News Direct: Media releases
Resort restores environment
2 Mar 2012
An environmental protection and enhancement programme at one of New Zealand’s leading hotel, golf and spa resorts has seen the landscape restored as a haven for native bird and fish life.
Nats break mining promise, says Labour
2 Dec 2011
National's first post-election broken promise is an ominous sign for the future of our conservation estate, Labour's Environment spokesperson Charles Chauvel says.
Sustainability study hailed as success
2 Dec 2011
The director of a ground-breaking graduate programme in sustainable practice says the first year of the course has been a success.
Study shows inhibitor boosts pasture
25 Nov 2011
Farmers using urea treated with a urease inhibitor can expect a better nitrogen boost to pasture and crops, according to independent research conducted by AgResearch, Ballance Agri-Nutrients says.
Emails worry NZ climate deniers
25 Nov 2011
The release of more than 5000 emails sent by IPCC scientists provides irrefutable evidence that their goals were political, rather than scientific” says Barry Brill, chairman of the New Zealand Climate Science Coalition.
Smart boxes come to the Waikato
18 Nov 2011
Regional lines company WEL Networks is taking the next step in the continuing modernisation of its network to provide customers a more efficient and reliable electricity supply.
Caravan carries green message to kids
11 Nov 2011
3M is sponsoring Auckland's first mobile classroom containing interactive exhibits designed to teach children important environmental lessons.
Philips wins lighting award
14 Oct 2011
Philips Lighting’s work in developing LED technology has been recognised by an international award.
Business lobby puts student on ice
23 Sep 2011
Pure Advantage, the business lobby championing a shift to green growth in New Zealand, is sending a New Zealand student to Antarctica.
Green Honda wins praise
23 Sep 2011
Honda Motor Company’s environmental commitment has been internationally recognised by the UK-based Carbon Disclosure Project for achieving the highest disclosure scores among Japanese companies.
NZ Wood adopts new CEO
2 Sep 2011
The Wood Council of New Zealand has appointed Jane Arnott to the role of chief executive officer of NZ Wood, the operation that runs the over-arching marketing programme for the forest and wood sector.
Dump deepwater drilling, say Greens
19 Aug 2011
New Zealand needs clean, green jobs, not risky deepwater drilling, the Green Party says.
Travel costs show need for planning, say Greens
22 Jul 2011
The ever-increasing rise in travel costs, detailed in this week's Consumer Price Index release, highlights the need for better public transport strategies, the Green Party says.
BNZ wins praise for office fit-out
22 Jul 2011
BNZ has received New Zealand’s first 6 Green Star Office Interiors 2009 rating from the New Zealand Green Building Council for the fit-out of BNZ Harbour Quays in Wellington.
Emperor penguins face grim future
1 Jul 2011
While the prognosis improves for Happy Feet (the emperor penguin found in New Zealand) his species is at grave risk of extinction from climate change by the end of the century, the Environment and Conservation Organisations says.
Jet Park hotel wins top enviro award
1 Jul 2011
The family-owned and operated Jet Park Hotel & Conference Centre at Auckland airport has been awarded an Enviro Gold Award.
'Closed' mine to produce coal for local sale
24 Jun 2011
Solid Energy is starting a small-scale mining operation at its Ohai opencast mine following the discovery of saleable coal during rehabilitation of the site.
Groups act to clean up Manawatu River
24 Jun 2011
An action plan to clean up the Manawatu River was unveiled this week.
Winemaker wins praise for carbon stand
17 Jun 2011
Hunter's Wines has achieved the international Cemars certification for its reduced carbon footprint.
Cuevas scrubs up Clean Planet
17 Jun 2011
A small company in Mangere Bridge has caught the eye of ex-Ecostore CEO and internationally qualified business leader Mitch Cuevas.
Unitec launches sustainability strategy
3 Jun 2011
Unitec will launch its environmental sustainability strategy and a $100,000 sustainability fund for staff and students.
Greens hail success of Warm Up NZ
13 May 2011
The success of the Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart home insulation scheme is an example of smart, green economics at work, the Green Party says.
NZ fails to deal with lethal insecticide
13 May 2011
The lethal insecticide implicated in the recent Thailand tourist deaths was scheduled for “priority reassessment” in New Zealand before 2008, but is still in widespread use, the Greens say.
Honda puts its money where its trees are
6 May 2011
Honda staff and customers get together again on May 19 at Whakanewha Regional Park on Waiheke Island with another tree-planting to enhance the vegetation already established at the park through Honda TreeFund native tree plantings over the past seven years.
Ag bags join move to recycling
29 Apr 2011
Agricultural feed manufacturer Fiber Fresh Feeds Ltd has taken a further step towards being 100 per cent clean-and-green by becoming the first stock feed company able to recycle its bags using the Agrecovery Wrap recycling programme.
Most Kiwis want renewables over fossil fuels
21 Apr 2011
Most New Zealanders do not support the Government’s strategy of prioritising more exploration and mining for fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas to sell off-shore, says WWF.
BP tried cover-up, says Greenpeace
21 Apr 2011
Greenpeace has released a report detailing how BP tried to hide the true impacts of the biggest oil disaster in American history.
Auckland boosts home insulation
15 Apr 2011
Auckland City Council is to launch a programme that will allow ratepayers to access the Government’s Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart funding for home insulation and heating, and pay the difference over time through their rates bill.
Smith runs out of water excuses, say Greens
15 Apr 2011
With the release of the final report of the Land and Water Forum, the minister for the environment has now run out of excuses for delaying and pulling the teeth from rules to clean up our rivers and lakes, the Green Party says.
Tasman eyes turn to energy efficiency
15 Apr 2011
Australia and New Zealand are to collaborate on energy efficiency measure for households and businesses.
EECA welcomes renewable energy stance
15 Apr 2011
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority has welcomed the release of the National Policy Statement for Renewable Electricity Generation.
Search on for winning concrete ideas
15 Apr 2011
Entries for this year's Concrete3 Sustainability Awards are open.
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.
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.
