News Direct: Media releases
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.
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!
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
Fri 13 Mar 2026
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.
