News Direct: Media releases
Eco-friendly solution for costly wood infection
19 Aug 2008
A Rotorua scientist has developed an environmentally friendly treatment for an infection that causes significant revenue losses for the forestry industry, winning recognition in the MacDiarmid Young Scientists of the Year Awards.
Greenpeace: NZ must step up commitment
19 Aug 2008
New Zealand must step-up its commitment to tackling climate change ahead of three important climate meetings this week, says Greenpeace.
Energy Mad founders win prestigious innovation award
19 Aug 2008
Christchurch entrepreneurs Chris Mardon and Tom Mackenzie were picked from a strong field of 10 finalists to win a Bayer Innovators Award for their energy-efficient light bulbs.
Get real, Greenpeace tells Nats
15 Aug 2008
Greenpeace is accusing the National Party of living in an alternate reality in which there's no such thing as climate change.
Business backs policy not to ban new base-load thermal generation
15 Aug 2008
The New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development welcomes National's policy to drop a proposed 10-year ban on building new non base-load thermal power generation.
Escape Rentals offsets emissions
15 Aug 2008
Escape Rentals, a major niche player in the campervan rental market – well-known for its distinctively painted vehicles - has contracted Carbon South to offset in-house emissions. Escape will also offer offset packages to its clients.
Ukrainian joint-implementation projects gain traction
15 Aug 2008
Carbon Capital Markets has received Host Country Approval (HCA) for a Joint Implementation (JI) project in Ukraine.
You be the judge – new ecolabels tell the story
15 Aug 2008
What exactly does it mean when a company claims its product is "eco-friendly", "biodegradable" or "clean and green"?
Polluters gain control of water
12 Aug 2008
Reports in the 82,000-circulation Rural News newspaper that agricultural polluters gained control of the Government’s Water Programme of Action should be a cause of concern for all other New Zealanders, says Green Party Co-Leader Russel Norman.
Dunedin Airport wins gold award
12 Aug 2008
MWH’s innovative heating and ventilation system for Dunedin International Airport has won a Gold Award in this year’s Association of Consulting Engineers New Zealand Awards of Excellence.
Ecotourism growth industry for Maori
12 Aug 2008
When it comes to promoting our country to the world, a lot of emphasis goes on our scenery and clean green image. But what about our history and culture - the stuff that makes us unique?
TrustPower saves power at home
12 Aug 2008
An energy saving exercise carried out by TrustPower shows that even a well-informed electricity company, in a 15-year old energy-efficient building, can reduce its energy consumption and lock in that reduction to deliver long term cost savings.
UK Carbon Reduction Commitment – a lesson for New Zealand firms
8 Aug 2008
New Zealand organisations wishing to participate in the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme – if the relevant legislation is passed into law – are being urged to act quickly if they want to operate in a carbon restrained market-place.
Log truck initiative credited with safer roads
8 Aug 2008
Log truck operators and forest owners have signed an updated Log Transport Safety Accord designed to further improve the safety of all road users.
A good news story ... they’re using our trees over there
8 Aug 2008
The effort in attracting one of Japan’s leading paper producers to invest in forestry in Southland is paying off.
Fuelstar endorses AA’s warning
8 Aug 2008
New Zealand fuel combustion catalyst manufacturer Fuelstar Fuel Combustion Technology endorses the warning given this week by the New Zealand Automobile Association that motorists should beware of devices and additives which claim to provide fuel savings.
Triangle Television puts trees before a party
8 Aug 2008
Thousands of pohutukawas are to be planted on Motutapu Island in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf as part of Triangle Television’s 10th anniversary celebrations.
Bayfield takes the next step
8 Aug 2008
Retail isn’t famous for its eco-friendliness, but one regional shopping centre is changing all that by 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.
Eco-efficiency cuts waste by 20 per cent, says Fonterra
5 Aug 2008
Fonterra's New Zealand manufacturing sites and offices have recycled more than 5000 tonnes of plastic, cardboard and paper and cut total waste by 20 per cent over the past year, the dairy co-operative says.
Lonely dinosaur seeks white elephant
5 Aug 2008
News that the National Party plans to borrow billions and gut the RMA so it can fast track new motorway projects is evidence that National is living in the past, Green Party Co-Leader Russel Norman says.
Transpower welcomes approval for HVDC Pole 1 replacement
5 Aug 2008
Transpower has welcomed the Electricity Commission’s (EC) notice of intention to approve its proposal to replace Pole 1 of the HVDC inter-island link.
Organics sector awards
5 Aug 2008
Nominations for the 2008 Organic Sector Awards have opened today, offering recognition for New Zealand's leading certified organic producers, exporters and enterprises, along with acknowledging the contribution made by individuals involved in the organic sector.
ING NZ launches sustainable growth fund to meet growing market demand
1 Aug 2008
ING (NZ) Limited has announced that it has introduced a sustainable growth fund into New Zealand as an option within the SIL KiwiSaver scheme.
Proven personal wind turbines
1 Aug 2008
Forget wind farms – a new Wellington company is bringing wind turbines down to an individual level.
New energy publication released
1 Aug 2008
The Ministry of Economic Development has released a new publication in its energy information series.
Fantastic plastic Fly-Buys cards
1 Aug 2008
Fly Buys card are now being made out of recycled plastic - a move expected to save 1.2 tonnes of new plastic a year.
New members for GIAB announced
29 Jul 2008
Twelve new members representing some of New Zealand's leading businesses and research organisations have been appointed to the government's Growth and Innovation Advisory Board
Oil dependency takes its toll, say Greens
29 Jul 2008
Yesterday's new trade deficit figures showing a massive increase in the cost of importing petrol and other oil products dramatically illustrate why the Government must reduce New Zealand’s dependence on oil, the Green Party says.
NZ joins new clean energy partnership
29 Jul 2008
New Zealand is to work with the United States to promote the use of cleaner and more efficient sources of energy in island nations and territories, Energy Minister David Parker announced on Friday.
Coal or Kiwi: Solid Energy at it again
29 Jul 2008
More native forest, snails and kiwi habitat are destined for destruction by Government-owned coal company Solid Energy, the Green Party says.
Major breakthrough in tropical timber campaign
29 Jul 2008
Pledges by most New Zealand major furniture retail chains to stop importing outdoor kwila furniture is a major victory for those campaigning to save Melanesian rainforests, Green Party Co-Leader Russel Norman says.
Auckland residents get a helping hand to pull the plug on old, inefficient fridges
29 Jul 2008
Aucklanders are getting a helping hand to rid their homes of inefficient fridges under a new scheme which sees old refrigeration appliances taken away and recycled for free - and the householder rewarded with $25.
Citroen collects more green awards
25 Jul 2008
Citroen is the only car brand to collect more than one award for its models in the annual ‘What Car?’ Green Awards presented by the UK’s largest consumer magazine, with the Citroen C4 Picasso and the new Citroen C5 taking the top green prized for the people mover and family car titles respectively, the carmaker says in a statement.
Diesel hybrids on the horizon
25 Jul 2008
Land Rover’s engineers are now conducting real-world tests with some ground-breaking Diesel ERAD Hybrid vehicles, aimed at dramatically cutting CO2 and other emissions while still delivering characteristic Land Rover all-terrain performance, says Motorcorp Distributors.
Holcim plant manager appointed
25 Jul 2008
Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd has this week announced the appointment of Chester Goodson as plant manager at its Westport Cement Works.
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.
How much is climate misinformation shaping NZ Govt policy?
Thu 16 Apr 2026
COMMENT: While an inquiry into climate misinformation is sounding alarm bells about fossil fuel propaganda and its threat to the very foundations of society across the Tasman, we’re even more vulnerable to misinformation and unseen influence here in Aotearoa, writes Matt Halliday.
Marlborough’s Rānui Solar Farm enters final testing
Thu 16 Apr 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Marlborough's biggest solar farm has entered its final testing phase and is now generating up to 9.9MW of electricity, marking a key milestone for a project expected to boost regional energy security.
Fonterra admits ‘100% grass-fed’ claim breached law in greenwashing row
2 Apr 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Fonterra has admitted its “100% New Zealand grass-fed” claims on Anchor butter were misleading and breached the law, settling a case brought by Greenpeace Aotearoa over packaging used between December 2023 and April 2025.
Latest emissions inventory: ‘Something has gone very wrong’
Thu 16 Apr 2026
By Liz Kivi | New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2024 decreased by just 0.1% compared to 2023, in what an expert says is a “terrible result”, compared to faster progress in previous years.
NZ’s latest push to roll out more EV chargers is a good thing – but can it go the distance?
Tue 14 Apr 2026
A $50 million plan to expand New Zealand’s public electric vehicle (EV) charging network marks another step toward a lower-emissions transport system.
Wellington planting nears one million trees
30 Mar 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Greater Wellington’s parks restoration programme will hit one million native trees this year, with the first dams to rewet peat wetlands in Queen Elizabeth Park now completed after a years-long effort to bring these ecosystems – and their carbon sequestering superpowers – back to life.
Businesses look for ways to cut costs in response to oil shock
1 Apr 2026
New Zealand’s small and medium-sized businesses are looking for ways to ease the pressure as global tensions see rising fossil fuel prices and diminishing supply, with decision-makers mulling measures including work-from-home polices and transport or logistics changes.
