News Direct: Media releases
Greenhouse gases down in most regions in 2021 compared with pre-COVID 2019
6 Sep 2022
Media Release - Greenhouse gas emissions decreased in 10 out of 16 regions between 2019 and 2021, with Taranaki showing the biggest drop in emissions during this period, Stats NZ said today.
Taupō District Council adopts climate change directives
1 Sep 2022
Media Release - Taupō District Council has demonstrated its commitment to helping address climate change, adopting a set of directives and emissions reduction targets at its monthly meeting on Tuesday.
The search for fossil fuels must come to an end: Greens
26 Aug 2022
Media Release - Following a High Court decision yesterday the Green Party is calling on the Government to amend the Crown Minerals Act to end fossil fuel extraction and to require Ministers to consider climate change when making decisions about whether to grant a permit to prospect, explore or mine other Crown minerals.
Commercial build projects to count the ‘cost’ of carbon
25 Aug 2022
Media Release - Construction projects will soon come with both a financial budget and a projected carbon estimate as quantity surveyors increasingly include carbon emissions in their advice to clients.
Put Papatuuaanuku first: Kingitanga
22 Aug 2022
Media Release - Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has urged political leaders to heal the damage of decades past with policies that put people and the environment first.
School strikers are back – demanding action on climate change
17 Aug 2022
Media Release - After nearly an 18 month hiatus, students from all across the country are preparing to strike for their futures once again – this time, on September 23rd. For this strike, a special focus is being placed on the agriculture industry in New Zealand, which accounts for over half of all emissions.
Simon Stiell appointed new UNFCCC executive secretary
16 Aug 2022
Media Release - UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Simon Stiell as the new Executive Secretary of the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat based in Bonn, Germany. The appointment has been endorsed by the Bureau of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
New law requires overseas investors to show benefit to NZ of farm forestry conversions
12 Aug 2022
Media Release - A law change to ensure that forestry conversions by overseas investors benefit New Zealand has passed its final reading in Parliament.
Seagrass restoration project aims to help tackle climate change
1 Aug 2022
Media Release - Cawthron Institute has partnered with Westpac NZ Government Innovation Fund, Port Nelson and forestry company OneFortyOne to launch a seagrass restoration project that aims to fight climate change and improve ecosystem health.
Local Government New Zealand passes free fares remit
29 Jul 2022
Media Release - On Thursday morning, the Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) Annual General Meeting passed a remit supporting the Free Fares call for central Government to fund free public transport for under-25’s, tertiary students, Community Services Card Holders, and Total Mobility Card holders and their support people.
Three biggest unions ask NZers to vote for climate
29 Jul 2022
Media Release - The country’s three biggest unions, with a combined membership of 186,000, NZNO Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa, NZEI Te Riu Roa and the PSA Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi, are supporting Vote Climate, the campaign to get voters to support local government candidates who will invest in reducing transport emissions.
Kiwis most concerned about climate change: Ipsos poll
26 Jul 2022
Media Release - New Zealanders have an increased sense of urgency on the climate crisis and are the most concerned about the impact of climate change seen around the world.
Mercury partners with Hikotron on a nationwide EV charging network
22 Jul 2022
Media Release - Mercury is supporting Hamilton start-up Hikotron in its rollout of a New Zealand-made smart AC charging network for electric vehicles.
Greenhouse gases increasing but still below pre-pandemic levels
20 Jul 2022
Media Release - Seasonally adjusted greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions increased 1.1% (205 kilotonnes) in the December 2021 quarter from the September 2021 quarter, Stats NZ said today.
Government subsidies for EV and hydrogen trucks
19 Jul 2022
Media Release - The Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods is celebrating yesterday's launch of two firsts for energy decarbonisation in the transport sector in New Zealand; an electric milk tanker and a hydrogen truck, made possible with the help of Government funding.
Global energy and climate leaders meet in Sydney to strengthen clean energy technology supply chains
13 Jul 2022
Media Release - Global energy and climate leaders are meeting this week at the Sydney Energy Forum, which is co-hosted by the Australian Government and the IEA, to discuss how to scale up and strengthen supply chains for the clean energy technologies needed for a secure and affordable transition to net zero emissions.
Southland oat milk producer gets Govt boost
11 Jul 2022
Media Release - Southland-based oat milk producer New Zealand Functional Foods is getting new Government backing, with a $6 million investment from the Regional Strategic Partnership Fund, Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash announced today.
Closing the gaps for public EV charging in South Island
7 Jul 2022
Media Release - Key gaps in the South Island’s public EV charging network will be closed with support from the Government’s Low Emissions Transport Fund (LETF), Minister for Energy and Resources Megan Woods announced today.
Pacific island nations unite against deep sea mining
29 Jun 2022
Media Release - In the first governmental alliance of its kind, the Pacific nations of Palau, Fiji and Samoa have today announced their opposition to deep sea mining, calling for a moratorium on the emerging industry amidst growing fears it will destroy the seafloor and damage biodiversity.
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer aims to build anti deep sea mining coalition at UN Oceans Summit
28 Jun 2022
Media Release - Te Pāti Māori Co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer MP was to travel to Lisbon, Portugal to help build an international coalition against deep sea mining at the United Nations Oceans Conference 2022.
Multi-million dollar fund set to address high failure rate of kiwi social enterprises
27 Jun 2022
Media Release - A new $20 million fund and incubation initiative designed to address the high failure rate of New Zealand startups with a social or environmental purpose has launched
Avis shifts gears to launch NZ's largest electric car rental fleet
23 Jun 2022
Media Release - Avis New Zealand has added close to 100 electric vehicles (EVs) to its fleet with more to be on boarded in the next two years - making it New Zealand’s largest electric car rental fleet.
Mysterious climate behaviour during Earth’s most severe mass extinction event explained
22 Jun 2022
Media Release - The end-Permian mass extinction is the most severe mass extinction event ever recorded, during which ~80% of marine species went extinct.
New biodiversity market launched
17 Jun 2022
Media Release - A new biodiversity market has been launched with the first transaction of biodiversity units between Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari (the seller) and Profile Group Limited (the buyer). The mainland ecological island is now able to raise funds for conservation management from the sale of biodiversity units through the newly minted Ekos Sustainable Development Units Programme.
Circular economy discussion paper for investors released
10 Jun 2022
Media Release - The Investor Group on Climate Change today released a new discussion paper on The Circular Economy – the systemic approach that has risen to prominence as a key method to address climate change.
Landfill gas capture deal a win for the wallet and environment
9 Jun 2022
Media Release - More than five million cubic metres of potentially harmful methane gas will be captured and turned into energy each year following the installation of an innovative biogas system at Wellington’s Southern Landfill site.
Bonn climate change conference set to kick off next week
3 Jun 2022
Media Release - The upcoming Bonn Climate Change Conference (6-16 June) is set to kick off next week, designed to prepare for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in November of this year.
Millions of lives at stake amid unprecedented challenges: UN experts
31 May 2022
Media Release - Five decades after the world’s first conference to make the environment a major issue, UN human rights experts call on States to redouble efforts to protect the imperilled planet for current and future generations amid unprecedented challenges.
Finalists in Mindful Money Awards announced
27 May 2022
Media Release -Finalists Announced for Mindful Money Ethical and Impact Investment Awards: Celebrating leaders in the transition towards ethical investment
Super Fund welcomes news of new offshore energy regulations
24 May 2022
Media Release - The NZ Super Fund and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) have welcomed the Government’s Budget 2022 commitment to develop a regulatory regime for offshore renewable energy.
New printable solar material with “free” electrons sparks new direction in solar panel research
23 May 2022
Media Release - Organic solar panels have the potential to rapidly improve our solar capacity. These can be printed like newspaper – and so can be flexible, lightweight, much cheaper to make, and more versatile than current silicon solar technology.
Meet the experts behind NZ’s first national space mission
19 May 2022
Media Release - Experts behind New Zealand’s first government-funded space mission partnership, MethaneSAT, will come together to talk about the project in a free event for Techweek at the University of Auckland tomorrow 20 May).
Rapid bus lanes and a new cycling network in the works in Hamilton
18 May 2022
Media Release - Rapid bus lanes and cycling networks could be the future of transport in the Hamilton – Waikato area if a new business case is approved.
Pacific climate warrior wins 2022 Global Citizen Award
13 May 2022
Media Release - Brianna Fruean, a Samoan Pacific Climate Warrior and environmental champion has been announced as a recipient of the Global Citizen Prize: Citizen Award, citing her work leading grassroots community projects for climate justice, and her commitment to bring small island representation and young Pacific voices to the forefront of global climate conversations.
Kiwis confident about move to low carbon economy
12 May 2022
Media Release - New Zealanders are feeling confident about the nation’s transition to a low carbon economy, according to Mercury’s survey of electricity consumers.
Tackling climate change with ‘carbon negative’ green hydrogen
10 May 2022
Media Release - Researchers at the University of Canterbury (UC) are developing a smart new way of making green hydrogen from woody biomass and capturing carbon in the process.
All coal boilers to be removed from schools
9 May 2022
Media Release - Thanks to a $10 million dollar investment, all remaining coal boilers in New Zealand schools will be replaced with renewable woody biomass or electric heating sources by 2025 reducing carbon emissions by around 35,400 tonnes over 10 years, Climate Change Minister James Shaw announced on Friday.
Strong support for Auckland climate levy
5 May 2022
Media Release - Aucklanders overwhelmingly back a proposed Climate Action Targeted Rate (CATR) to help combat the climate crisis, according to consultation.
As world burns, military spending tops $2 trillion
26 Apr 2022
Media Release - As the world burns and sea levels rise, global military spending increased to more than $2 trillion (US) in 2021, according to figures released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) yesterday - the Global Day of Action on Military Spending.
GNS Science and Geo40 open new office in Japan
22 Apr 2022
Media Release - GNS Science and Geo40 have today announced a geothermal coalition which will see them establish a physical presence in Tokyo. The move to open an office in Japan demonstrates the strength of New Zealand’s expertise in the geothermal space, and builds on GNS Science’s long-standing partnerships in Japan.
MTA says leave your car at home
21 Apr 2022
Media Release - The Motor Trade Association has some simple advice for Earth Day tomorrow: leave the car at home.
Ministry releases latest guide for organisations measuring emissions
20 Apr 2022
Media Release - The Ministry for the Environment has issued an updated guide today for organisations to measure and report on emissions.
Geotech investigations to get underway for pumped hydro at Lake Onslow
19 Apr 2022
Media Relsease - Drilling is about to get underway for one of the key options of the NZ Battery Project geotechnical feasibility investigations, in what has the potential to be the largest hydro project in New Zealand, energy minister Megan Woods has announced.
New aussie gas projects a risky bet: IGCC
14 Apr 2022
Media Release - New research by the Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC), whose members hold more than AU$33 trillion in global AUM, highlights tough questions for new Australian gas projects.
Make health system climate ready and climate friendly: NZ health professionals
7 Apr 2022
Media Release - Today is World Health Day, and eleven organisations representing doctors, nurses and other health professionals have written to Health Minister Andrew Little asking that, as part of the Government’s health reforms, our healthcare system is made climate ready and climate friendly.
Greenpeace slams government over new oil exploration
5 Apr 2022
Media Release - Greenpeace has slammed the Government over news that the crown minerals regulator has allowed Greymouth Petroleum to piggyback off an existing mining permit to commence seismic blasting in an adjacent area of more than 260 square kilometres.
UN asks NZ’s Rod Carr to join major global group
1 Apr 2022
Media Release - The UN’s secretary general António Guterres has asked New Zealand’s Dr Rod Carr to join an elite world group to look into climate change issues.
Glaciers continue to shrink: NIWA
29 Mar 2022
Media Release - The annual end-of-summer snowline survey of more than 50 South Island glaciers has revealed continued loss of snow and ice.
Greenpeace calls on government to halve dairy herd
25 Mar 2022
Media Release - Greenpeace Aotearoa has launched a petition calling on the Government to halve the dairy herd, saying that cow numbers are too high for rivers, the climate and people’s health to sustain.
CarbonClick partners with Lima Airport
24 Mar 2022
Media Release - New Zealand enviro tech company CarbonClick welcomes Lima Airport as a partner in the global mission to enable more climate-friendly travel.
'Atrocious' and 'bizarre': experts slam Act Party's climate policy
Wed 3 Sep 2025
By Liz Kivi | The Act Party is promising to challenge New Zealand’s Paris Agreement climate target, while the coalition Government’s other minor partner, NZ First, also says it wants to reevaluate the country’s commitment to the international treaty.
Meridian reports worst earnings in a decade
Wed 3 Sep 2025
Meridian Energy has posted its weakest result in 10 years, with earnings hit by a combination of droughts, low wind and declining gas supply.
International scientists slam NZ govt's proposed approach to methane
13 Aug 2025
New Zealand's proposed approach to methane emissions has again been attacked by international climate scientists, with a new study saying the attempt to redefine climate target-setting by livestock-exporting countries undermines the transition to a sustainable and equitable food system
Marginal drop in last year's regional emissions
27 Aug 2025
Regional greenhouse gas emissions were down slightly last year, with a fall in gas supply leading to a big drop in Taranaki, but more coal burnt leading to higher emissions in Waikato, according to new figures from Stats NZ
Air NZ declares surprisingly low SAF prices
Wed 3 Sep 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | Air New Zealand is able to source sustainable aviation fuel at between 1.5 and 2.5 times the price of conventional fossil fuels used for flying, all sourced from the US.
Certainty crucial to emissions cuts – Watts
20 Aug 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says that policy certainty is the Government’s primary lever for unlocking private capital and meeting climate targets, telling a carbon forestry conference that ETS settings are 'locked' through 2030.
Climate-friendly investment still lagging in NZ
Tue 2 Sep 2025
While local financial firms have made recent strides in climate governance and emissions reporting, New Zealand’s institutional investors are still missing in action when it comes to backing clean technologies and climate solutions, according to a new report.
