News Direct: Media releases
A 'black magic' CO2 fix
12 Dec 2008
Biochar, similar to charcoal used by pre-Columbian Amazonian cultures to boost crop yields, could help the fight against climate change by securely locking carbon away in soils for thousands of years, according to the December-January issue of ECOS magazine.
NZ could have 100% renewable energy
12 Dec 2008
New Zealand could easily generate all its electricity from renewable sources within 20 years with the right support from government, a leading overseas expert in green energy said yesterday.
Bogans provide inspiration to cut fuel consumption this summer
12 Dec 2008
Drivers setting off for summer holidays can take inspiration from the unconventional winners of this year's AA Energywise Rally, EECA chief executive Mike Underhill says.
Australian paper questions role of carbon trading
9 Dec 2008
A discussion paper released in Australia yesterday suggests that carbon trading alone will not be enough to stimulate a significant bioenergy industry in that country.
Research to reduce run-off effects
9 Dec 2008
Protecting marine environments from unnecessary waste runoff has been a top priority for Victoria University researcher Bruce Dudley.
Farmers won't appeal Taupo decision
5 Dec 2008
Federated Farmers has confirmed it will not be lodging an appeal in the High Court challenging the recent Environment Court decision on Environment Waikato's "Lake Taupo Variation", Variation 5 to the Waikato Regional Plan.
Genesis' first bonds offer over-subscribed
5 Dec 2008
Genesis Energy says that interest in its first issue of unsecured, unsubordinated bondsto the New Zealand public is so strong that its initial target of raising $150 million has been exceeded.
Meridian granted water-only consents for North Bank tunnel
5 Dec 2008
Meridian has received notification of an interim decision that it has been granted water-only consents for its North Bank Tunnel Concept.
Chauvel to take part in international climate change study programme
5 Dec 2008
The Labour Party's spokesperson on climate change, Charles Chauvel, will next week travel to Europe for an EU-sponsored study programme on climate change.
Phoenix Organics buys green electricity
5 Dec 2008
Charlie’s Trading Company has announced a new supply agreement to purchase environmentally friendly electricity for its Phoenix Organics plant in Henderson.
Air NZ launches new environment trust for kids
2 Dec 2008
The Air New Zealand Environment Trust yesterday announced a new programme to assist with restoring the environment for New Zealand school children.
Cement fundamental to modern economy, says Holcim
2 Dec 2008
The key role played by cement in a modern developed economy is featured in a Holcim newsletter being circulated to approximately 8000 Oamaru residents this week.
UK moves send a strong signal to NZ exporters to cut carbon
28 Nov 2008
The UK Government's move to reform air passenger duty from two to four distance bands, increasing the cost of flying to New Zealand, is just the start of actions New Zealanders will see from throughout the world in a bid to lower emissions.
Future Proof and Right House join forces
28 Nov 2008
Future Proof Building has announced that Right House Ltd has joined them to offer New Zealanders complete energy efficient solutions to residential homes and businesses.
Unleashing the bioenergy bonanza offers NZ Inc huge opportunities
28 Nov 2008
The Bioenergy Association of New Zealand has welcomed the new Minister of Energy and Resources, and strongly encourages him to support business to unleash the immense wealth creation and competitive advantage that bioenergy offers the NZ economy.
NZ Timber Federation welcomes Government’s suspension of the ETS
28 Nov 2008
The government’s review of the emissions trading scheme is a very positive move for the timber processing industry” saysto Howard Tonge, the president of the Timber Industry Federation.
Pike River coal mine officially opened
28 Nov 2008
The Minister of Energy and Resources, and Economic Development, Gerry Brownlee, yeesterday opened the new Pike River coal mine in the Paparoa Ranges, 50 kilometres north-east of Greymouth.
ETS on hold results in some “carbon traders” promoting VCS to New Zealand exotic forest owners.
28 Nov 2008
Parties are trying to promote the voluntary carbon standard (VCS) www.v-c-s.org now the ETS is under review, says the Environmental Intermediaries & Trading Group Limited.
Electricity from coal seam gas now on the national grid
25 Nov 2008
New Zealand has a new source of electricity following the connection to the national grid of a 1MW generator driven by coal seam gas from Solid Energy’s pilot field near Huntly in the Waikato.
Barycentric Orbits influence climate, says Sprott
25 Nov 2008
The newly appointed Minister for Climate Change, who strongly espouses the conventional IPCC view and also emissions trading, will be placed in a very invidious position long before the conclusion of this new Parliamentary term, says Dr Jim Sprott, a consulting chemist and forensic scientist of Auckland.
Appliance chain becomes Energy Star retailer
25 Nov 2008
The appliance chain 100% has signed up as New Zealand’s latest Energy Star retailer.
National already breaking promises on climate change, says Labour
21 Nov 2008
National leader John Key's U-turn on the Emissions Trading Scheme is his first broken promise, says the outgoing Minister for Climate Change Issues, David Parker.
Oil industry welcomes prospect of a carbon charge
21 Nov 2008
Government indications that select committee consideration of a carbon charge as an alternative to the Emissions Trading Scheme is strongly welcomed by the petroleum exploration and production industry, according to PEPANZ Executive Officer John Pfahlert.
Solid Energy and New Zealand Steel sign coal supply contract
21 Nov 2008
Solid Energy and New Zealand Steel have signed a new agreement for the supply of coal to the steelworks at Glenbrook, near Auckland.
New work on climate change and ice sheets
21 Nov 2008
Part of a $1 million donation last year to Victoria’s Antarctic Research Centre from alumnus Alan Eggers will help scientists better understand the relationship between glaciers and climate change.
Business council not surprised by ETS review
21 Nov 2008
Business leaders not surprised by emissions trading review, but concerned about suspending the act, says the Business Council for Sustainable Development.
NZ - friend or foe of US?
21 Nov 2008
New Zealanders should be seriously alarmed at the prospect of the National-led government damaging the country’s relationship with the United States over its stance on climate change, says Greenpeace.
Review of climate change law applauded
18 Nov 2008
Business welcomes the National government’s rapid move to reviewing the emissions trading scheme as they promised, the Employers and Manufacturers’ Association (Northern) says.
National reneges on climate change commitments
18 Nov 2008
The Environmental Defence Society has expressed “profound dismay and disappointment” at National’s confidence and supply agreement with ACT.
Greenpeace questions ‘missing’ portfolio
18 Nov 2008
The National Party’s press release detailing Cabinet posts makes no mention of the environment and climate change portfolios, nor the MP who’s rumoured to be heading them.
Fundamental change towards government spending
18 Nov 2008
Decisions made by the incoming Government signal a fundamental change in attitude to government spending, says Business NZ.
Biofuels groups announce merger
18 Nov 2008
The Bioenergy Association of New Zealand (BANZ) announced officially the consolidation of the efforts of the New Zealand Biofuel Manufacturers Association (NZBMA) with the BANZ Liquid Fuels Interest Group under the banner of BANZ.
National/Act agreement economic self-sabotage, says Greenpeace
18 Nov 2008
Greenpeace is warning that National and ACT's agreement on confidence and supply shows both parties could risk a trade backlash by lowering New Zealand's environmental standards and procrastinating over climate change.
EDS welcomes appointment of Nick Smith to cabinet
18 Nov 2008
The Environmental Defence Society has welcomed the appointment of Nick Smith to the new National cabinet as Minister for the Environment and Climate Change.
Climate Science Coalition welcomes National/Act agreement
18 Nov 2008
The New Zealand Climate Science Coalition has welcomed the agreement between the National and Act parties to appoint a special select committee of Parliament to review the current emissions trading scheme legislation and any amendments or alternatives to it, including carbon taxes, in the light of current economic circumstances and steps now being undertaken by similar nations.
TrustPower receives Arnold hydro resource consent
14 Nov 2008
TrustPower has been granted resource consents for its proposed 46MW Arnold hydro generation scheme by the Grey District and West Coast Regional Councils.
Business leaders look forward to working with National on major economic and environmental issues
14 Nov 2008
The New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development has congratulated National on its election win – and says it looks forward to working with it on major economic and environmental issues.
Farmers upset over permit-to-farm decision
14 Nov 2008
Farmers say they are "completely gutted" by an Environment Court decision that will require Taupo farmers to seek a permit to farm.
New coastal ship to slash carbon emissions
14 Nov 2008
Pacifica Shipping's new 130-metre long coastal vessel now in service is capable of slashing carbon emissions in the country's transport sector by 60,000 tonnes a year on long-haul freight, the company says.
Ministerial-model BMW to foot it with hybrids
14 Nov 2008
The BMW 730Ld - the luxury limousine used by the Government for chauffeur-driven VIP Transport Services - will compete alongside hybrid hatchbacks and micro-diesels in this year's AA EnergyWise Rally.
Building up gas for good
11 Nov 2008
Five engineers have joined forces to harness the energy from biogas to use in remote island situations in the South Pacific.
Climate change: Nowhere to Hide, says Greenpeace
11 Nov 2008
Greenpeace is urging the newly elected National Party not to be held hostage to Act’s Rodney Hide over climate change policy.
Parker jobs claim wrong, says coalition
7 Nov 2008
Climate Change Minister David Parker’s claims that the current emissions trading scheme will not only be good for the environment, but will increase jobs during the predicted slump, are completely at odds with the views of our leading economists, says the Greenhouse Policy Coalition.
Federated Farmers too weak to stand up to National on ETS
7 Nov 2008
"When I attended Federated Farmers’ election manifesto launch in Wellington a few days ago, I was disappointed to find that Federated Farmers was wishy-washy on the ETS", said ACT for agriculture spokesman John Ormond.
Green Party in climate-change denial, say Federated Farmers
7 Nov 2008
“The Green Party just does not get the reality of global climate change,” Federated Farmers climate change spokesperson, Frank Brenmuhl said today.
Mr Key, don't forget water storage is infrastructure, too
7 Nov 2008
Federated Farmers' president Don Nicolson is urging National Party leader John Key not to forget that water storage is a critical part of New Zealand's infrastructure and should be "on the infrastructure list" of any new minister.
Science, agriculture and New Zealand's future - Anderton
4 Nov 2008
Federated Farmers is to be congratulated for its contribution to the debate about the economy's future direction, Agriculture Minister and Progressive Leader Jim Anderton said today.
Global recession reaches carbon market
4 Nov 2008
The global economic recession will have a significant effect on the European carbon market, nearly halving the shortfall in EU Allowances (EUAs), according to a new projection in the latest weekly report from IDEAcarbon, a leading carbon market analysis and research firm.
Pacific climate response in question as NZ finance remains unclear
19 Dec 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | With New Zealand's $1.3 billion international climate finance commitment set to end with no clarity on what follows, the Auditor-General says oversight of that funding remains patchy and long-term outcomes are unclear.
NZ hydrogen regulation to catch up with the world
18 Dec 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | The government has announced a regulatory reset for New Zealand’s emerging clean tech hydrogen sector.
State-owned farmer drives profit growth with emissions reductions
19 Dec 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | Government-owned Landcorp, trading as Pāmu, is one-third of the way to meeting its 2031 emissions reduction targets, with five years left to run to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30.3% against 2021 emissions.
Transport dominates NZ’s rising consumer emissions
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.
NZ could become ‘dumping ground’ for dirty vehicles: Commissioner
16 Dec 2025
By Liz Kivi | Simon Upton, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, has warned the Government that its changes to the clean car standard could turn the country into a dumping ground for high emitting cars, making future emissions budgets harder to achieve.
Uncertainty eroding confidence in forestry sector
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.
