News Direct: Media releases
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.
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.
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
Today 11:30am
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.
