News Direct: Media releases
Government says it's committed to Auckland rail electrification
17 Mar 2009
Transport Minister Steven Joyce has confirmed the government’s commitment to the electrification of Auckland rail, which was to have been funded through the regional fuel tax.
Don't short-circuit rail electrification, say Greens
17 Mar 2009
Auckland Green Party MP Keith Locke has warned against any "pause" in Auckland's rail electrification project.
Revamped packaging awards announced
17 Mar 2009
The Packaging Council has announced the new categories and criteria for its 2009 Environmental Packaging Awards.
Unprecedented demand for recycled glass, says forum
17 Mar 2009
The Glass Packaging Forum is challenging claims that “glass along with other recyclables holds no value”.
Mixed fortunes for energy SOEs at half-year
17 Mar 2009
The energy SOE's produced mixed results for the half-year to December 31, 2008, reflecting a combination of high wholesale electricity prices, expanded generation portfolios, slumping export orders, and the variable impact of new international accounting standards on the bottom line.
Chauvel says Government speaking out of both sides of its mouth on SOE energy profits
17 Mar 2009
Labour Energy spokesperson Charles Chauvel says he doesn’t believe the public will be fooled for one minute by Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee’s calls over recent weeks for moderation from SOEs like Meridian Energy over recent power price rises in Christchurch.
Use power company profits to reduce winter power bills, says Anderton
17 Mar 2009
Strong profit increases in the state-owned power companies should be returned to consumers to help with winter power bills, Progressive Wigram MP Jim Anderton says.
Diesel’s award-winning excellence must fuel Government review of road user charges - Hyundai
17 Mar 2009
Hyundai Motors New Zealand says the award-winning performance of its compact diesel i30 in this year’s AA Motoring Excellence Awards is ultimate proof that it’s high time the Government scrapped discriminatory road user charges for diesel cars.
Regional fuel tax decision avoids colour coded diesel
17 Mar 2009
“The spectre of UK-style colour coded diesel has been avoided by National dumping the previous Government’s proposed Regional Fuel Tax (RFT),” says Don Aubrey, Federated Farmers transport spokesperson.
North Shore says 'no' to privatised water
17 Mar 2009
North Shore City Council has strongly opposed any moves to privatise the city’s or the Auckland region’s water supply and wastewater disposal systems.
Concrete national cycleway would save jobs, says industry
13 Mar 2009
The concrete sector has welcomed the Government's commitment to a national cycleway, and says that concrete must be considered as a suitable construction material.
New 'green' freight hub opens
13 Mar 2009
A new environmentally friendly temperature-controlled international freight-forwarding and logistics hubs was opened by Hellmann Worldwide Logistics in Christchurch on yesterday.
Clean streams accord part of a much bigger picture, says industry
13 Mar 2009
DairyNZ says the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord is just one example of the initiatives undertaken to improve dairy farming’s effect on the environment, and it is a strong supporter of farmers taking action to meet the accord.
National breaks election promise again with job cuts, says Labour
13 Mar 2009
Cut-backs at the Ministry for Environment once again show the Government is intending to drastically reduce the public service, Labour’s State Services spokesperson Grant Robertson said.
Superfund continues to invest in nuclear weapons, say Greens
6 Mar 2009
Four months after a commitment to divest the New Zealand Superfund from companies involved in manufacturing nuclear weapons and cluster bombs, the Green Party called on the Government to set a deadline to sell its remaining $25 million investment.
Seismic search for oil and gas starts
6 Mar 2009
Energy and Resources Minister,Gerry Brownlee,says survey work has started by the ship the Pacific Titan to assess the oil and gas potential of the Reinga Basin.
NZ must legislate biofuels, says Kiwi world-record holder
6 Mar 2009
New Zealanders will not get to use greener biofuels unless the government introduces legislation to replace the Biofuels Bill it dumped recently, according to the Kiwi holding the record for fastest circumnavigation of the earth in a powerboat.
Prime Minister further undermining progress on climate change: Labour
6 Mar 2009
The withdrawal by Greenpeace on Wednewday from the ETS Review Select Committee, when it learned of John Key's latest position on climate change science, puts progress in this area at further risk, says Labour spokesperson for Climate Change Charles Chauvel.
Govt releases draft new rules for Electricity Commission
3 Mar 2009
Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee has released a revised policy direction for the Electricity Commission for public comment.
Don’t trade the environment for short term jobs - Eco
3 Mar 2009
The Government should reject proposals from the Job Summit to trade environmental quality for elusory short-term gains, the Environment and Conservation Organisations says.
Obama's commitment to ETS a signal to NZ
27 Feb 2009
A renewed strong commitment to introduce emissions trading by US President Barrack Obama sends New Zealand a signal to get on with implementing its own ETS scheme and securing the country’s trade and tourism, says the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development.
Maari oil flows
27 Feb 2009
The announcement about the flow of first oil at the Maari oil field is a welcomed achievement and a timely reminder of our untapped resources, says Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee.
New draft standards on wind farm noise
27 Feb 2009
Standards New Zealand is inviting public comment on draft Standard DZ 6808 Acoustics - Wind Farm Noise.
RMA attacks encourage environmental vandals
27 Feb 2009
The Government’s attacks on the Resource Management Act will encourage environmental vandals, the Green Party says.
BMW investigates wind power
27 Feb 2009
BMW Manufacturing says it has begun a study into the feasibility of using wind energy on the plant site.
Ministerial working party on electricity
27 Feb 2009
Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee says he’s considering a Ministerial working party to reshape the regulatory functions of the electricity industry.
Billions of dollars of green buildings
27 Feb 2009
Turner Construction Company, a lealding American builder of “green buildings,” completed more than $US3 billion of green construction projects during 2008.
Federated Farmers: Fitzsimons' departure should lead to ETS rethink
24 Feb 2009
“With the news that Jeanette Fitzsimons is to resign as the Green Party’s Co-Leader, the Green Party now stands at a crossroads,” says Frank Brenmuhl, Federated Farmers climate change spokesperson.
Pulling the plug on old, inefficient appliances
24 Feb 2009
Kiwis are getting a helping hand to rid their homes of inefficient appliances over the next few weeks as part of Fisher & Paykel Appliances’ annual recycling days.
Hamilton gets landmark water consent
24 Feb 2009
Hamilton City Council has been successfully granted a landmark consent which will renew the city’s water take for the next 35 years.
Meridian wins consent for Mill Creek wind farm
20 Feb 2009
Resource consents for a wind farm using Wellington’s most famous natural resource have been granted to Meridian Energy for its Mill Creek wind farm north west of the capital city, the company says.
Leading tourism businesses becoming more sustainable
20 Feb 2009
Some of Queenstown’s top tourism businesses are leading the way to a more sustainable future by signing up for the district’s first-ever sustainable business programme.
Vector should pay adequate compensation
20 Feb 2009
“There is a sense of irony when Vector yesterday announced handsome profits at a time when most businesses are struggling in the new economic environment, and then today because of a failure on Vector’s power network many businesses in Newmarket have suffered material financial losses,” said Ralph Matthes, executive director of the Major Electricity Users’ Group, yesterday.
Climate change truth is self-evident: Greens
17 Feb 2009
As Auckland experiences its highest-ever temperatures, droughts worsen each year and Australian bush fires rage, the New Zealand Government is looking more and more behind the game, say the Greens.
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.
Minister not concerned about potential economic impacts of ruling out offshore mitigation
Today 12:15pm
By Liz Kivi | Climate Change Minister Simon Watts isn’t worried that ruling out using offshore mitigation is effectively reneging from the Paris Agreement with potential to damage New Zealand’s economy and access to export markets.
Neighbours fume over plans to axe trees for solar farm
Today 12:15pm
Diane McCarthy, Local Democracy Reporter | Whakatāne District Council has thrown its support behind residents of a country lane distressed about Genesis Energy’s plans to axe their trees.
Govt warned that scrapping ag emission pricing comes with risks
Today 12:15pm
By Liz Kivi | The Government’s move to halt plans for agricultural emissions pricing without replacing it with any other action will leave New Zealand facing a bigger gap to meet its third emissions budget, Environment ministry officials have warned.
Transport dominates NZ’s rising consumer emissions
Wed 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.
Christchurch Airport boasts world-first liquid-hydrogen refuelling for test aircraft
30 Oct 2025
By Liz Kivi | Local companies working on hydrogen-electric flight have made ‘a significant step forward’ in successfully filling aviation tanks with liquid hydrogen produced and stored on-site at an international airport for the first time.
Uncertainty eroding confidence in forestry sector
Fri 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.
