News Direct: Media releases
Green business tool transferred to business community
18 Jun 2010
Commerce Minister Simon Power has transferred the Government’s Envirostep scheme to the environmental certification company Telarc SAI Ltd.
ARC and Honda drive tree programme
18 Jun 2010
A partnership between the Auckland Regional Council and Honda New Zealand to restore biodiversity has seen native trees popping up around Auckland.
MWH produces NZ ETS guide
18 Jun 2010
Consultancy firm MWH has prepared a new guide to the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme.
Power companies look at hedge market
4 Jun 2010
Major electricity users are welcoming news that New Zealand's five largest power companies are looking to develop a futures and options market with ASX.
Information and reputational risk drives big shift in office paper choices
30 Apr 2010
Business and Government got together in Wellington this week to launch a new edition of an influential guide to buying sustainable office papers.
Delay ETS, say major electricity users
30 Apr 2010
“The announcement this week by the Australian Government of a significant delay to an ETS in Australia is a game-changing event that will impact every NZ householder and business” said Ralph Matthes, executive director of the Major Electricity Users’ Group.
Proceeding with ETS ill advised, says EMA Northern
30 Apr 2010
The Government should follow Australia's decision and delay the implementing of its emissions trading scheme until they introduce theirs, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.
Suspend the ETS until 2013, says farmers' lobby
30 Apr 2010
Federated Farmers is urging the National-led Government to match the Australian Government's decision to defer its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) until at least 2013.
Support for ETS slumps further, says business lobby
23 Apr 2010
Business support for the Emissions Trading Scheme, due to start for emitters on July 1, appears to have slumped, says the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern).
First funding round of WMF now closed
16 Apr 2010
The first annual funding round for the WMF closed March 1, with 164 eligible applications were received, requesting approximately $55 million.
Government puts its own water forum under threat, says Labour
16 Apr 2010
The Government's own initiative through its Land and Water Forum to get the balance right on freshwater management is under threat because of its legislation axing Environment Canterbury, says Labour's water spokesman Brendon Burns.
Insulation rate high through summer, says Brownlie
9 Apr 2010
The warm summer months have failed to dent demand for the government's Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart scheme, Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee said.
Greens put emphasis on transport
1 Apr 2010
The Green Party today announced a renewed focus on transport issues by appointing new spokespeople to several key transport-related portfolios.
UK Budget shows NZ the way
26 Mar 2010
Major new policies to help the United Kingdom become a low carbon economy announced in the latest Budget there indicate the type of moves which could be considered in New Zealand, says the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development.
Mt Cass wind farm progressing
26 Mar 2010
Mediation over MainPower's proposed windfarm at Mt Cass has finished with good progress being made on several issues.
Meridian to mark Earth Hour
26 Mar 2010
The country’s biggest electricity generator will be turning off the lights at its own premises this coming Saturday as it marks Earth Hour 2010.
Bayfield goes green again
26 Mar 2010
The Sustainable Information Expo is on again at Bayfair Shopping Centre, following its successful debut last year.
Thanks from Carbon News: 41 million-plus pages and counting!
12 Mar 2010
Carbon News is celebrating its second anniversary.
Saving the planet one printer at a time
5 Mar 2010
Canon New Zealand and JB HiFi are trialing a new initiative to encourage consumers to recycle obsolete printers.
New Ford eco car due in NZ
5 Mar 2010
Ford's new green machine overtakes hybrids as the most fuel efficient vehicle in New Zealand, the company says.
New civic building the 'greenest' in NZ
19 Feb 2010
Christchurch’s new Civic Building has today been awarded the highest possible rating for environmental design by the New Zealand Green Building Council.
World engineers' chief praises minister
19 Feb 2010
The president of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers has hailed Environment Minister Nick Smith as one of the most well informed politicians he has met.
Tyres meet tough chemical safety rules
19 Feb 2010
Companies keen to be on the right side of carbon regulations can move to the Bergougnan tyre range that meets tough new European chemical safety restrictions.
Efficiency incentives proposed for RMA
19 Feb 2010
The Government is determined to improve the processing of resource consents and will introduce incentives to ensure this occurs from July 1, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.
Christchurch getting its head around e-cars
12 Feb 2010
Christchurch City Council is the first council in New Zealand to commit to understanding the infrastructure that may be needed for electric vehicle technology, Mayor Bob Parker says.
Changing farming climate is AgResearch focus
12 Feb 2010
A caravan that measures nitrous oxide emissions, software that helps manage soil nutrients and a full programme of measures to keep lambs alive are on display by AgResearch at the Waimumu Southern Field days.
Three companies in energy efficiency campaign
5 Feb 2010
Three New Zealand businesses are to showcase their energy efficiency on national TV, with the start of a campaign promoting the benefits of energy management.
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.
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.
