News Direct: Media releases
Lower Hutt launches pathway to net zero plan
24 Mar 2022
Media Release - Today marks the launch of the Lower Hutt Climate Action Pathway Te Ara Whakamua o Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai, entitled ‘ Our race against time Ka whati te tai, ka pao te tôrea!’, with the target of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The real McCoy For CEP conference
16 Mar 2022
Media Release - World renowned oceanographer Kim McCoy will be delivering a Keynote address at the 2022 CEP conference in Rotorua on 1st and 2nd of June.
Renewable gas - cooking with scraps
15 Mar 2022
Media Release - Gas NZ and the Bioenergy Associations applauds Government’s Transforming Recycling Consultation announcement and encourages New Zealanders to have a say.
The green gap: Microsoft releases report on NZ’s sustainability performance
14 Mar 2022
Media Release - Microsoft New Zealand has today released an extensive study of local organisations’ performance on sustainability and carbon reduction, which highlights where the most support is needed to reach our net zero carbon goals.
Hawke's Bay Regional Council appoints climate ambassador
10 Mar 2022
Media Release - Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has appointed Pippa McKelvie-Sebileau to its first Climate Action Ambassador role.
Passenger rail disappears while KiwiRail posts operating surplus
9 Mar 2022
Media Release - Advocates for passenger rail are questioning why services have been dumped while KiwiRail posts healthy and rising surpluses
ETS must back native forests not pine: Forest & Bird
4 Mar 2022
Media Release - Forest & Bird strongly backs the Government’s suggestion that pine forests should not be counted as permanent carbon sinks in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
Environment Canterbury draft annual plan consultations open
3 Mar 2022
Media Release - Consultation on Environment Canterbury’s draft Annual Plan/ Mahere a Tau opened yesterday.
Feds welcome overseas investment changes
25 Feb 2022
Media Release - Federated Farmers believes new requirements announced today for overseas investors buying New Zealand farmland for forestry are encouraging but are only step one of a suite of changes required.
Electric milk tanker receives government grant
24 Feb 2022
Media Release - The country’s first electric milk tank tanker, a solar-panelled bus, electric off-road farm vehicles and new high powered EV charging stations are among projects to receive co-funding from the Government’s new-look Low Emission Transport Fund (LETF), the Minister of Energy and Resources Dr Megan Woods announced today.
Hamilton’s climate actions on track
23 Feb 2022
Media Release - Hamilton City Council’s 2021/22 Climate Change Action Plan Monitoring Report for February 2022 shows 41 out of 45 actions are still on track, despite challenges from COVID-19.
Forest Owners tell government to look across the Tasman
22 Feb 2022
Media Release - The Forest Owners Association is telling the government that Australia’s support of plantation forestry is in sharp contrast to the increasingly restrictive measures being promised in New Zealand by our government.
Jobs for Nature begin restoring Mangaiti Gully
21 Feb 2022
Media Release - Work has begun to restore Hamilton’s Mangaiti Gully, a three-year Jobs for Nature project with a vision to restore the native flora of the gully back to pre-European status.
Partners shortlisted for world's largest green hydrogen project in Southland
18 Feb 2022
Media Release - Four potential development partners have been shortlisted for the Southern Green Hydrogen project, a joint venture between Meridian Energy and Contact Energy to develop the world¡¯s first large-scale green hydrogen plant in Southland.
Governments dragging their feet on energy transition: report
15 Feb 2022
Media Release - A research report by the Fossil Fuels Aotearoa Research Network (FFARN), led by economic anthropologist Dr Terrence Loomis confirms governments have an important role to play in rapid energy transitions, but few are acting like there’s a climate emergency.
Wellington’s number two bus route goes electric
11 Feb 2022
Media Release - Noisy diesel buses are a thing of the past on the number two bus route, the first in Wellington to be fully decarbonised following the arrival of the capital’s 55th electric bus.
Coalition calls for free public transport
11 Feb 2022
Media Release - A coalition of 60 organisations is renewing its calls for the Minister of Transport to fund free public transport nationwide for certain groups as a step to combat climate change and rising living costs.
Climate leader Bronwyn Hayward named Supreme Woman of Influence
11 Feb 2022
Media Release - Internationally-recognised sustainability and climate change advocate Professor Bronwyn Hayward has been named the Supreme Winner at the Women of Influence Awards.
Greenpeace delivers oceans petition
10 Feb 2022
Media Release - Greenpeace activists sidestepped the chaos in Wellington yesterday to deliver a petition demanding stronger protection for the oceans.
More than 4500 sign save rail petition
9 Feb 2022
Media Release - A campaign asking the Government and KiwiRail to back the continuation of axed national passenger rail services continues to grow with more than 4,500 people signing an online petition.
Hamilton aims to increase native vegetation from 2% to 10%
9 Feb 2022
Media Release - Hamilton City Council’s Nature in the City programme aims to increase native vegetation in Hamilton from 2% to 10% by 2050. It’s no surprise there are already people in our community doing the mahi to bring back nature in the city.
Majority support cutting synthetic nitrogen fertiliser: Greenpeace poll
4 Feb 2022
Media Release - A Greenpeace commissioned poll released today shows that twice as many New Zealanders support a phase out of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser than oppose it.
Tauranga organisations and councils announce pledge to cut transport emissions
3 Feb 2022
Media Release - Tauranga City has one of the highest rates of private car use in Australasia and traffic flows have been increasing by up to 8% each year. The Tauranga City Community Carbon Footprint found transport makes up 61% of the city’s carbon footprint, of which 97% comes from road transport.
Corporations using misleading climate pledges to greenwash their image
3 Feb 2022
Media Release - Major global companies are avoiding meaningful climate action and are instead using false, misleading or ambiguous green claims, a new report shows.
Chapman Tripp first New Zealand Law firm to join Net Zero Lawyers Alliance
2 Feb 2022
Media Release - Chapman Tripp is the first New Zealand law firm to sign up to the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance (NZLA) – a collaboration of top-tier law firms committed to accelerating the transition to net zero emissions by 2050.
More electic trains for Auckland
2 Feb 2022
Media Release - Auckland Transport (AT) is preparing for future growth, announcing the purchase of an additional 23 electric trains for its rail network.
Driverless, low emissions tractor in development
28 Jan 2022
Media Release - A driverless tractor able to perform up to three tasks at once is on the cards for New Zealand orchards.
Greener burials uncovered by new Canterbury research
27 Jan 2022
Media Release - While many are striving to live in a more eco-friendly way, a University of Canterbury (UC) academic says we should also have the option to be buried more sustainably.
Otari gets money to conserve native orchids
26 Jan 2022
Media Release - Otari-Wiltons Bush has received a grant through Te Tahua Taiao Nga Taonga Lotteries Environment and Heritage Fund for a project aiming to save some of New Zealand’s most threatened orchids from extinction.
Education and support needed for climate-concerned SMEs
24 Jan 2022
Media Release - A new survey by business management platform, MYOB, has revealed a significant proportion of local SMEs are concerned about the impact of climate change, and while the majority are acting to minimise their carbon outputs, support and education is needed to help more SMEs do the same.
Native tree numbers on the rise in Bay of Plenty
23 Dec 2021
Media Release - The 775,000 native trees and shrubs planted by Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana and volunteers in the past financial year are expected to remove 307,515 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere over the next 80 years.
WCC seeks waste minimisation proposals
22 Dec 2021
Media Release - Expressions of Interest are now open for Wellington City Council’s new Waste Minimisation Seed Fund which focuses on diverting organic waste from the landfill.
Wellington councils draw down first green loans from Local Government Funding Agency
21 Dec 2021
Media Release - Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington have become the first local authorities in New Zealand to draw down green loans from the Local Government Funding Agency (LGFA).
Air New Zealand seeking innovators for next generation aircraft
21 Dec 2021
Media Release - Air New Zealand wants to get a zero emissions aircraft in the air in the next five years and is calling on traditional aviation manufacturers as well as entrepreneurs and innovators from around the world to help achieve its goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The bird that measures Antarctic ice
20 Dec 2021
Media Release - It’s a bird, it’s a plane…It’s a laser-shooting electromagnetic ice device!
Toitu Brighter Futures Awards 2021 announced
20 Dec 2021
Media Release - Toitû Envirocare recognises its top performing clients with the Toitû Brighter Future Awards. These awards symbolise Toitû Envirocare’s values underpinned by best-practice and science-based sustainability expertise, along with a belief in a brighter, more sustainable future.
NZ should follow Netherland's lead and drastically cut stock numbers: Greenpeace
17 Dec 2021
Media Release - On Wednesday the Netherlands announced a plan to drastically transform the agriculture system which is expected to reduce livestock numbers by close to a third. Greenpeace Aotearoa says this sets an example for the New Zealand Government to follow.
‘Keep it clear’ when buying plastic bottles: Hamilton City Council
16 Dec 2021
Media Release - Hamiltonians are being encouraged to ‘keep it clear’ when choosing a soft drink bottle.
Open letter to ministers of forestry and climate change: Ekos
15 Dec 2021
Media Release - Dear Ministers, Ex-tropical cyclones smash our country and cause huge damage to our economy. Under a warming climate these cyclones will get stronger and do even more damage, harming our rural communities.
US$53 million boost for Tongan climate and disaster resilence
13 Dec 2021
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved two new projects totaling US$53 million to boost the climate and disaster resilience of Tongan schools, roads, and ports.
Land and water ecosystems, 'stressed to a critical point': FAO
13 Dec 2021
Land and water resources are “stressed to a critical point”, following significant deterioration over the past decade, according to a major new report released on Thursday by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Canterbury floods more severe due to climate change
10 Dec 2021
Media Release - Researchers studying the effects of climate change on severe weather events in New Zealand have found that the extreme rainfall that brought flooding to Canterbury in May 2021 was 10% to 15% more intense as a result of human influence on the climate system.
Green Party calling for PKE phase out
10 Dec 2021
Media Release - The Green Party is calling on the Minister of Agriculture, Damien O'Connor to phase out the use of the Palm Kernel Expeller (PKE) on farms to help address the climate crisis.
Bay of Plenty climate projects given a boost
9 Dec 2021
Media Release - Two community led climate change adaptation projects have received funds from Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council this week to explore the future impact on their community and begin planning.
Wellington wetland restoration milestone
8 Dec 2021
Media Release - Ten thousand wetland plants have now been added to Taupô Swamp, a milestone in restoration work supported by Ngâti Toa Rangatira and Greater Wellington.
NZ Green Investment Finance partners with NZ Post to accelerate EV transition
7 Dec 2021
Media Release - New Zealand Green Investment Finance (NZGIF) and NZ Post have signed a $20 million financing agreement to accelerate the transition of the NZ Post fleet and its delivery contractors’ vehicles, to electric vans (E-Vans) or low emissions vehicles (LEVs).
Shift happens - BNZ's Future of agribusiness report
7 Dec 2021
Media Release - The Bank of New Zealand's (BNZ) Shift Happens Future of agribusiness report reveals a divided primary sector, adapting to the challenges of climate change and regulation, demanding more from rural connectivity, and grappling with COVID-induced …
Coastal shipping will help keep New Zealand’s supply chain buoyant
6 Dec 2021
Media Release - Transport Minister Michael Wood has welcomed the release of the Coastal Shipping Investment Approach State-of-Play report as an important step towards a more sustainable coastal shipping sector, which will further diversify New Zealand’s supply chain.
Giant crowdfunded note to PM on climate emergency anniversary
3 Dec 2021
Media Release - On the one-year anniversary of Jacinda Ardern’s Climate Emergency declaration, Greenpeace has positioned a cheeky, four storey high, crowdfunded "climate emergency to-do list" on a wall near Parliament in Wellington.
International meeting could open up ocean mining, drastically undermining ocean health
3 Dec 2021
Media Release - Critics are sounding the alarm that an upcoming meeting of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the international body that regulates and controls mining activities in the world’s ocean that lies beyond national jurisdictions, could push through ocean mining regulations in as little as two years.
'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.
