News Direct: Media releases
Aussie hotel wins carboNZero certification
5 Feb 2010
Australia's first conservation-based luxury resort, Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, is the first hotel in the world to achieve carbon neutral certification from an internationally accredited greenhouse gas certification scheme.
New work under way on Phase II of RMA reforms
29 Jan 2010
New Zealand needs to do better with its planning of urban development and associated infrastructure, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.
Windflow progress pleases shareholders
18 Dec 2009
Shareholders at Windflow Technology’s annual meeting held on Wednesday in Christchurch were reminded of the numerous engineering and financial achievements made by the company over the year, and were also provided with pleasing news on the progress with NZ Windfarms.
NZ firm helps British sheep
18 Dec 2009
A New Zealand firm, Rissington Breedline says it is reducing the carbon footprint of British sheep.
Todd takes stake in Crest
4 Dec 2009
Todd Energy has taken a cornerstone shareholding in tidal energy company Crest Energy.
Decision to go to Copenhagen the easy part, says Greenpeace
4 Dec 2009
Greenpeace says John Key has made the right decision to attend the Copenhagen climate talks, but is warning him against relying on New Zealand’s current climate policies as a figleaf.
Meridian to appeal Project Hayes decision
4 Dec 2009
Meridian Energy will appeal the Environment Court’s refusal of resource consent for the Project Hayes wind farm, saying it will block nationally-important infrastructure projects if left to stand.
NIWA: Glaciers continue to shrink
27 Nov 2009
New Zealand's glaciers lost significant ice mass again last summer.
ETS: Society wants forestry answers
27 Nov 2009
The Environmental Defence Society has called on the government to clarify exactly what forestry will be permitted on Department of Conservation land as a result of the agreement with the Maori Party on the emissions trading scheme.
Young Kiwis want transport changes
27 Nov 2009
A climate change survey of young New Zealanders has found a whopping 96 per cent are in favour of some changes to the country’s current transport system, with the majority voting for substantial change.
Maori Party: Deal to benefit all
23 Nov 2009
New Zealand's role in global warming and its financial commitments are set to be lowered as a result of the afforestation provision the Maori Party has negotiated with the Government.
Maori health will be hit hard, say MPs
20 Nov 2009
Lower income Maori households will be amongst the hardest hit by the emissions trading scheme deal, because they will be forced to pay more taxes to subsidise big polluters while much- needed social spending is slashed, say Labour MPs Charles Chauvel and Mita Ririnui.
Steam turbine wins award
20 Nov 2009
GE Oil & Gas’ advanced steam turbine technology has won CSP Today’s Best Applied Research and Development Award for innovation in concentrated solar power.
Arrested activists criticise Fonterra
20 Nov 2009
The four Greenpeace activists arrested this week after closing down a Southland lignite coalmine say they succeeded in drawing attention to Fonterra’s expanding use of coal for milk processing.
Smith's Treaury reaction a worry, says Chauvel
20 Nov 2009
National is in complete denial with its rejection this week of Treasury's estimate that the government's ETS scheme will cost the Kiwi taxpayer a "staggering" $110 billion dollars, Labour says.
International recognition for environmental law scholar
13 Nov 2009
New Zealander Professor Klaus Bosselmann is the first winner of the Senior Scholarship Prize awarded by the IUCN Academy for Environmental Law.
North Shore in line for sustainability award
13 Nov 2009
The North Shore City Council is a finalist for three awards in a new scheme which showcases and rewards excellence in sustainable business practice in New Zealand.
Bio-fuel levy the last straw for forest owners
13 Nov 2009
A government decision to make big companies pay for some of their greenhouse gas emissions when using wood pellets and other biofuels is seen as the last straw by many in the forest industry.
Kiwis and business reject ETS change, say Greens
6 Nov 2009
A new survey shows 82 per cent of the population believe that emitters should pay for their excess emissions, a clear rejection of National's plan to force taxpayers to pick up the tab, the Green Party says.
Thank you for doubling our traffic in a single day
16 Oct 2009
Carbon News’ production of four special editions yesterday breaking inside news on ETS select committee hearings doubled traffic to our web site.
Sack Nick Smith from climate portfolio, says Dunleavy
16 Oct 2009
A call to Prime Minister to relieve Nick Smith of the climate change issues portfolio has been made by the New Zealand Climate Science Coalition’s secretary, Terry Dunleavy.
Blue-Greens must be 'pink' with embarrasment, says Chauvel
2 Oct 2009
Labour’s Climate Change Issues spokesperson Charles Chauvel says ministers will privately be hoping that the doors are locked at the National Party’s Blue Greens conference in Wellington this weekend.
Solid Energy and Ravensdown investigate lignite-to-fertiliser plant
23 Sep 2009
Energy producer Solid Energy, and agricultural fertiliser supplier Ravensdown are jointly investigating the viability of building a US$1 billion-plus coal-to-fertiliser plant in Eastern Southland.
Several steps till cement plant decision, says Holcim
23 Sep 2009
While a positive Environment Court outcome is one further step in the process to ensure continued long-term cement supply for New Zealand, there are still some important stages to work through before a final decision on whether a Holcim cement plant will go ahead in the Oamaru area, the company says.
Carbon neutral-certified wine competition a top effort
18 Sep 2009
It took three days of judging and involved sampling 1480 different wines, but now the Liquorland Top 100 judges have successfully picked the 100 best drops at New Zealand’s first carboNZeroCert certified wine competition.
Sustainable business programme makes a difference in Cromwell
18 Sep 2009
A small Cromwell business is singing the praises of a business planning programme that seeks to improve the sustainability of Central Otago businesses.
Biofuels move welcomed
18 Sep 2009
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority is welcoming the biodiesel supply agreement announced between Environ Fuels Ltd and Explore NZ.
Smith: ETS revisions "balance" environment, economy
14 Sep 2009
The Government, with Maori Party support, will revise the Emissions Trading Scheme to reduce the costs to households and the impact on jobs while ensuring New Zealand takes a responsible approach to the global problem of greenhouse gas pollution and climate change.
Business NZ: Revised ETS ‘more measured’
14 Sep 2009
Business NZ says the revised emissions trading scheme proposed by the Government today better balances environmental and economic needs.
Business leaders: bill for proposed ETS changes could run to billions?
14 Sep 2009
The proposed changes to the emissions trading scheme are disappointing and the bill to taxpayers could run to billions.
NZ leads the world in compressed air power saving
11 Sep 2009
New Zealand-developed compressed air audits could be a winner for climate change worldwide, says Julia Beck, the Australasian project director for manufacturers of industrial compressed air systems.
NZ Clean Energy Centre to break ground in Taupo
4 Sep 2009
The New Zealand Clean Energy Centre, with funding from both the government and private sectors, has finalised architectural plans for its 800 square metre facility in Taupo and aims to begin construction this year.
Global warming legislation 'would fail a proper regulatory impact assessment'
4 Sep 2009
There are no scientific forecasts to support the belief that emissions trading will benefit New Zealanders, says Wellington-based Monash University forecasting researcher, Dr Kesten Green.
Government fiddling while planet burns, says Greenpeace
31 Aug 2009
Greenpeace is warning that taxpayers will pay if there’s a price cap added to the long over due emissions trading scheme, but welcomed agreement by most members of parliament that climate change is real and action needs to be taken now.
Mt Cass wind farm plan revised
28 Aug 2009
MainPower has revised road and turbine layouts for its proposed wind farm on Mt Cass - significantly reducing the amount of native vegetation and limestone pavement that needs to be cleared.
Climate experts to brief young ambassadors
28 Aug 2009
Government and academic experts will share their expertise on climate change at the first of three NZ workshops preparing a group of young Kiwis for the international stage.
Loads-of-roads programme dinosaur thinking, say Greens
28 Aug 2009
The "loads of roads" National Land Transport Programme will mire New Zealand in an outdated 1950s approach to transport and do nothing to protect us from rising oil prices, climate change, or the obesity epidemic, says the Green Party.
Online GHG reduction calculator
28 Aug 2009
In an effort to increase the understanding of various emissions trading scheme-related policy suggestions, The ValueAdd Company has launched an online Greenhouse gas emissions reduction target analyser.
Sustainable paints win $1m prize for Resene
21 Aug 2009
New Zealand-owned Resene Paints Ltd had won Industrial Research Ltd’s What’s Your Problem New Zealand? competition.
Government scheme warms more than 3000 homes
21 Aug 2009
Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee says the government ‘s home-insulation scheme is exceeding expectations in its first month of operation.
Queenstown businesses learn how to use less power
21 Aug 2009
Before spending a fortune on the latest energy-saving device, check your bills, swap to efficient lighting, replace shower heads and install flow regulators.
Hybrid car advert okay, authority rules
21 Aug 2009
A recent complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority over claims made about the fuel efficiency and environmental benefits of hybrid cars in a television advertisement by The Clean Green Car Company has been dismissed in a unanimous decision by the ASA Complaints Board, the car company says.
More people buying smaller cars
21 Aug 2009
Some 16 per cent of people said they had recently down-sized their main vehicle, with 52 per cent citing fuel economy as the main reason, according to the 2009 AA Insurance Drivers Index.
Labour wrong on 2020 costs, says Smith
14 Aug 2009
Labour's claims that the government has exaggerated by tenfold the costs of a 10 to 20 per cent emissions reduction target announced on Monday raises serious questions about the economic literacy of the Opposition, says Climate Change Issues Minister Nick Smith.
Greens: NZ to spend on emissions target when it could save
14 Aug 2009
The Government wants to take the most expensive route to its emissions target, telling the world it will purchase carbon credits rather than work to reduce New Zealand’s greenhouse gases, says the Green Party.
Most New Zealanders want 20-plus emissions reduction target
7 Aug 2009
Almost half of New Zealanders want the Government to set a target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent or more by 2020.
High price for 100 per cent renewable energy, says Smith
7 Aug 2009
Achieving 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2020 would cost $17.5 billion, put power prices up by 30 per cent and require the equivalent of seven Clyde Dams being built, Climate Change Minister Nick Smith says.
ANZAC approach needed to tackle climate change, says business group
7 Aug 2009
The upcoming Australia-New Zealand Business Climate Change Conference is an opportunity for the two countries to develop a common voice on climate change issues, say Trans-Tasman Business Circle chief executive John Weiss and the general manager of the Australia and New Zealand Sustainability Circle, Gareth Johnston.
New reports help inform climate change policy, says Smith
31 Jul 2009
New reports released this week on the economic and forestry aspects of climate change policy will help inform Government decisions on New Zealand's 2020 emissions target and policy on emissions trading, Climate Change Minister Nick Smith says.
Costs of emissions cuts most likely overstated - report
31 Jul 2009
A carbon price of $100 to $200 per tonne is being assumed to generate estimates that New Zealand households will face a $3000-a-year bill for cutting emissions by 15 per cent, says the Business Council for Sustainable Development.
Cuts to climate finance put exports in jeopardy: Lawyers
23 May 2025
By Liz Kivi | The government has halved international climate finance, a move aid organisations describe as “devastating,” and which lawyers say could put our Paris Agreement commitments and export market access at risk.
Gas supply reducing faster than forecast
Thu 5 Jun 2025
By Liz Kivi | Gas reserves have reduced 27% as of 1 January 2025 compared to last year, according to data released today by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
Controversy around NZ’s methane target hits international press
Tue 3 Jun 2025
By Liz Kivi | New Zealand’s approach to methane targets has hit international media, with climate scientists from multiple countries penning an open letter warning Prime Minister Christopher Luxon not to weaken methane targets.
Tech alone won’t save us, warns climate expert
Wed 4 Jun 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Technology alone won't be enough to reach net zero emissions, environmental psychologist Lorraine Whitmarsh told the Carbon and Energy Professionals conference in Auckland last week.
“It’s not the car – it’s how we move” – EECA
Tue 3 Jun 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams| New Zealand’s transport emissions conversation has focused heavily on electric vehicles – but Richard Briggs, group manager, delivery and partnerships at the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, says we’re asking the wrong question.
Fed Farmers launches campaign against carbon forestry
Fri 6 Jun 2025
By Liz Kivi | Federated Farmers has launched what they are calling the ‘Save Our Sheep’ campaign, blaming carbon forestry for declining sheep numbers and calling on the government to urgently review the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Kiwi cleantech companies on the world stage
27 May 2025
Six New Zealand 'cleantech' companies were in Singapore earlier this month, along with a venture capital firm and the MacDiarmid Institute, to meet investors and multinational partners.
