News Direct: Media releases
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.
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.
Energy and environment in an election year
Today 12:15pm
Parliament resumes this week but the year ahead is already framed by the November 7 election.
Shifting peak power use could save NZ $3 billion, report finds
Today 12:15pm
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Almost a quarter of New Zealand’s peak electricity demand could be shifted to off-peak hours, saving the country $3 billion in power generation and infrastructure to meet peak demand, according to new analysis from EECA.
State-owned farmer drives profit growth with emissions reductions
19 Dec 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | Government-owned Landcorp, trading as Pāmu, is one-third of the way to meeting its 2031 emissions reduction targets, with five years left to run to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30.3% against 2021 emissions.
Transport dominates NZ’s rising consumer emissions
10 Dec 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Transport pollution was the biggest contributor to an increase in New Zealand’s consumption-based emissions in 2023, with emissions from household travel up 12%, and consumption-based emissions totalling 58.3 million tonnes – up 1.6% from the previous year.
NZ could become ‘dumping ground’ for dirty vehicles: Commissioner
16 Dec 2025
By Liz Kivi | Simon Upton, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, has warned the Government that its changes to the clean car standard could turn the country into a dumping ground for high emitting cars, making future emissions budgets harder to achieve.
Govt consulting on further ETS fee cuts for foresters
Today 12:15pm
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Government has moved to reduce compliance costs for forest owners, announcing a further cut to ETS registry charges and a new consultation on service fees, a move welcomed by forestry industry groups.
Investors must support positive climate-tech
28 Nov 2025
OPINION: We need better leadership than the current ‘climate opportunism’ that is rife in the Beehive, and we need to back a marketplace that will make it happen, writes Rob Campbell.
