News Direct: Media releases
Solid Energy confirms biodiesel to proceed with limited expansion to 4 million litres a year
17 Feb 2009
Solid Energy company Biodiesel New Zealand is proceeding with its development plans, increasing capacity at its existing Christchurch facility to four million litres a year.
DOC rejects secrecy claims over Project Hayes deal
17 Feb 2009
The Department of Conservation says it totally rejects claims that its silence was bought over Meridian Energy’s Project Hayes windfarm proposal.
Botany Town Centre sets sustainability target
17 Feb 2009
East Auckland’s Botany Town Centre is adopting leading-edge eco-strategies in order to achieve a sustainable future.
Government welcomes progress to protect Lake Taupo
13 Feb 2009
Minister for the Environment Nick Smith yesterday welcomed a deal by the Lake Taupo Protection Trust to convert more than 930 hectares of farmland into forestry.
National quietly dumps two billion dollar Fast Forward fund
13 Feb 2009
National’s demolition of the $700 million investment in primary sector innovation through the New Zealand Fast Forward fund has been completed in deafening silence, says Opposition agriculture spokesman Jim Anderton.
National grid upgrade
13 Feb 2009
An accelerated work programme on the national electricity grid has been welcomed by the Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee.
Kaiwera wind-farm appeal withdrawn
13 Feb 2009
An Environment Court appeal by the Upland Landscape Protection Society, against TrustPower's proposed 240 MW Kaiwera Downs wind farm near Gore, has been withdrawn.
Government welcomes arrival of electric cars
13 Feb 2009
Environment and Climate Change Issues Minister Nick Smith has welcomed the announcement that electric cars will be commercially available in New Zealand.
Explorer Graphics works help MFE map soil carbon
13 Feb 2009
Porirua-based Geographic Information Systems company Explorer Graphics Limited says it has signed a major contract with the Ministry for the Environment to help it meet New Zealand's requirements under the Kyoto Protocol.
Tasman Eco Village attracts international attention
13 Feb 2009
Mention "development" and you have the attention of every environmentalist in ear-shot. Such attention is not normally something developers relish, but not so a home-grown eco-village project in Motueka Valley within biking distance from the town.
Ice could hold clue to greenhouse effect
13 Feb 2009
It wasn’t always quite so cold at the north and south poles.
Water management needs reform, says NZWWA
10 Feb 2009
The Water and Waste Association is urging the government to continue its reforms and rationalise water management in New Zealand.
Reinstating Labour’s home-insulation plan first step
10 Feb 2009
If Prime Minister John Key is really serious about announcing infrastructure projects this week that preserve and create New Zealand jobs, then he must start by reinstating Labour’s home insulation programme, says Labour leader Phil Goff.
Business as usual for Green Homes Fund: Greens
10 Feb 2009
News that John Key is going to invest in upgrading and insulating state houses is puzzling, given that in the 2008 budget Parliament voted $53 million over five years to complete insulation and energy efficiency upgrades of all state houses, Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said.
Time to nominate environmental champions
10 Feb 2009
Environment Minister Nick Smith has announced the start of a search for New Zealand’s latest batch of environmental champions, calling for nominations for the 2009 Green Ribbon Awards.
Mitsubishi and Meridian launch electric car trial
10 Feb 2009
Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand and Meridian Energy today launched a trial of the first mass produced new generation electric vehicle to come to New Zealand - the Mitsubishi iMiEV.
Smart meters give households power to choose lower prices
3 Feb 2009
The introduction of smart metering will give households a chance to benefit from the electricity market reforms of nearly 20 years ago - and use cheaper power when it is available, says the Business Council for Sustainable Development.
Meridian offers Renewable Investment Notes
3 Feb 2009
New Zealand’s largest State-owned generator is offering Renewable Energy Notes so investors can help support its business in renewable energy.
Ngawha power station officially opens
3 Feb 2009
Top Energy's Ngawha power station was opened on Saturday by Northland MP John Carter.
Time to charge full-steam-ahead with electrification
3 Feb 2009
The Green Party says now is the time to charge full steam ahead with electrifying Auckland's rail network.
Drop in consents builds case for housing and green-home fund
3 Feb 2009
A dramatic drop in building consents and fears about the long-term health of the building industry is more evidence that social housing and the Green Homes Fund have a critical role in the Government's stimulus plan, says Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons.
Greens support new hydro scheme in Buller
3 Feb 2009
The Green Party's West Coast-based MP, Kevin Hague, has lodged a submission in support of a proposed hydro scheme on the Stockton Plateau.
Poor state of Earth focus of South Island journey
3 Feb 2009
South Islanders will march from Bluff to Picton in a journey to wake the nation to the world’s dire environmental plight.
Meridian says its programme will boost employment and economy
3 Feb 2009
State-owned power company Meridian Energy is set to provide a major boost to economic activity and local employment as its billion dollar-plus development programme gathers pace.
Stockton long-term investments confirmed, production cut in response to steel downturn
30 Jan 2009
Solid Energy has confirmed it will invest $100 million in a new coal processing plant at Stockton Opencast Mine in the Buller, the next major step in a substantial long-term investment programme designed to secure a further 20-year life for the mine.
Ecostore’s green credentials turn platinum
30 Jan 2009
Ecostore has announced its production facility, Ecotech Solutions, is the first New Zealand producer of cleaning and personal care products to attain Enviro-Mark NZ – Platinum certification.
Tourism company darts in to help save endangered birds
30 Jan 2009
A Queenstown jet boat company has joined forces with the Department of Conservation to save endangered species nesting on the Dart River.
BMW makes 10 best engines list in US
30 Jan 2009
A brilliant US debut for the new BMW Advanced Diesel with BMW BluePerformance: specialist magazine "Ward's Auto World" has selected BMW's 3.0-litre inline-six-cylinder twin-turbo diesel engine with SCR system for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions as one of 10 Best Engines in 2009.
Submissions open on Turitea wind farm
27 Jan 2009
Mighty River’s plan to build a 122-turbine wind farm at Turitea, near Palmerston North, is open for public submission.
Greens issue 'new deal' challenge
27 Jan 2009
The Green Party has presented the Government with a series of ready-to-go policies that it says can help New Zealand’s economy, people and the environment at the same time.
New Zealand should join the new International Renewable Energy Agency
27 Jan 2009
About 100 states will be meeting in Bonn this week to establish an International Renewable Energy Agency (http://www.irena.org/), but New Zealand has not yet committed to being there.
Water meters 'not about conservation'
27 Jan 2009
A user-pays system for domestic water supply will increase inequality and is a dubious way to conserve water resources, says a local human rights group.
Zurich approach 'bearing fruit'
23 Jan 2009
In the first year since its launch, the global Climate Initiative of Zurich Financial Services Group (Zurich) has led to the development of new products and services addressing the evolving risks associated with climate change, significant steps in measuring and managing Zurich’s own carbon footprint and the facilitation of climate change related research.
SKM Wins Global Business Achievement Award
23 Jan 2009
Leading engineering, sciences and project delivery firm, Sinclair Knight Merz has been recognised by the Environmental Business Journal with a gold medal for business achievement.
Commerce Commission warns over hybrid comparative advertising
23 Jan 2009
A car company has been warned by the Commerce Commission about comparative claims made in advertising for one of its hybrid vehicles.
Obama's green leadership challenges National, say Greens
23 Jan 2009
As the new US president promised again to champion the environment, Green Party co-Leader Dr. Russel Norman asked why New Zealand's government is headed in the opposite direction.
Jayride moves into Queenstown
20 Jan 2009
A company that says it is New Zealand’s biggest online ride-sharing service, Jayride, will carpool from Auckland to Queenstown from next week.
Defer the ETS to minimise job losses, says MEUG
20 Jan 2009
The pros and cons of deferring the Emissions Trading Scheme should be considered by the Prime Minister’s Summit on Employment next month,” says Ralph Matthes, executive director of the Major Electricity Users’ Group (MEUG).
New investment in climate change research
16 Jan 2009
Agriculture and Forestry Minister David Carter has announced over $10 million in funding for research projects designed to help the agriculture and forestry sectors adapt and respond to climate change.
National will have to do better than announce old policy , says Anderton
16 Jan 2009
The National Party is to be congratulated for finally recognising the importance of climate change mitigation for farmers, but it’s a bit cheeky to act as if it has a new fund of money, Opposition agriculture spokesman Jim Anderton says.
‘Smart’ fridges stay cool by talking to each other
16 Jan 2009
Australia’s CSIRO says it has developed a fridge capable of maintaining its average temperature while regulating its power consumption from renewable-energy generators, such as solar panels or wind turbines.
Charlie’s launches an honest water
16 Jan 2009
Charlie’s says it is doing its bit for the environment through the use of a new bottle made from plants.
Used cooking oil slashes hot water power bill by 92%
16 Jan 2009
A Kaikoura backpackers has slashed a massive 92 per cent off the cost of its hot water bill by re-using cooking oil from local takeaways and restaurants to fire its boiler.
Nats to trash public recycling bins, says Greens
16 Jan 2009
The Green Party says that it is dismayed to learn from sources that the National-Act-Maori Government is planning to eliminate funding to the Love NZ public recycling bins in the 2009/10 Budget.
Canadians adopt New Zealand climate change software
23 Dec 2008
Climate change mitigation firm HYDRA Software has just signed a technology sharing deal with leading Canadian hydro optimization specialists Synexus Global.
Environmental footprinting expertise funded
22 Dec 2008
Proposals are being sought to establish New Zealand's first professorship for the study of the environmental footprint of our primary products, the Minister of Agriculture & Forestry Hon David Carter announced today.
Greens label Supreme Court decision as blow to climate
22 Dec 2008
Friday 19 December 2008 – A serious blow has been dealt to the climate with a Supreme Court decision just handed down in the Genesis Energy/ Greenpeace case.
Biofuels obligation removed
19 Dec 2008
Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed the passing of the biofuel law, describing it as a pragmatic environmental step.
First carboNZero-certified freight shipment
19 Dec 2008
Global logistics company Agility, which earlier this year became the first international freight forwarder in New Zealand to be awarded carboNZero certification, has achieved another first: moving the first-ever carboNZero certified freight shipment for long-time customer Trilogy.
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.
