News Direct: Media releases
New electric buses for Wellington
25 Aug 2021
Metlink is on track to becoming the lowest carbon emissions network in the country, as a new tranche of 10 electric vehicles (EVs) started rolling out on the road this week.
Canterbury offers NZ's first undergraduate sustainability degree
17 Aug 2021
Media Release - Business leaders are welcoming Aotearoa New Zealand’s first undergraduate sustainability degree, saying the sector is crying out for more expertise as it faces new targets and competing goals.
Auckland Council endorses fossil fuel divestment policy
13 Aug 2021
Media Release - Auckland Council's Environment and Climate Change Committee yesterday unanimously endorsed the C40 Cities Divest/Invest Declaration, reaffirming its policy of not investing in companies involved in the production of fossil fuels and committing to championing investments in the green economy
Auckland Universtiiy building project tops green ratings
13 Aug 2021
The University of Auckland’s Social Sciences Building has been awarded 93 points by the New Zealand Green Building Council achieving a 6 Green Star Design rating. This is the highest score awarded since the inception of the rating, putting the building in the ‘world leadership’ category.
Genesis to add solar power to energy portfolio
12 Aug 2021
Media Release - Genesis Energy has signalled its intent to develop solar as part its renewable generation programme.
Contact and Genesis announce long-term renewable electricity agreement
12 Aug 2021
Media Release - Contact Energy is set to supply Genesis Energy with renewable electricity for 15 years from 2025, as part of a new, long-term power purchase agreement after key terms were signed yesterday.
Growing number of Wellingtonians going by bike
11 Aug 2021
Media Release - The number of Wellingtonians commuting by bike continues to grow with the latest data showing more people than ever riding into the central city during the busy morning peak
Climate change policy farmers' number one concern
10 Aug 2021
Media Release - Asked to identify their three greatest concerns in a recent survey, farmers listed climate change policy and the ETS (chosen by 18.5% of respondents), followed by regulation and compliance costs (17.1%), and freshwater policy (11.0%).
Greater Wellington welcomes free bus proposal
9 Aug 2021
Media Release - Greater Wellington councillors welcomed strong representation from Pôneke Collective, a broad coalition of students and welfare groups seeking more equitable access to public transport, at last week's Transport Committee meeting.
Aussie Govt allows renewable energy agency to invest in fossil fuels
6 Aug 2021
Media Release - The Federal Government has damaged the integrity of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) by changing its remit so that it can invest in fossil fuels.
NZ's only climate venture fund makes first investment ...in Australia
5 Aug 2021
Media Release - Climate Venture Capital Fund, New Zealand’s only dedicated climate-change venture capital fund, has made its first investment.
Climate change with a supernatural twist
5 Aug 2021
Media Release - The Forgotten Ones is a new series of novels that imagines our children’s children’s future. Climate change has dramatically altered the entire earth and humans are on the verge of extinction. Heeding the call of a mysterious force, Maia must make her way from Aotearoa to the Arctic Circle in search of a better future.
Climate change business conference announced
4 Aug 2021
Media Release - The Sustainable Business Council (SBC) and the Climate Leaders Coalition (CLC) have joined forces with the Environmental Defence Society (EDS) to take the 2021 Climate Change and Business Conference - Now to Net Zero, to a new level.
Investors sought for carbon cutting cooling technology
4 Aug 2021
Introducing Eco2Dairy; Cold Energy Technology’s latest piece of innovative cooling technology, capable of reducing New Zealand’s dairy farming carbon footprint by 263,250 tonnes of CO2e per year.
Kapiti embeds climate into decsion making
3 Aug 2021
Media Release - Kapiti Coast District Council’s adoption of a Climate Emergency Action Framework means thinking about climate change will be even more firmly embedded in all Council decisions.
Hamilton cyclists in for a smoother ride
2 Aug 2021
Media Release - People on bikes are set for a smoother ride through the city with the introduction of specialist sweeping machines, made specifically for cycle lanes.
Two new cycle bridges over Northern Motorway
2 Aug 2021
Media Release - The opening of two bridges over Auckland’s Northern Motorway is the last link of a cycling and walking route which provides a safe, active alternative for students and commuters, Transport Minister Michael Wood said yesterday.
IGCC 2021 Climate Awards entries are open
30 Jul 2021
Media Release - The Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC) is excited to announce the Climate Awards are now open for entries.
Greenpeace calls foul on AB's Ineos sponsorship
29 Jul 2021
Media Release - Greenpeace is calling foul on NZ Rugby’s decision to sign a sponsorship deal with the oil and plastic polluting petrochemical giant INEOS.
Earth overshoot day
29 Jul 2021
Media Release - It's Earth Overshoot Day again. Two years ago it was 26th July, last year, mostly due to Covid, Earth Overshoot Day was 22nd August, so globally the situation has slightly improved.
Campaign to save urban trees launched
27 Jul 2021
Media Release - A new campaign to stop the cutting down of mature trees in New Zealand’s cities has launched today.
Coal not the way forward for Southland: NGOs
23 Jul 2021
Media Release - Environmental NGOs wrote to Southland District Council yesterday expressing deep concern over the Council’s decision to grant an access arrangement to New Brighton Collieries Limited (NBCL), an overseas owned company, for coal exploration in the Ohai forestry area.
Mercedes-Benz prepares to go all-electric
23 Jul 2021
Media Release - Mercedes-Benz is getting ready to go all electric by the end of the decade, where market conditions allow. Shifting from electric-first to electric-only, the world's preeminent luxury car company is accelerating toward an emissions-free and software-driven future.
Fully renewable energy feasible for Samoa: Otago study
23 Jul 2021
Media Release - The future of Samoa’s electricity system could go green, a University of Otago study has shown.
Canterbury engineers working on carbon negative hydrogen
21 Jul 2021
Media Release - University of Canterbury engineering researchers are developing a carbon-neutral – even carbon-negative – way to create clean ‘green’ hydrogen to power our world more sustainably.
Return of the giants
21 Jul 2021
Media Release - “It's great to see the return of these forest giants,” commented Daran Ponter, Chair of Greater Wellington, as he planted the first of 300 kahikatea on the Mataihuka block at Queen Elizabeth Park. “It has long been known that these wonderful trees, such an abundant mahinga kai for Maori, once dominated this landscape.”
Govt procurement goes green
20 Jul 2021
Media Release - A new All-of-Government (AoG) office supplies contract – used by over a thousand government agencies – focuses on low-waste, sustainable products, and will deliver tangible economic and environmental outcomes, Laurence Pidcock, General Manager of New Zealand Government Procurement (NZGP, a branch within MBIE), announced today.
Proposed EU carbon tax will hurt poor countries: UN
19 Jul 2021
UN Media Release - Although a new European Union (EU) climate initiative unveiled on Wednesday could change global trade patterns to favour countries where production is relatively carbon efficient, its value in mitigating climate change will likely be limited, the UN trade and development agency, UNCTAD, has warned.
Hydrogen agreement signed with Singapore
16 Jul 2021
Media Release - The signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation on low-carbon hydrogen with Singapore signals the start of greater collaboration between the two countries as they transition towards low carbon economies, says Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods.
National releases ute tax video
16 Jul 2021
Media Release - Leader of the Opposition Judith Collins says National’s ‘Demand the Debate’ campaign has received unprecedented support since its launch on Sunday and has today released a video highlighting the effect the Government’s Ute Tax will have on the rural sector.
Local offset company buys German firm
14 Jul 2021
Media Release - CarbonClick acquires German based sustainability app “Wonderflower”.
New EV fast-chargers for capital
14 Jul 2021
Media Release - Wellington City Council has secured almost half a million dollars in funding to roll out 30 electric vehicle (EV) fast-chargers across the capital.
Contact converts NZD$305m to Sustainability Linked Loans
13 Jul 2021
Media Release - Contact Energy (Contact) now has New Zealand’s largest group of Sustainability Linked Loans (SLLs) after converting its remaining NZD$305m of bank facilities to SLLs.
Nearly half of Kiwis would consider an electric car
12 Jul 2021
Media Release - New Zealand’s interest in electric cars is accelerating, according to new research by financial comparison site, Finder.
Southland can be net zero and economically successful: report
9 Jul 2021
Media Release - Southland has the potential to both meet the New Zealand Government’s ‘net zero’ emissions target by 2050 and retain a positive economic position, a new report shows.
Silver Fern Farms launches "net carbon zero" beef
9 Jul 2021
Media Release - Net Carbon Zero Certified* Beef, Regenerative Agriculture and the elimination of coal by 2030; today, Silver Fern Farms has committed to several bold initiatives to drive its vision of being the world’s most successful and sustainable grass-fed red meat company.
KiwiRail’s inaugural Rail Network Investment Programme released
8 Jul 2021
Media Release - The Government is fulfilling its commitment to bring New Zealand’s rail network back up to scratch and support the economic recovery, Transport Minister Michael Wood announced today.
Call for free public transport in capital to fight climate change
6 Jul 2021
Media Release - The Victoria University Students Association has come together with 36 local community groups and has launched a petition calling on the government to fund a trial of free public transport for Community Service Card holders and students in the Greater Wellington region.
CO2 sequestering concrete arrives in Aotearoa
5 Jul 2021
Media Release - A new technology in concrete that could save New Zealand the amount of carbon emissions equivalent to 6.3 flights Auckland to Christchurch for every house built here on average has been brought into the country by leading manufacturer Stevenson.
IGCC appoints new CEO
2 Jul 2021
Media Release - The Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC) board has today announced the appointment of Rebecca Mikula-Wright as Chief Executive Officer of the organisation.
Winners at the Mindful Money Ethical and Impact Investment awards
1 Jul 2021
Media Release - The inaugural Ethical and Impact Investment awards were held on 29 June at Generator in Wynyard Quarter in an event with over 200 participants.
Oxfam launches farm emissions petition
1 Jul 2021
Media Release - Oxfam Aotearoa launches a new campaign to rally Kiwis across the country to demand greater climate action.
COP26 registration opens
1 Jul 2021
Media Release - The UN Climate Change online portal to register Parties, admitted observers and media representatives to attend the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 (31 October – 12 November 2021) in Glasgow is open for participants.
MPI GHG research funding round opens
30 Jun 2021
Media Release - The funding round for the Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI’s) 2021 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Research Fund is now open, with $1.1 million available for new projects in the 2021/22 financial year
UN Food System Summits' action areas announced
30 Jun 2021
Media Release - The UN Food Systems Summit has revealed the 15 action areas with more than 50 solution clusters that will serve as a key element to underpin discussions at the Pre-Summit gathering in Rome, Italy from July 26-28.
Australian investor plan for mandatory financial disclosure on climate risk
29 Jun 2021
Media Release - A plan for Australia to adopt a mandatory financial disclosure for climate change risks over the next four years has been released by major investor networks to help cut red tape for business and protect national economic stability.
Forest & Bird launches petition to shut-down coal
28 Jun 2021
Media Release - The Government needs to urgently consider how to stop new or expanded coal mines in New Zealand to keep climate warming to safe levels, says Forest & Bird.
New chair for CEP
28 Jun 2021
Media Release - Carbon and Energy Professionals today announced its new Chair will be Ben Thomson of Lumen Engineering.
Waikato Regional Council to divest from fossil fuel companies
25 Jun 2021
Media Release - Waikato Regional Councillors, yesterday, voted in favour of a new Responsible Investment Policy that includes a climate change investment policy and a commitment to divest from coal, oil, and gas companies.
NZ's largest grid-connected solar farm opens in Taranaki
24 Jun 2021
Media Release - New Zealand’s largest grid-connected solar power plant is up and running at Kapuni in South Taranaki
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.
