News Direct: Media releases
Westpac NZ and Contact Energy agree first sustainability-linked loan
16 Jan 2020
MEDIA RELEASE WESTPAC NZ & CONTACT ENERGY: Westpac NZ and Contact Energy have entered into a $50 million, four-year sustainability-linked loan facility, the first such loan issued by Westpac NZ and one of the first of its kind in New Zealand.
European cement industry strives for carbon-neutrality by 2050
16 Jan 2020
MEDIA RELEASE CEMBUREAU: CEMBUREAU, the Association of the European cement industry, has today announced its intention to make a decisive contribution to the Green Deal by striving for carbon neutrality along the cement and concrete value chain by 2050.
Air NZ wins sustainable business award
25 Oct 2019
Air New Zealand has been recognised at the New Zealand Tourism Awards for its contribution to growing a sustainable tourism industry, winning the Tourism Sustainability Business Excellence category for businesses with more than $6m annual turnover.
YHA celebrates carbon footprint reduction
23 Oct 2019
YHA New Zealand has reconfirmed its carboNZero certification by celebrating a 21 per cent reduction in carbon emissions since 2016.
Ports of Auckland buys world-first electric tug
5 Aug 2019
Ports of Auckland has signed a contract with Dutch company Damen Shipyards to buy the world’s first full-size, fully electric port tug.
Gene editing has crucial role in cutting emissions
30 Jul 2019
Gene editing has a crucial role to play in reducing emissions to deal with climate change, BiotechNZ executive director Dr Zahra Champion says.
LGNZ gets clear climate message from school activists
26 Jul 2019
School Strike 4 Climate NZ organisers Sophie Handford and Raven Maeder delivered a clear message to more than 600 local government mayors, chairs, chief executives and councillors at the recent LGNZ conference: make climate change a priority.
New plant makes food packaging from recycled plastic
16 Jul 2019
A new plant to make New Zealand’s first range of food packaging from recycled plastic has won Government backing.
Energy agency welcomes Government moves on e-vehicles
11 Jul 2019
Proposals to get more low-emission vehicles on New Zealand roads could be a major step for the transport sector and for transitioning the country to a low-carbon economy, according to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority.
Wood industry centre wins more funding
10 Jul 2019
A project to foster the wood industry on East Cape has won another injection of Government funding.
YHA and Sunshine in line for energy excellence award
10 Jul 2019
YHA New Zealand and partners Sunshine Solar have been recognised as finalists in the Deloitte Energy Excellence Awards.
Kangaroo Island shows rock-solid promise for lithium
25 Jun 2019
Mining and energy company Lithium Australia has reported it has found anomalous lithium and tantalum samples that suggest mining potential on Kangaroo Island in South Australia.
Bottled water giants back new global plan to cut plastic waste
13 Jun 2019
The world’s biggest yoghurt maker Danone and food packaging giant Tetra Pak are among companies leading a global scheme to reduce plastic waste.
CellCube to bring grid battery to South Australia
23 May 2019
Renewables firm Pangea Energy and vanadium battery producer CellCube have signed on to build a 50MW storage system alongside a solar farm in South Australia.
Minesto partners with leading financial adviser
22 May 2019
Swedish marine energy developer Minesto has engaged with leading financial adviser Pareto Securities to intensify relationships with institutional investors.
Finland using circular economy of textiles
21 May 2019
In Finland, end-of-life textiles no longer end up in landfills, but there is still a lot of room for improved efficiency in their recycling and reuse.
Adidas launches 100% recyclable footwear
26 Apr 2019
Adidas has launched a 100 per cent recyclable shoe aimed at unlocking a circular future for the sports industry.
Whangarei likes electric vehicles
16 Aug 2018
Whangarei, winner of the most electric vehicle friendly town in New Zealand award, has a big advantage over other regions.
Mercury mission to convert hearts as well as minds
7 Mar 2018
Mercury has taken a step to inspire New Zealanders to embrace the future of transportation with a hi-tech conversion of a classic car.
Calix gets finance for carbon-captue project
1 Feb 2018
Australian technology company Calix says it has secured 3.4 million euros in working capital from Efic, the Australian Government’s export credit agency, to build a carbon dioxide-capture facility for the Low Emissions Intensity Lime and Cement project in Belgium.
Minesto eyes first ocean current electricity generation
24 Jan 2018
Swedish marine energy developer Minesto is intensifying activities in Taiwan to establish the company's unique Deep Green technology in the Asian market.
Mercury confirms Tesla battery for grid trial
23 Jan 2018
Tesla has been confirmed as the battery provider for Mercury’s scalable national grid-connected battery trial, following a competitive tender process that began in September last year.
Auckland takes zero-waste world crown
6 Dec 2017
Auckland is one of 10 international cities honoured today at the C40 Cities Awards in Chicago which recognises the world’s most inspiring and innovative cities tackling climate change.
Ravensdown appoints consenting planner
1 Dec 2017
Ravensdown has appointed Victoria Caseley as a principal planner to develop the consenting capability in its environmental consultancy.
Ethical retailer attracts $2m in investments
27 Nov 2017
In one of the biggest capital raises for a social enterprise in New Zealand’s history, the ethical retailer champion Conscious Consumers has attracted $2 million of investment for its upcoming launch into the United Kingdom.
AirNZ first airline to join EV100
13 Nov 2017
Reinforcing its leadership position in the shift to electric vehicles, Air New Zealand has been announced as the first airline to join The Climate Group’s EV100 initiative.
Auckland Council wins waste award
13 Nov 2017
Auckland Council has again been recognised for its commitment to delivering zero-waste, this time by the New Zealand waste management industry’s WasteMINZ Awards for Excellence.
Youth hostels reach sustainable milestone
24 Nov 2016
YHA New Zealand is the first accommodation network in the world be certified by CarboNZero.
Sharp's green efforts pay dividend
24 Nov 2016
Sharp Corporation’s efforts to responsibly manage the environmental effects of its products have been recognised with accreditation to the Product Stewardship Scheme, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith says.
Business network wins sustainability award
10 Oct 2016
The Sustainable Business Network has won the Sustainability Support category in AUT’s Excellence in Business Support Awards.
Children's sunscreen fails tests
22 Sep 2016
Makers of a children’s sunscreen marketed as “organic” have been warned by the Commerce Commission following a complaint from Consumer NZ.
Child labour not for us, says Karen Walker
12 Aug 2016
Kiwi clothing designer Karen Walker has certified that none of its garments are made using child labour.
Farm trust honours regional winners
8 Jun 2016
Supreme winners from the 11 regions participating in the 2016 Ballance Farm Environment Awards will be honoured at New Zealand Farm Environment Trust’s National Sustainability Showcase this month.
Canon offers prizes to environmentalists
7 Jun 2016
Canon New Zealand’s 2016 Environmental Grants Programme is open.
School gets first Powerwall battery
16 May 2016
New Zealand’s first Tesla Energy Powerwall battery has been switched on at a South Auckland primary school.
Small meat producer wins help from the experts
28 Apr 2016
A specialist pork and beef producer has won a nationwide competition to have some of the country’s top experts help to promote the business.
Business incubator has high hopes for Northland
7 Apr 2016
Ranui Sustainable, a Whangarei-based business incubator with the mission to make Northland the most sustainable region in the Southern Hemisphere by 2025, is launching a Kiwi Innovators programme to connect Northlanders with New Zealand’s best thinkers in sustainable innovation.
Sunny days bring out new storage battery
1 Apr 2016
Wellington’s sunny weather has attracted a nationwide solar power company to launch the first installation in New Zealand of a new technology residential storage battery, charged by solar power at a Wellington home today.
Kaimira wins wines sustainability award
31 Mar 2016
The debut Organic Wine Awards Sustainable Vineyard of the Year title has been awarded to Kaimira Estate.
Eco tours operators win Marlborough accolade
31 Mar 2016
Will and Rose Parsons have long known that good environmental practice is good business practice, too.
Huhtamaki plans energy cuts
10 Mar 2016
Moulded-fibre manufacturer Huhtamaki plans to cut energy consumption by 5 per cent a year, reducing annual carbon emissions by 417 tonnes.
Watercare sets 2025 biogas target
29 Feb 2016
Auckland water company Watercare says that by 2025, its two biggest wastewater treatment plants will be powered entirely from biogas produced from the city’s sewage.
Concrete innovator wins expansion money
26 Feb 2016
Concrete-block manufacturer Interbloc has been recognised for its efforts to manage the environmental effects of its products – and received $430,000 of Government money to expand its recycling project.
NZ Post switches to electric mail delivery
15 Feb 2016
New Zealand Post is making a significant investment in its parcel and mail business with the addition of new Paxster electric delivery vehicles to its fleet.
Panasonic launches home storage battery
15 Feb 2016
Panasonic New Zealand has launched its first lithium-ion home storage battery - a system that can sense and store excess clean solar energy to power the household in the evening once the solar system has stopped producing.
Harrisons signs solar panel deal
15 Feb 2016
Harrisons Energy Solutions has announced an exclusive distribution partnership that brings one its solar panel optimisers to New Zealand households.
Toyota dealers save on energy costs
30 Nov 2015
Toyota dealers around the country have saved a total of $125,000 in energy costs as part of a drive to get Enviro-Mark Gold certification.
Eco tours operator impresses judges
12 Oct 2015
A successful business driven by the ethos of inspiration through adventure is how judges described Queenstown’s Ziptrek Ecotours in announcing it as the winner of the Environmental Tourism Award at this year’s Tourism Industry Awards.
Green cleaners no better than water, says watchdog
7 Sep 2015
Manufacturers of laundry balls market them as an “environmentally friendly” cleaning option.
Kia remains our only CarboNZero certified car company
7 Sep 2015
Kia is the only car company in New Zealand that has gained certification by CarboNZero.
'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.
NZ homes could be fully solar-powered by 2032
Today 11:00am
Media release - Harrisons Solar | A surge in solar capacity has put New Zealand on track to generate enough solar energy to power every home in the country within the next seven years, according to new research.
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.
Forest carbon stores massive blind spot - study
Today 11:00am
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Aotearoa New Zealand’s planted forests hold significant deep soil organic carbon — with over half of it stored below 30 cm, and much of it over 1,000 years old.
XRB consults on delaying climate reporting requirements
Today 11:00am
The External Reporting Board is proposing a further two years relief for companies to adopt anticipated financial impacts reporting and scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions reporting and assurance.
