News Direct: Media releases
Climate scientists drilling for evidence in Southern Alps
12 Jun 2009
Scientists from three countries will camp out high in Mt Cook National Park for the next three weeks collecting ice cores from glaciers for climate research.
Air quality standards to be reviewed
12 Jun 2009
New Zealand’s air quality standards need reviewing to ensure they are practical and achievable, says Environment Minister Nick Smith.
Government makes up mind in advance on outcome of water reforms, says Labour
12 Jun 2009
The Government appears to have decided the outcome of water management reforms before consultation even begins, says Labour environment spokesperson Shane Jones.
Tried-and-true recipes to tackle and gain from climate change
12 Jun 2009
Amidst the electric fence systems and EID Readers at this year’s Fieldays is an old-fashioned dairy offering free, value-added dairy products and tips on how farmers can tackle and gain from climate change.
RMA shake-up needed to fix late consents, says Smith
12 Jun 2009
Changes in law and practice are needed to address the record number of late resource consents, says Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith.
Change of focus on fresh water management
9 Jun 2009
A new process to improve fresh water management was yesterday announced by Environment Minister Nick Smith and Agriculture Minister David Carter.
Mainzeal nails elusive Green Ribbon for environmental excellence
9 Jun 2009
Mainzeal says it has broken ground in the construction industry by receiving an award for the Businesses Making a Difference at the Green Ribbon Awards in Wellington.
Greens say transport plan is a win-win-win
9 Jun 2009
Green Party Co-Leader Dr Russel Norman has unveiled what he says is a bold plan to cut traffic congestion, reduce air pollution and help the economy.
North Canterbury company fined for burning tyres
9 Jun 2009
A North Canterbury company has been fined $2500 after pleading guilty to a charge of causing air pollution by the illegal burning of rubber tyres.
Being green leads to high growth
5 Jun 2009
A company that developed a low-cost carbon accredition programme has won the High Growth sector of the Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards.
Kiwi organisations unite to tackle climate change
5 Jun 2009
To encourage appropriate action in response to climate change in the lead-up to the crucial UN climate change conference in Copenhagen this December, organisations nationwide are uniting through the New Zealand Climate Action Partnership, they say in a media
Gull discounts biofuel 12 cents per litre for World Environment Day
5 Jun 2009
Gull is marking World Environment Day today by discounting its award-winning biofuels by 12 cents per litre for 24 hours from 7am.
Cleaning company calls for better practices on World Environment Day
5 Jun 2009
New Zealand businesses are being urged to do their bit for their employees and the environment on World Environment Day today by switching to green cleaning products.
Green Ribbon Award winners
5 Jun 2009
Nine individuals, businesses and organisations from Kaitaia to Otago have been honoured for making an outstanding contribution to protecting the environment at the annual Green Ribbon Awards announced last night.
Cleanest 'Gypsy Day' ever, say farmers
5 Jun 2009
Farmers and transport operators deserve a big pat on the back for keeping stock effluent off the roads this Gypsy Day.
New Zealanders support insulation, but split on Budget
5 Jun 2009
New Zealanders overwhelmingly support health and insulation policies announced in the Budget, but don't believe the Government has produced enough new policy to successfully manage the economic recession.
Home insulation should be a woolly idea, say farmers
2 Jun 2009
Federated Farmers is embracing the $323 million home insulation package announced in the Budget, and says that by using poorer quality coarse wools, could also be good for the ailing wool industry.
Wood industry welcomes primary growth partnership
2 Jun 2009
The forest and wood products industry welcomes the initiative taken by the National Government in supporting innovation and development of the industry
Agrojet achieves new Qualmark Enviro status
2 Jun 2009
Rotorua's Agrojet is the first jet boat company in New Zealand to achieve a Qualmark Enviro-bronze accreditation.
Release details of home insulation deal, says Labour
2 Jun 2009
The National Government must urgently release practical details of how and when its home insulation package will be available for the people who need it most, Dunedin South Labour MP Clare Curran says.
Community group welcomes insulation package
2 Jun 2009
Community Energy Action Charitable Trust applauds the budget announcement that increases funding for subsidies of insulation and heating.
New loans key to home insulation success
29 May 2009
The key to hundreds of thousands of home owners taking up $1800 Government grants to insulate and efficiently heat homes will be the extra new loans to help to cover the whole cost of the work, says the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development.
Contact keen to support insulation initiative
29 May 2009
Contact Energy says the Government and Green Party’s $323 million home insulation Budget announcement would make a real difference to New Zealand families, and Contact would look to actively support it.
TZ1 says new platform will revolutionise the voluntary carbon market
29 May 2009
TZ1 Registry has announced the launch of the RFI (request for information)Platform available for immediate use.
A toast to sustainable winemaking
29 May 2009
Yealands Estate is celebrating its win at the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Awards, held by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority in Auckland last week.
Business could push governments over the line on climate change
26 May 2009
Global business leaders meeting in Copenhagen could make a significant contribution toward a fair and safe deal to tackle climate change, says Oxfam.
Personalities sign on for climate change campaign
26 May 2009
Stephen Tindall, Lucy Lawless Cliff Curtis, Peter Gordon and Jim Salinger are among a group of high-profile New Zealanders joining with Greenpeace to call for strong climate action.
Minister goes off half-cock, says lobby group
26 May 2009
Environment Minister Nick Smith should not "go off at half-cock" with his proposal announced last week of a possible national environment standard on sea-level rise, says the Climate Science Coalition.
New web firm aims to fill up the trucks
26 May 2009
A new web-based company that brings together road transport companies and freight providers online to eliminate empty truck running, improve freight efficiency and reduce unnecessary vehicle emissions has just been launched.
Yarn-maker takes EECA award
22 May 2009
Winners of the 2009 Awards for excellence and innovation in energy efficiency and renewable energy were announced last night at an awards ceremony in Auckland, hosted by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority.
Simply Energy deal offers alternative supply option
22 May 2009
Simply Energy has signed a three-year agreement with EDC Ltd to sell generation from EDC’s Silverstream landfill gas plant direct to end users, bypassing traditional generator-retailers.
Waikato farmers snap up native plants
22 May 2009
Waikato farmers have bought a record number of native trees and shrubs this year for environmental restoration projects through an annual Environment Waikato offer.
Labour welcomes Commerce Commission report on energy sector
22 May 2009
The report of the Commerce Commission into the pricing behaviour of the New Zealand power generation sector has been welcomed by Labour, finance and energy spokespeople David Cunliffe and Charles Chauvel say.
Government forces Kiwis into cars, say Greens
22 May 2009
The Government’s plan for transport spending shows no vision and leaves New Zealanders with no other choice but to drive, the Green Party say.
Acidic oceans could aid photosynthesis, says researcher
19 May 2009
Ground-breaking Victoria University research shows that ocean acidification may have no negative effect on tropical corals and local sea anemones—in fact it may improve photosynthesis.
Crude oil lowers producers' input prices
19 May 2009
Producers' input prices, as measured in the Producers Price Index (PPI), fell 2.5 per cent and output prices fell 1.4 percent in the March 2009 quarter, Statistics New Zealand said this week.
Straterra welcomes tax exemption for oil and gas exploration
15 May 2009
Straterra, the industry group representing New Zealand’s natural resources industries, has welcomed Government plans to extend tax exemption for offshore oil and gas exploration.
Solid Energy in talks with Downer EDI Mining over Stockton
15 May 2009
Solid Energy has selected Downer EDI Mining to negotiate an alliance arrangement to jointly manage and operate Stockton Opencast Mine in Buller from the beginning of October this year.
Green calculators add up for environment, says Canon
15 May 2009
Canon New Zealand has launched a new range of "green" calculators that have been manufactured using recycled materials from end-of-life Canon photocopiers.
Kiwis happy with economic management but want super coontributions continued
15 May 2009
Kiwis are happy with the Government’s economic management, but don’t want it to stop contributions to the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, according to a new survey.
New direction for Electricity Commission
12 May 2009
Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee has released a revised policy direction for the Electricity Commission.
Seresin Estate leads the way in organics and biodynamics
12 May 2009
Seresin Estate’s commitment to the environment has been recognised in the Marlborough Environment awards.
Chauvel: We'll help National fix the mess
12 May 2009
National needs to fix the mess that it has made of climate change policy and Labour is willing to help, Labour Climate Change spokesperson Charles Chauvel says.
Jennian and Right House form partnership
12 May 2009
Jennian Homes and Right House have joined forces.
Road user charges plan penalises diesel cars
8 May 2009
The new-vehicle industry has reacted with surprise to some of the recommendations of the independent review into road-user charges.
Antarctica and the ice-age puzzle
8 May 2009
The origins of an extraordinary warming event thousands of years ago are vital to understanding past ice ages, says a prominent earth scientist.
Australia's new GHG target shows up NZ's lack of target - Greenpeace
5 May 2009
The New Zealand Government has been caught out by Australia’s proposal for stronger and faster greenhouse gas emission cuts, says Greenpeace.
NZ can lead world in renewable energy, says expert
5 May 2009
An internationally renowned energy expert believes New Zealand could generate all its electricity from renewable sources within 20 years.
Fonterra wants intensity approach to ETS
5 May 2009
Dairy production in New Zealand may be reduced by five per cent, costing the New Zealand economy $650 million annually and allowing other countries to fill the gap in global supply risking further global emissions growth, unless the existing Emissions Trading Scheme is altered, says Fonterra.
Scientists speak out over Salinger sacking
5 May 2009
The business model underlying Government's science institutions, the Crown Research Institutes or CRIs, is again under scrutiny following the dismissal of Jim Salinger, one of NIWA's principal scientists and a leading spokesperson for weather and climate issues.
Gene tech reforms face political split
Today 11:00am
By Shannon Morris-Williams |The Government’s Gene Technology Bill continues to divide Parliament, after the Health Select Committee released its long-awaited report last week outlining key recommendations and lingering concerns.
Govt launches strategy backing wood-based heat sector
Today 11:00am
By Pattrick Smellie | Forestry biomass could replace as much as 40% of fossil fuel-generated process heat by 2050, but access to supply, regulatory settings and business cases for converting to wood-based heat sources are required, the Government says in a series of documents released yesterday.
Council buys dairy farm to help clean up Lake Rotorua
Tue 21 Oct 2025
Bay of Plenty Regional Council has bought a 266-hectare dairy farm in the Lake Rotorua catchment and plans to retire it from production to reduce nitrogen entering the lake.
Govt releases updated emissions projections
13 Oct 2025
By Liz Kivi | The Ministry for the Environment has released updated emissions projections to 2050, which show significant differences to the Climate Change Commission's recent projections for the same period.
NZ’s government wants tourism to drive economic growth – but how will it deal with aviation emissions?
Wed 22 Oct 2025
By Robert McLachlan, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University | Following a brief dip during the COVID pandemic, aviation is back in a growth phase.
Emails show forestry lobby fought Gisborne crackdown as slash clean-up drags on
26 Sep 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Sustainable land use advocates are accusing Eastland Wood Council of stonewalling efforts to tighten forestry rules, after correspondence between the group and the local council was released under the Official Information Act.
Govt to ease climate reporting thresholds, water down liability
Wed 22 Oct 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | The rollback of climate change reporting requirements has produced a wave of relief in corporate New Zealand as managed investment funds and listed companies with annual revenue under $1 billion are exempted.
