News Direct: Media releases
Fridge filter cuts grocery bills, says Auckland firm
15 Jul 2008
An Auckland company says it has come up with an innovative solution to combating rising food prices.
$300 grants available for 'green' technology in homes
15 Jul 2008
Wellington City Council is providing $300 grants to homeowners and developers who wish to install 'green' technology - including solar heaters and small wind turbines - in and around new and retrofitted homes.
Miners withdrawn from Spring Creek as safety precaution
15 Jul 2008
Solid Energy, the operator of Spring Creek mine near Greymouth, has withdrawn its mineworkers as a standard safety precaution, after monitoring detected the symptoms of spontaneous combustion occurring in an inaccessible part of the mine.
Roundtable: NZIER survey confirms ETS proposals lack support
11 Jul 2008
“The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research survey confirms what the Business Roundtable has been saying: that the government has failed to make a robust case to the public that further action against climate change is in New Zealand’s interests, and that without public support any action is likely to be politically unsustainable”, Roger Kerr, executive director of the New Zealand Business Roundtable said.
UN agency says G8 leaders 'missed opportunity'
11 Jul 2008
Commenting on the outcome of the Group of Eight (G8) Summit in Japan, the head of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said the world's richest countries had shown insufficient leadership on climate change.
Kupe exploration update
11 Jul 2008
Origin Energy Resources (Kupe) Limited, on behalf of the Kupe Joint Venture, advises that as of 12 pm EST on 9 July, the following operations have been completed on Momoho 1:
3G iPhone - The G ain't for Green!
11 Jul 2008
Based on information available on Apple's website (1), it seems the company known for innovation has missed an opportunity to reinvent its new 3G iPhone in green, says Greenpeace.
Garnaut report shows NZ on right track with emissions trading
8 Jul 2008
A new independent report prepared for the Australian government on emissions trading shows New Zealand is on the right track.
Business leaders praise unions for recognising ETS will help deliver "future jobs"
4 Jul 2008
The New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development told the Engineering Printing and Manufacturing Union's climate change-focused conference at Auckland, it was now crucial not to under invest in "future jobs" by over investing to preserve "old jobs".
Windflow attracts Mighty River Power
4 Jul 2008
A leading New Zealand electricity generator, Mighty River Power Ltd has signed agreements to purchase a 19.95% cornerstone shareholding in the rapidly developing Christchurch listed technology company Windflow Technology Ltd.
High fuel cost forces Air New Zealand to increase fares
4 Jul 2008
Air New Zealand airfares across many routes will increase from July 17 in response to continued high jet fuel prices, the airline says in a press release.
Landslide buries climate change link
4 Jul 2008
New findings by three University of Canterbury researchers could pour cold water on evidence that climate change is happening simultaneously around the world.
TZ1 appointed global Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS) Registry
4 Jul 2008
New Zealand carbon market operator, TZ1, has been appointed as a global registry for the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS) following an extensive selection process.
Paperless air freighting for New Zealand
4 Jul 2008
Willie van Heusden, President of the Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association, has welcomed the announcement that New Zealand will adopt paperless air freighting by 2009.
Beca green building contributes to major award win
4 Jul 2008
Meridian Energy's new 5-star rated green building on Wellington's Queen's Wharf, with eco-friendly features, has won the Kensington Swan Green Building category at the 2008 Property Council New Zealand Awards.
Children pay the price as international community plays catch-up with climate change
4 Jul 2008
International development agency Save the Children is calling for a dramatic shake-up in dealing with natural disasters linked to climate change.
Cement giants call for sectoral approach
4 Jul 2008
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development's Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI), currently co-chaired by Lafarge and Taiheiyo Cement, has called on G8 members and the UN to accelerate the creation of a policy framework that will allow the development of effective sectoral approaches.
National: Power users may face extra bill of $165 million
1 Jul 2008
Labour is being forced to consider a plan that will load an extra bill of $165 million onto power bills, even before the Emissions Trading Scheme kicks in, says National Party Energy spokesman Gerry Brownlee.
Send ETS back to select committee, says Roy
1 Jul 2008
ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader Heather Roy today put her support behind those businesses and individuals pressuring the Government to put the brakes on the Emissions Trading Scheme - a major piece of legislation with wide-ranging effects that should not be rammed through before the election.
Lake Hawea level cause for real worry - Brownlie
1 Jul 2008
The state of Lake Hawea reported in weekend media shows the country is still facing a serious hydro-power shortage this winter, says National Party Energy spokesman Gerry Brownlee.
Expo joins the green revolution
27 Jun 2008
The Small Business Expo plans to improve the country's carbon footprint by persuading the 13,000 businesses that attend the expo to become sustainable, it says in a press release.
Companies register hits 500,000
27 Jun 2008
A Wellington company that champions sustainable decommissioning of IT equipment is the 500,000th company to be registered on the Companies Office register.
Jaguar and Land Rover invest in green future
27 Jun 2008
Jaguar and Land Rover is investing $NZ1750 million over the next five years to ensure its vehicles are more environmentally friendly, says a press release.
Households continue to drive energy demand
27 Jun 2008
In 2006, households accounted for nearly 31 per cent of New Zealand’s total energy demand, as stated by a report released by Statistics New Zealand.
Biodiesel New Zealand confident about prospects for home-grown industry
27 Jun 2008
Raw material providers, farmers and customers of Biodiesel New Zealand have been contacting the renewable fuel producer asking about its prospects following yesterday’s introduction to Parliament of the Biofuel Bill.
World-first climate change deal from Bell Gully's
27 Jun 2008
Saving rare rhinos and valuable forests is not your everyday Kiwi lawyers' job, but for Bell Gully's climate change team they're concluding a world-first deal in the tsunami-struck Indonesian province of Aceh, legal newswire LawFuel.co.nz reports.
Price on carbon could be positive for the economy: Greens
24 Jun 2008
Farmers would profit from involvement in the Emissions Trading Scheme, reinforcing the Green Party’s insistence that farming be included in the Bill earlier than 2013, Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says in a statement.
Cynical bid to sway MPs on ETS: National
24 Jun 2008
MPs will react with cynicism to the report funded by the government-owned Meridian Energy and Mighty River Power companies urging them to quickly pass the emissions trading legislation, says National’s Climate Change spokesman Nick Smith, in a statement.
Hurry up’ report based on generalised assumptions
24 Jun 2008
A report claiming big investment gains from quickly passing emissions trading legislation is based on generalised assumptions and some questionable logic, says Business NZ.
Biofuels Bill report back much improved
24 Jun 2008
The Environment and Conservation Organisations today welcomed the report back of the much improved Biofuels Bill.
Sustainable biofuels likely to reduce fuel prices - Minister
24 Jun 2008
The introduction of a biofuels sales obligation will help New Zealand move away from our dependence on imported oil and is most likely to lessen, not increase, the cost of transport fuel, Energy Minister David Parker says.
Agriculture’s strength is its scientific basis
24 Jun 2008
The strength of agriculture in New Zealand was its underpinning by science, Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton says.
Thermal generation ban defies logic
24 Jun 2008
Legislating to ban thermal electricity generation, particularly gas-fired, defies logic, the Petroleum Exploration and Production Association said.
First prosecution in New Zealand under the Ozone Layer Protection Act 1996
24 Jun 2008
Two refrigeration engineers were recently convicted and fined at the Auckland District Court for a reckless discharge of an ozone-depleting substance.
Kiwi employers among least environmentally conscious
24 Jun 2008
In another blow for New Zealand's clean, green image, an international survey has revealed its employers are among the least environmentally conscious in the developed world.
Bright sparks dream up light bulb ban
24 Jun 2008
"The Government's big stick plan to ban conventional light bulbs is something that only the bright sparks in Labour would dream up at this time," says National Party Energy spokesman Gerry Brownlee, in a statement.
Nothing to fear from energy efficient lighting: Greens
24 Jun 2008
The National Party has gone on record for a second time today opposing sustainability and lower energy prices for households.
Unions: Time for business to be constructive on ETS
20 Jun 2008
The unions say the emissions trading debate now needs to focus on the impact of those on low incomes.
Waste bill gives economic incentives
20 Jun 2008
New waste legislation will offer economic incentives and rewards to businesses and councils who do their bit for waste reduction, Environment Minister Trevor Mallard told Parliament during the second reading of the Waste Minimisation Bill on Wednesday.
Banning ‘old’ light bulbs could leave homeowners in the dark
20 Jun 2008
A Kiwi lighting engineer says the Government’s move to ban old style incandescent light bulbs in favour of new energy efficient lighting could leave Kiwi homes owners in the dark.
Diesel power for Scenic
20 Jun 2008
Renault’s compact MPV (multi purpose vehicle), the Scenic, has been rationalised with the introduction of a 1.9 litre diesel variant with a four speed automatic transmission.
The Langham secures Australasia’s first fleet of hybrid limousines
20 Jun 2008
Environmentally conscious Sir Paul McCartney has one and now The Langham has three.
Call to Suspend Motorway Projects
20 Jun 2008
Should oil prices reach $US150 a barrel, the Auckland based transport lobby group is recommending that all uncommitted motorway projects be placed on hold, and funds diverted to increasing the capacity of transport modes that aren't reliant on cheap oil.
Emissions Trading Scheme Proves to be Trojan Horse
20 Jun 2008
"With the raft of exceptions to the proposed scheme," Cross says, "Only the productive and the wealth creators of New Zealand will be hamstrung by this unnecessary cost."
Flexible land use alliance welcomes positive movement on forestry offset scheme
20 Jun 2008
The Flexible Land Use Alliance has welcomed moves by the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee to include provisions for a Forestry Offset Scheme in the Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill and is urging Parliament as a whole to ensure it comes into force on 1 September 2008 along with the rest of the Bill.
Heavy emitters: ETS bill changes not sufficient
18 Jun 2008
The Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill has not been changed sufficiently to allay concerns that industry will struggle to stay profitable in New Zealand, according to the Greenhouse Policy Coalition, which represents large industry across a range of sectors.
Government throwing switch on traditional light bulb
17 Jun 2008
The traditional incandescent light bulb is on its way out, as part of a strategy for more energy efficient lighting announced today by Energy Minister David Parker and Government Spokesperson on Energy Efficiency and Conservation Jeanette Fitzsimons.
Greenpeace: What about agriculture's greenhouse gas emissions?
17 Jun 2008
Parliament's Finance and Expenditure Committee has – like the Government – failed to address agriculture's burgeoning greenhouse gas emissions, says Greenpeace in a press release.
Greens: Catch the train now or miss the bus
17 Jun 2008
The Government should underwrite the funding stream for the electrification of the Auckland rail system so new electric trains can be ordered now, the Green Party says in a press release.
Cuts to climate finance put exports in jeopardy: Lawyers
23 May 2025
By Liz Kivi | The government has halved international climate finance, a move aid organisations describe as “devastating,” and which lawyers say could put our Paris Agreement commitments and export market access at risk.
Could ‘orange’ hydrogen be NZ’s key to net-zero?
Fri 30 May 2025
By Liz Kivi | New Zealand could be sitting on resources for a thriving multi-billion-dollar, low-carbon hydrogen economy, which might even be capable of creating a net reduction of carbon dioxide, according to scientists.
Fed Farmers ‘ready to go into battle’ over methane target
21 May 2025
Federated Farmers say they will never accept a 24% methane reduction target, and they are prepared to go into battle with the government over the issue.
Carbon price too low to fund carbon capture
20 May 2025
The government’s climate target to 2030 is at risk, after revelations that a carbon capture project which the government was relying on to deliver one third of its carbon reductions, might not go ahead.
While govt ‘refreshes’ fund for low carbon trucks, are transport emissions set to accelerate?
Wed 28 May 2025
By Liz Kivi | The government has announced it is updating the Low Emissions Heavy Vehicle Fund, however cuts to funds to decarbonise transport in last week’s budget, and potential changes to road user charges, could stall transport emissions reductions.
Council delays forestry plan as national rules remain unclear
21 May 2025
Tairāwhiti’s forestry reforms are facing fresh delays, with Gisborne District Council now tying its plan changes to national direction that remains uncertain.
Kiwi cleantech companies on the world stage
Tue 27 May 2025
Six New Zealand 'cleantech' companies were in Singapore earlier this month, along with a venture capital firm and the MacDiarmid Institute, to meet investors and multinational partners.
