News Direct: Media releases
Water policy will mean fewer trees, say forest owners
25 Jul 2008
If the government’s proposed new water policy goes ahead in its present from, it is likely to result in fewer new forests being planted.
Swimmable rivers promise on indefinite hold, say Greens
25 Jul 2008
The Government’s long-awaited Proposed National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management released on Wednesday puts on hold a Labour promise to make all water bodies safe for swimming within a generation, according to Green MP and co-Leader Russel Norman.
Kyoto foresters seek assurances on Labour and National's carbon credit promises
25 Jul 2008
The Kyoto Forestry Association (KFA) is seeking assurances from the Labour and National parties that their 2007 promises to post-1989 forest owners, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, can continue to be relied upon.
New website for New Zealand Oil & Gas Ltd
22 Jul 2008
New Zealand Oil & Gas Limited is pleased to announce that the company has a new website.
New paint technology saves on fuel costs
22 Jul 2008
New technology paint being applied to vessels operated by Black Cat Cruises will result in huge savings on fuel costs and is better for the environment, the company says in a press release.
Cullen comments on trans-Tasman scheme welcomed
22 Jul 2008
The Flexible Land Use Alliance has welcomed reported comments by New Zealand Finance Minister Michael Cullen and Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan that the New Zealand and Australian Emissions Trading Schemes (ETSs) will be made compatible over time.
Consider Aussie ETS before passing bill, say Nats
18 Jul 2008
New Zealand needs to give careful consideration to the design of the Australian emissions trading scheme before passing the current bill, says National Party Climate Change spokesman Nick Smith.
Australian and NZ emissions schemes not compatible, says O’Reilly
18 Jul 2008
The differences between Australia’s planned emissions trading scheme and New Zealand’s make them incompatible, and they could not work together as one, says Business NZ.
NZ union supports pressure on private equity
18 Jul 2008
The Service and Food Workers’ Union Nga Ringa Tota has joined unions in 25 other countries in calling on private equity companies to adopt a global corporate social responsibility charter.
Electricity investment under way for long-term security
18 Jul 2008
A period of major investment in new electricity infrastructure - of a scale not seen since the 1970s - is under way to help to secure New Zealand’s long-term energy future, says Transpower.
Dunne: What has the Reserve Bank told the Government about the true cost of ETS?
18 Jul 2008
United Future leader Peter Dunne wants to know what advice, if any, the Reserve Bank has given to the Government about the impact on inflation and price stability of an emissions trading scheme and the fluctuating price of carbon.
Shopping centre says it’s good business to be green
18 Jul 2008
A regional shopping centre says it is showing that turning a profit and caring for the environment don’t have to be mutually exclusive – that in fact, a green retail ethos is better for the bottom line.
Water management issues will impose a major constraint on growth in the next 10 years
15 Jul 2008
Larger fresh water catchments are coming under stress, the Integrated Environment Management Conference was told in Wellington yesterday.
Survey confirms business is driving skill development
15 Jul 2008
New Zealand businesses are spending greater amounts to upskill their staff, according to the latest Skills and Training Survey.
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.
'Atrocious' and 'bizarre': experts slam Act Party's climate policy
Wed 3 Sep 2025
By Liz Kivi | The Act Party is promising to challenge New Zealand’s Paris Agreement climate target, while the coalition Government’s other minor partner, NZ First, also says it wants to reevaluate the country’s commitment to the international treaty.
Meridian reports worst earnings in a decade
Wed 3 Sep 2025
Meridian Energy has posted its weakest result in 10 years, with earnings hit by a combination of droughts, low wind and declining gas supply.
International scientists slam NZ govt's proposed approach to methane
13 Aug 2025
New Zealand's proposed approach to methane emissions has again been attacked by international climate scientists, with a new study saying the attempt to redefine climate target-setting by livestock-exporting countries undermines the transition to a sustainable and equitable food system
Marginal drop in last year's regional emissions
27 Aug 2025
Regional greenhouse gas emissions were down slightly last year, with a fall in gas supply leading to a big drop in Taranaki, but more coal burnt leading to higher emissions in Waikato, according to new figures from Stats NZ
Air NZ declares surprisingly low SAF prices
Wed 3 Sep 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | Air New Zealand is able to source sustainable aviation fuel at between 1.5 and 2.5 times the price of conventional fossil fuels used for flying, all sourced from the US.
Certainty crucial to emissions cuts – Watts
20 Aug 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says that policy certainty is the Government’s primary lever for unlocking private capital and meeting climate targets, telling a carbon forestry conference that ETS settings are 'locked' through 2030.
Climate-friendly investment still lagging in NZ
Tue 2 Sep 2025
While local financial firms have made recent strides in climate governance and emissions reporting, New Zealand’s institutional investors are still missing in action when it comes to backing clean technologies and climate solutions, according to a new report.
