initiative to cut costs, boost resilience
17 Feb 2026
Farms across Aotearoa will begin installing solar panels and battery systems as part of a government-backed demonstration programme designed to test whether on-farm renewable energy can reduce electricity costs and improve energy security for the food and fibre sector.
Annual emissions fell to lowest in 15 years in Sept 2025
5 Feb 2026
By Pattrick Smellie | New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions fell to their lowest annual total in the year to September 2025 since records began 2010, according to Statistics New Zealand data published this morning.
Greenpeace slams Govt climate policies amid rising petrol prices
Thu 12 Mar 2026
As petrol prices climb to $3 a litre, Greenpeace is blaming Government decisions for leaving Kiwis harder hit by the oil price spike.
Tairāwhiti needs proper Govt support to heal the land – not empty announcements for political optics
24 Feb 2026
OPINION: The Government’s answer to Tairāwhiti’s severe erosion crisis – that the region apply for modest, contestable funding rounds – while rejecting the region's own land transition business case, leaves our long-term resilience hanging in the balance, writes Manu Caddie.
Rule changes could reshape corporate emissions strategies
6 Mar 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | New Zealand organisations may need to rethink how they manage and report electricity-related emissions as proposed global accounting changes take shape, according to a new report.
