News Direct: Media releases

Government 'showing no leadership over wind farms'

17 Jun 2008

The Government, moving at snail's pace to develop a national wind strategy based on solid research, is exposing New Zealand to power shortages and price hikes.

Hamilton kids with small footprint have big impact

17 Jun 2008

Children at a Hamilton primary school are aiming to halve their ecological footprint by building New Zealand's first eco-classroom.

Fewer trees unless govt changes policies

13 Jun 2008

Major flaws in New Zealand’s land-use policies will become more obvious as the world food crisis grows, says the NZ Forest Owners Association.

Cross-sector partnership forms on sustainable water management

13 Jun 2008

Environment Bay of Plenty has welcomed the announcement of a national primary sector partnership to actively anticipate and engage on water management issues.

Minister of Building and Construction takes chainsaw to red tape

13 Jun 2008

Connal Townsend, Chief Executive of Property Council New Zealand, is supportive of changes to the Building Act announced Shane Jones at Collier International’s ‘Where the research meets the road’ cocktail function.

ARC calls on Aucklanders to help save energy

13 Jun 2008

Auckland Regional Council chairman Michael Lee is calling on Aucklanders to do their bit for the national energy saving campaign.

"Outrage" at AWE burning 17 million cu ft of natural gas daily at Taranaki

13 Jun 2008

An Auckland Central canddiate says he is outraged that an Australian firm is burning off New Zealand's precious natural gas resources at a time of unprecedented petroleum costs and energy shortages

Manufacturers call for better approach to domestic electricity demand

13 Jun 2008

The domestic use of electricity to ensure that all users, domestic, commercial and industrial can respond to supply shortages needs a more strategic response..

Kiwis don't know their credits from their offsets

12 Jun 2008

Most New Zealanders are confused about carbon terminology.

SOE wields deforestation chainsaw

12 Jun 2008

The Green Party is calling on the Government to admit to being a major on-the-ground player in the worst deforestation in New Zealand's modern history.

Record deforestation shows government must tear up agriculture MOU

12 Jun 2008

A Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) report showing record levels of deforestation is yet another reason why the Government must tear up the agriculture emissions memorandum of understanding (MOU), and not subsidise the agriculture industry by over a billion dollars, says Greenpeace in a statement.

Expulsion of Shell from Ogoni, Nigeria hailed

11 Jun 2008

The expulsion of Shell Oil from Ogoni country in the Niger Delta by the Nigerian Government has been hailed in Wellington by the Environment and Conservation Organisations of NZ.

Better metering will cut household power use 20%

11 Jun 2008

With a power crisis looming – and household costs skyrocketing – Kiwis need better information to make energy savings without jeopardising their health, according to Gary Mitchell, Managing Director of Centameter.

Clark "personally responsible" for shocking deforestation data - Kyoto Forestry Association

11 Jun 2008

Bio diversity research shown to winegrowers

10 Jun 2008

A unique Bio-Protection Research Centre project based on biodiversity and sustainability has captured the interest of North Island winegrowers.

Austral Pacific delists from AMEX

9 Jun 2008

New Zealand-based exploration and production company, Austral Pacific Energy Ltd. has begun the process to de-list from the American Stock Exchange (AMEX).

United Future - Green sniping breaks out as Dunne continues his dance on ETS

9 Jun 2008

The Greens and United Future are sniping at each other as Peter Dunne continues his equivocal behaviour over the proposed emissions trading scheme.

The Langham Auckland awarded top business environmental award

6 Jun 2008

The Langham Auckland was last night awarded the title for ‘businesses making a difference’ at the Government’s Green Ribbon Awards held in Wellington.

Air New Zealand Makes Significant Carbon Emission Reductions

6 Jun 2008

Air New Zealand’s fuel savings initiative programme is on track to see the airline reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by more than 100,000 tonnes.

Holcim: Sustainability initiatives on track

6 Jun 2008

A Corporate Sustainability Report released this week by Holcim Ltd, highlights that it is on track to achieving a range of sustainability targets it has set across more than 70 countries in which the leading cement and aggregates company operates.

Heavy users worry over power prices

5 Jun 2008

the Major Electricity Users’ Group (MEUG) says electricity spot prices over May were the highest ever recorded.

Farmers get free advice on shifting to certified organic production

5 Jun 2008

From today - World Environment Day - farmers and growers interested in making the shift to organic production will be able to connect with Organics Aotearoa New Zealand's Organic Advisory Programme by calling 0800 FUTURE.

Sixteen NZ firms join Climate Neutral Network

5 Jun 2008

New Zealand businesses are set to strengthen the kiwi presence and leadership on the United Nations' Climate Neutral Network - with 16 joining so far and others poised to sign up, Environment Minister Trevor Mallard said at a Wellington meeting of the international network yesterday.

Minister: Green co-leader being "looney" on water issue

4 Jun 2008

Claims that an industry group on water issues will hold up official measures to clean up waterways are ridiculous, Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton says.

Greens to Fonterra: Can we stop $1.3 billion emissions subsidy now?

4 Jun 2008

The Green Party is congratulating Fonterra for its announcement of a higher payout but is asking why the ordinary person is paying for Fonterra’s pollution of our air and water.

Make the power conservation call now, Minister

4 Jun 2008

National Party Energy spokesman Gerry Brownlee says the only reason David Parker is holding off calling for electricity conservation is that he’s hoping he won’t have to deal with another energy crisis in election year.

EMA: Urgent power savings required to avert power cuts

30 May 2008

Blackouts in the North Island are very possible, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says, and probable in the South Island if huge power savings are not made immediately.

Small innovative Kiwi company recognised in Tokyo earth month event

30 May 2008

A small, innovative New Zealand company is being recognised for its contribution to the environment at a global conference in Japan as part of the Earth Month celebrations.

Greens want US-style ban on illegally logged timber imports

29 May 2008

The Green Party has welcomed a government pledge to try to do something about stopping importation of illegally logged tropical kwila timber, after a year-long campaign by the Greens against such imports.

31 projects get $950,000 in smart innovation cash

29 May 2008

Government Spokesperson on Energy Efficiency and Conservation, Jeanette Fitzsimons, has announced that 31 projects with a combined value of $950,000 have been offered funding under the second round of a government fund to encourage smart innovations in solar water heating and heat pump water heating technologies.

Brownlee holds Parker to no power price rise promise

29 May 2008

"Householders can breathe a sigh of relief - Energy Minister David Parker is promising that domestic electricity prices will not rise because of the looming winter power crisis," says National Party Energy spokesman Gerry Brownlee.

A changing climate is not all bad for agriculture

28 May 2008

A new report released by MAF shows that not all of the effects of climate change are bad for the agricultural sectors. In some areas, production will potentially increase.

Latest NIWA projections: How climate change will affect your town

28 May 2008

The National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA) has produced new climate change projections for New Zealand.

Fish and Game: Let's audit farms to reflect realty in eco labels

28 May 2008

Fish and Game wants farmers to submit to eco-audits to back up "grand claims" made about New Zealand in eco marketing.

Say goodbye to half a million plastic supermarket bags in one month?

28 May 2008

New World is intriducing new incentives for customers to forgo using plastic bags.

80,000 old containers leave life on the farm

28 May 2008

More than 80,000 old and unwanted agrichemical containers have been collected in the first year of a national rural recycling programme, thanks to the Agrecovery Foundation, according to Environment Minister Trevor Mallard.

More on-farm waste products to go into recovery scheme

28 May 2008

The Agrecovery rural recycling programme will be extended to other "on farm" waste products.

No early mad rush for Energy Mad's household emission credits

27 May 2008

The first ever online auction of voluntary carbon credits created by demand side energy efficiency projects in New Zealand is off to a slow start.

THL goes for 1500-campervan fleet emission standard six times better than Europe's

27 May 2008

Tourism Holdings Limited (THL) 1500 campervans are helping to set new national emissions benchmarks with all of the company’s Maui & Britz fleet certified as passing tough exhaust emissions tests introduced six months ago.

Carbon labelling: Exports at risk from dirty dairying

27 May 2008

The Greens are warning that our dairy products will struggle to gain a European Union eco-label due to the impacts of dirty dairying on our rivers and lakes.

Heavy emitter Holcim celebrates 50th with conservation project

27 May 2008

Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd has announced that it will create a wetland and bird sanctuary on eight hectares of land at Cape Foulwind to help recognise 50 years of operations at its Westport Cement Works.

Nitrogen loaded Rotorua lakes showing improvement

26 May 2008

The health of Lake Okaro is improving and blue green algae levels are down, according to the latest report on Rotorua lakes water quality.

Tanzos: Landcorp should help sheep farmers avoid emissions costs

26 May 2008

Green Party MP Nandor Tanczos has called on Landcorp to support New Zealand sheep farmers by trialling organic sheep farming methods rather than leading the shift to dairy conversion.

PM visits cutting edge Hyundai research and development centre.

23 May 2008

Prime Minister Helen Clark visited the Hyundai research and development centre in Namyang, South Korea, on Saturday, 16 May.

BUDGET: Energy efficiency and climate change measures

23 May 2008

Budget 2008 allocates $23.3 million operating and $22.4 million capital funding over four years towards energy efficiency investments to assist businesses, households, motorists and consumers, Energy Minister David Parker and Housing Minister Maryan Street said.

Luxury travel gathering said to be NZ's biggest carbon neutral event

22 May 2008

The countdown is on to New Zealand’s biggest tourism event, which is also New Zealand’s biggest carbon neutral event – TRENZ 2008 – kicking off in Rotorua on Monday 26 May.

Rural internet use jumps 97% in April as fuel prices rise

22 May 2008

Rural people are increasingly turning to the internet in response to rising fuel costs, according to rural broadband provider Farmside.

Tanczos to stay till election - new waste tax priority policy

22 May 2008

Green Party MP Nandor Tanczos will remain in Parliament till the 2008 election.

Ministry report blueprint for environmentally friendly printing

22 May 2008

The Ministry for the Environment’s milestone state of the environment publication has won a gold award for using best practice environmental printing processes.

Mallard cites sustainability in potential $200m fashion market.

21 May 2008

Environment Minister Trevor Mallard says Government initiatives and regulatory drivers, like the Emissions Trading Scheme and the New Zealand Energy Strategy, and changing consumer behaviour mean that New Zealand businesses do need to “get real” and become sustainable.