News Direct: Media releases
Methyl bromide use seen as foolhardy
8 Apr 2011
News that the hole in the ozone layer over the Arctic has increased to unprecedented levels highlights the urgent need for New Zealand to phase out use of the highly potent ozone depleting fumigant methyl bromide, says the Green Party.
National standards smooth way
1 Apr 2011
Australian company EnviroDevelopment has released its first set of national certification standards.
Green champions get help
1 Apr 2011
Australia’s fastest growing green development rating system, EnviroDevelopment, has unveiled a new initiative – EnviroDevelopment Professional – designed to provide business development opportunities for green champions.
Recycling drive targets schools
25 Mar 2011
Technology finance specialist Equico launched its Equico-Eco initiative at Richmond Road Primary School in Auckland this week, marking the start of a campaign to improve the sustainability of New Zealand's schools.
Shopping centre plans to celebrate
18 Mar 2011
As part of its long-term sustainable retail plan, Tauranga's Bayfair Shopping Centre is taking part in one of the world’s largest climate change initiatives – Earth Hour 2011.
Winemaker urges Earth Hour action
18 Mar 2011
A carbon-neutral winemaker is urging New Zealand to say cheers to Mother Earth this Earth Hour.
EPA appointments under fire
11 Mar 2011
The former interests of members appointed to the Establishment Board for the Environmental Protection Agency make them unsuitable candidates for the job, the Green Party says.
Welcome to the Year of the Forest
11 Mar 2011
The 2011 International Year of Forests was launched this week at Parliament by Forestry Minister David Carter and Woodco chair Doug Ducker.
Heat Smart warms up Auckland homes
25 Feb 2011
Nearly 19,000 homes in Auckland are warmer and drier homes in thanks to the Government’s Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart home insulation scheme, says Maungakiekie MP Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.
Aluminium's the word, says industry
25 Feb 2011
The international aluminium industry is promoting its environmental advantages.
Wind farm adds power to the economy
11 Feb 2011
The new Te Uku wind farm showcases the benefits of wind energy to the New Zealand economy, according to Fraser Clark, chief executive of the Wind Energy Association.
New process turns old plastic into road cones
11 Feb 2011
Road cones will soon be made in New Zealand using waste plastic, Environment Minister Nick Smith announced yesterday.
NZ winning war on dioxin emissions
11 Feb 2011
A report by the Environment Ministry on dioxin emissions shows New Zealand is making significant progress in reducing our exposure to these toxic chemicals, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.
Partnership boosts rural enviro services
11 Feb 2011
The Agrecovery rural recycling programme, and assurance services provider AsureQuality have entered into a partnership aimed at reinforcing and promoting environmental best-practice to New Zealand’s farmers and growers.
Which climate science does Smith accept?
28 Jan 2011
The Climate Science Coalition wants Climate Change Issues Minister Nick Smith to amplify his statement to the New Zealand Herald’s Brian Fallow last Saturday: “We accept the science” relating to global warming and the forthcoming review later this year of the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Nestle gets into schools' good books
28 Jan 2011
Schools in South Auckland and a Wanganui school are more environmentally conscious and sustainable thanks to the eighth year of the Nestlé Community Environment Programme.
Blame Brownlee for blackouts, says Labour
21 Jan 2011
If New Zealanders are asked over the next few years to reduce power use or face blackouts, the responsibility will fall squarely on Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee, says Labour's Associate Energy spokesperson Chris Hipkins.
RMA reforms deliver first major consent ahead of time, says Smith
23 Dec 2010
Environment Minister Nick Smith is welcoming the decision to grant consents for Contact Energy’s $1 billion Tauhara II 250 MW geothermal power station in Taupo – the first project processed under the national consenting process of the reformed Resource Management Act.
Underground gas storage gets go-ahead
17 Dec 2010
An Origin/Contact Energy consortium has been granted permission to proceed to fully commissioning the Ahuroa underground gas storage facility near Stratford in Taranaki
Black Robin earns a feather in its cap
17 Dec 2010
A small Auckland-based strategy and design agency with a strong environmental commitment is the first business in its sector to achieve CarboNZero small-enterprise certification.
Emissions testing the key, say motor traders
17 Dec 2010
The Motor Trade Association says a recent study by the NZ Transport Agency into air pollution overlooks at least one simple step that could be taken to reduce the level of contaminant in the air.
NZ wave-power machine wins award
17 Dec 2010
A New Zealand-developed and designed wave-power device has been awarded Statement of Design Feasibility certification by an international certification agency, Det Norske Veritas.
Farmers can check effluent systems
17 Dec 2010
Dairy farmers in the Rotorua lakes catchments can now find out how well their effluent management system is working.
Lanzatech hits the hot 50
10 Dec 2010
Energy technology company LanzaTech (http://www.lanzatech.co.nz/) has climbed higher in the world ranking of the “50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy”.
Wind group: Court gives nod to wind farms
3 Dec 2010
The Environment Court’s approval of Contact Energy’s proposed Waitahora wind farm recognises that well-designed wind farms are entirely appropriate in windy, elevated farmland, says the Wind Energy Association.
Nova Energy buys EGas customers
3 Dec 2010
Nova Energy has purchased the customer database fromliquidated energy company EGas.
Can we have a word, say kids at Cancun
3 Dec 2010
The Cancun climate change negotiations are being stormed by hundreds of young people calling for fair, ambitious and legally binding intergovernmental action on climate change - and our own New Zealand Youth Delegation is right in the midst of it.
Climate change talks must deliver - Oxfam
3 Dec 2010
Negotiators must begin UN climate talks with far more urgency and resolve following a year of weather-related disasters, record temperatures, flooding and rising sea levels, international agency Oxfam says.
Water use key to crop sustainability
19 Nov 2010
Research under way into the relationship between carbon content and water retention has the potential to increase New Zealand's crop sustainability.
Green homes good investment, says Harcourts
19 Nov 2010
Eco-friendly homes are the way of the future, says real estate firm Harcourts.
Ecotours operator wins environment award
19 Nov 2010
Queenstown flying fox eco-adventure company Ziptrek Ecotours has won highly acclaimed recognition in the adventure capital for its outstanding efforts towards sustainability.
Tonnes of electronic waste collected on eDay
12 Nov 2010
Kiwis cleared their homes and offices of an estimated 900 tonnes of old computer equipment and mobile phones today in New Zealand's fourth national eDay.
Glacier research gets shot in the arm
12 Nov 2010
Research that will improve understanding of how climate change will affect New Zealand’s glaciers and enable more accurate planning for water resource and tourism management in the South Island is being turbo-charged.
Fuel-efficient Mini Cooper hits the market
5 Nov 2010
The car dubbed the most fuel-efficient in last month’s EnergyWise Rally is going on sale in New Zealand.
Southern builder launches sustainable homes
29 Oct 2010
Multi award-winning commercial and residential construction company Rilean Construction is launching a range of energy-efficient, healthy and affordable homes.
Sales of gas-guzzlers on the rise
29 Oct 2010
Signs that consumers are starting to adjust to higher petrol prices have started to emerge, with Turners Auctions’ third-quarter sales results showing an increase in sales in mid-to-large-engine vehicles.
Sustainability wins award for hostel
22 Oct 2010
YHA Wellington City has won the Backpacker Accommodation category in the prestigious Tourism Industry Association of New Zealand awards.
Oxfam criticises Global Climate Fund
8 Oct 2010
The poorest people who need the most help to adapt to a changing climate are largely being by-passed by the small amount of climate funds now being disbursed, says a new Oxfam report published at the UN climate change talks in Tianjin, China.
Greenpeace stages protest over oil drilling
8 Oct 2010
"Oil"-smeared people walked through central Wellington on Wednesday to protest Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee’s reckless determination to dig and drill for more dirty fossil fuels while ignoring the impacts on climate change.
SKM recognised as sustainability trailblazer
24 Sep 2010
Leading engineering, sciences and project delivery firm Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) has won the Trailblazer Large and Corporate Multi-National Business award at the 2010 Northern Sustainable Business Network Awards, presented in Auckland last week.
Awards for leading science innovators
27 Aug 2010
Four of New Zealand’s leading lights have been acknowledged for their contributions to innovation at the 2010 Bayer Innovators Awards.
Southern Ocean reveals role in greenhouse gas regulation
27 Aug 2010
The fossil record from oceans around New Zealand reveals a sudden discharge of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere at the end of the last ice age, raising the possibility that a similar process may occur as a result of global warming.
$6 billion of new investment likely to go to EPA
27 Aug 2010
The Environmental Protection Authority is expected to receive infrastructure applications totalling more than $6 billion by the end of next year, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.
Te Uku wins Meridian environmental award
20 Aug 2010
Meridian Energy’s commitment to high environmental standards at its Te Uku wind farm have won Environment Waikato’s inaugural earthworks ‘Site of the Year’ award.
Foresters want ban on illegal lumber imports
13 Aug 2010
The government needs to urgently adopt measures to prevent products from illegally logged forests being sold in New Zealand, says the Forest Owners' Association.
MAF allocates funds for soil erosion work
13 Aug 2010
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has allocated two more erosion treatment projects a total of $7.62 million under its Sustainable Land Management Hill Country Erosion Fund.
Televisions can now earn an Energy Star
13 Aug 2010
The Energy Star energy efficiency mark is being extended to televisions.
Farmers like large recycling bag for plastic
6 Aug 2010
The Agrecovery Wrap recycling programme has introduced a large recycling bag.
Waterweed idea wins science prize
23 Jul 2010
An idea for iwi to turn waterweed into energy has won Foundation for Science, Research and Technology funding worth $107,500 over three years.
Curry theory adds spice to emissions science
23 Jul 2010
Forget low-energy lightbulbs and solar-powered homes – curry spices could hold the key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Pacific climate response in question as NZ finance remains unclear
19 Dec 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | With New Zealand's $1.3 billion international climate finance commitment set to end with no clarity on what follows, the Auditor-General says oversight of that funding remains patchy and long-term outcomes are unclear.
NZ hydrogen regulation to catch up with the world
18 Dec 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | The government has announced a regulatory reset for New Zealand’s emerging clean tech hydrogen sector.
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.
Uncertainty eroding confidence in forestry sector
5 Dec 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Warnings are mounting that tree planting is set to plunge to “very close to zero”, as new Ministry for Primary Industries data shows ETS registration applications falling sharply as confidence in forestry declines.
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.
