News Direct: Media releases
Industry continues to contingency-plan for winter power supply
2 May 2008
Transpower, as the independent system operator, said today that despite the recent rain, hydro storage levels remain a significant concern to the industry. The industry is continuing with its contingency planning efforts to ensure a secure supply of electricity this winter.
Don't delay the ETS - get it right
2 May 2008
The Green Party says delaying the Emissions Trading Scheme will just cause more problems and higher costs.
ACT: Dump The ETS
2 May 2008
ACT Leader Rodney Hide today congratulated the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research for quantifying the costs of the Labour-led Government's Emissions Trading Scheme.
Parker: Emissions trading 'effective and affordable'
1 May 2008
A summary of economic modelling shows emissions trading is an effective approach to reducing New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions in the long term, Climate Change Minister David Parker says.
Political realities mean emissions scheme phase in slower than desirable
1 May 2008
The political reality of having all sectors included in an emissions trading scheme means some major emitters will start paying for their greenhouse gas emissions later than is desirable in a perfect world.
Report: Two-thirds of New Zealanders believe life is getting harder
1 May 2008
The “State of the Nation” survey commissioned by CIGNA Life Insurance interviewed 1000 New Zealanders over 15 years of age to find out what we are feeling about life in general. By the looks of things, we’re feeling a bit gloomy, the company says in a press release.
Now a home which can feed the national grid
1 May 2008
A Wellington family is expected to enjoy a 75% fall on its annual power use because of energy efficient design and installation of a solar system which also has the potential to feed into the national grid.
Government's plan to reduce emissions will hurt economy - NZIER
1 May 2008
The Government’s proposed Emissions Trading Scheme, intended to ensure New Zealand plays its part in helping reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases, is likely to hurt the economy more than necessary, says a report issued today by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (Inc).
Club Tower development reaches for five-star rating
30 Apr 2008
Latitude Group’s Club Tower in Worcester Boulevard is aiming to be the first building in the South Island to be awarded the much-coveted five-star Green Star NZ building rating.
Fine-tuning of emissions trading policies recommended
30 Apr 2008
The Government is being advised to strengthen measures to enhance energy efficiency and provide clear national guidelines to protect natural resources from potential degradation as it moves to address the country's greenhouse gas emissions.
Green Party wants commonsense emissions trading policies
30 Apr 2008
Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons welcomes the release of the Cawthron Institute's environmental assessement of the emissions trading policy.
Te Rere Hau Wind Farm going well
30 Apr 2008
Construction is progressing well on the Te Rere Hau Wind Farm project, the company reports. The project is being undertaken by a joint venture, in which NZ Windfarms Limited is a 50 percent partner.
Climate Change Leadership Forum backs emissions trading scheme
29 Apr 2008
The Climate Change Leadership Forum, including 34 business and other sector leaders, has issued 10 key points of policy advice made so far to the Government and Finance and Expenditure Select Committee on the proposed emissions trading scheme (ETS).
Tougher energy efficiency rules for hot water systems
29 Apr 2008
Home owners are set to save money through strengthened energy efficiency rules for new hot water systems, according to Building and Construction Minister Shane Jones.
Vector sells Wellington network to CKI
29 Apr 2008
Vector Limited (VCT) yestoday announced the sale of its Wellington electricity network to Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Limited (CKI) for $785 million.
Greens oppose proposed lines company sale
29 Apr 2008
The Green Party has criticsed the propsed sale of Wellington's lines company to overseas interests.
Japan NZ Partnership Forum will consider climate change
29 Apr 2008
Climate change and sustainability issues are on the agenda for the first ever Japan New Zealand Partnership Forum in Tokyo on 14-15 May.
NZ First: Keep energy companies
29 Apr 2008
The sale of Vector’s Wellington electricity network to Cheung Kong Infrastructure for $785 million represents the serious loss of yet another local asset, says New Zealand First economic development spokesman Doug Woolerton.
Trelise Cooper, supermarkets promote pink eco bag as the "New Green"
29 Apr 2008
Fashion designer, Trelise Cooper, has joined forces with Progressive Enterprises to launch New Zealand’s first designer eco bag.
Biodiversity loss - it will make you sick
28 Apr 2008
A new generation of antibiotics, new treatments for thinning bone disease and kidney failure, and new cancer treatments may all stand to be lost unless the world acts to reverse the present alarming rate of biodiversity loss, a new book says.
Asia-Pacific countries share climate change data
28 Apr 2008
Participants from countries in the Asia-Pacific region will have an opportunity to share good practices on ways to cut greenhouse gases while reducing poverty at a meeting in Bangkok organised by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
UN enlists China screen darling to spread the word
24 Apr 2008
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced today that Chinese actress/celebrity Zhou Xun was appointed as its first National Goodwill Ambassador (NGWA) with a special focus on promoting environmental sustainability
What Nick Smith said about Helen Clark
24 Apr 2008
The United Nations is putting rhetoric ahead of record in honouring Prime Minister Helen Clark with a Champion of the Earth Award says National's Climate Change spokesman, Nick Smith.
Google backs out of green search initiative
24 Apr 2008
Google ironically picked Earth Day (Tuesday) to controversially pull out of Ecocho, a new green search engine that was successfully launched just seven days ago in Sydney, Australia.
Security firm to operate on DoC land
23 Apr 2008
The Greens claim that a security firm, run by the same private investigators involved in hiring paid informants to infiltrate community groups, has applied to the Department of Conservation to patrol public conservation land on the Stockton Plateau.
Conservation land concession to ensure public safety
23 Apr 2008
An application by a Solid Energy security contractor, Provision, for a permit to undertake security services on public conservation land adjacent to Solid Energy’s sites in the Buller is to ensure public safety, Solid Energy said in a statement yesterday.
Farmer leader says carbon price restrictions will restrict food production growth
23 Apr 2008
Federated Farmers president Charlie Pedersen says New Zealand farmers are concerned about their ability to farm in a sensible and sustainable way.
Biofuel delay not necessary, say manufacturers
23 Apr 2008
Fuel cost increases due to the introduction of biofuels are likely to be insignificant compared with recent price hikes for petrol and diesel says the New Zealand Biofuel Manufacturers Association.
Democracy undermined by spying
22 Apr 2008
Greenpeace says it is shocked at the arrogance shown by Gavin Clark, of Thompson and Clark Investigations (TCIL) after they were exposed for the second time trying to pay someone to spy and undermine the activities of the Save Happy Valley group.
Excuse me waiter .. can you clean up my creek...
22 Apr 2008
Queenstown hotel staff will give the town’s Horne Creek and Frankton Track a facelift today in recognition of Accor’s ‘Earth Guest Day’.
Bottled bio water being sold in Blake's name
22 Apr 2008
The Good Water Project is launching a direct to home and office service water delivery service.
Parker: Industry protection under ETS being considered
21 Apr 2008
Designing an emissions trading scheme which effectively reduces greenhouse gas emissions while being fair to industry is an important matter which requires careful consideration, Climate Change Minister David Parker says.
Greens on NZ emissions: When will we turn the corner?
21 Apr 2008
The Green Party says news that New Zealand's greenhouse emissions have continued to rise, though not as fast as previously, is still not good enough.
Labour’s credibility on climate change dies with latest figures
21 Apr 2008
Figures showing yet another increase in New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions are a fatal blow to the credibility of Labour’s climate change record, says National’s Climate Change spokesperson, Nick Smith.
NZ emissions up .5 million tonnes in 2006
21 Apr 2008
The latest annual greenhouse gas inventory report shows New Zealand’s emissions rose less than 1% between 2005 and 2006.
Solid Energy and private investigators' statements on spying claims
21 Apr 2008
Carbon News provides you with the full statements issued yesterday by Solid Energy and Thompson and Clark Investigations Ltd on claims published in the Sunday Star Times.
No proposal for congestion charging in Wellington
21 Apr 2008
Greater Wellington Regional Council has absolutely no proposal for congestion charging, Chair Fran Wilde said today.
New Government policy statement on gas governance
21 Apr 2008
nergy Minister David Parker today released the Government’s revised and updated Government Policy Statement (‘GPS’) on Gas Governance.
First NZ-only study finds Green IT low on NZ business agenda
18 Apr 2008
Beyond recycling and energy-efficient light bulbs, two-thirds of New Zealand businesses are struggling to act sustainably, according to the first New Zealand research into ‘Green IT’ by IBM and the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development.
Conservation Minister to meet Australian colleagues
18 Apr 2008
Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick today travels to Australia to participate in ministerial council meetings and discuss ways that New Zealand and Australian governments will face environmental challenges.
Who's the Green Car Maker of the Year?
17 Apr 2008
Citroën has been named as the Green Car Maker of the Year and its award-winning people mover, the Citroën C4 Picasso, has been named for the second year running as the Diesel People Mover of the Year in the annual 'What Diesel Car?' awards.
Commerce Commission issues Maui Pipeline Open Access draft determination
16 Apr 2008
The Commerce Commission has issued a draft determination in relation to an application under section 58 of the Commerce Act by two Todd companies in relation to access to the Maui pipeline.
Internet search engine pledges two trees for every 1000 searches
16 Apr 2008
The world’s first ‘green’ search engine that offsets carbon emissions with no cost to the user, has launched in New Zealand.
Boxboard behind recycling hotel coat hangar breakthrough
15 Apr 2008
Environmental ground has been broken in the local hospitality industry, with New Lynn print company, Westprint, developing a 100%-recyclable clothes hanger for Auckland’s The Langham hotel.
A good new corporate v green group spy story
15 Apr 2008
If you’re up for a good conspiracy story on big corporates employing former secret service officers to spy on green groups, here’s the best of the week - so far (not that we'd dream of anything like this happening here)..
Auckland’s first five-star environmentally sustainable building
15 Apr 2008
Auckland City Council's City Development Committee has approved the construction of a ventilated weather screen façade on the BNZ building at 80 Queen Street.
No need for NZ to drag feet on biofuels
14 Apr 2008
New Zealand shouldn’t delay bringing in biofuel sales obligations and miss out on cutting greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the use of fossil fuels says a major potential investor.
Downloadable eco advice aims at 63% who want to help
14 Apr 2008
A new eco advice booklet is available off the internet from today to help the 91 per cent of New Zealanders who have said they want to know more about how they can protect the environment, says Environment Minister Trevor Mallard.
Urgent action sought on world food price shock
11 Apr 2008
Warning that soaring food prices could lead to increased poverty and unrest, several senior United Nations officials have called for urgent measures to tackle the global crisis, which threatens to hit the world's poor the hardest.
Nelson firm cited among world top 30 offset service providers
11 Apr 2008
New Zealand company Offset the Rest is the only company in Asia Pacific to be named as one of the top 30 carbon offset providers in the world.
Australia leapfrogs NZ on climate ambition
Today 11:45am
By Liz Kivi | Lawyers for Climate Action say Australia’s new 2035 climate target should be a wake-up call for ‘clean, green’ New Zealand.
Govt tweaks offshore energy bill with 'declared areas' model
Wed 17 Sep 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Government is making changes to the Offshore Renewable Energy Bill to address offshore wind developers' concerns about competing for space with other industries.
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
Vector hits emissions reduction goal five years early
5 Sep 2025
By Liz Kivi | Auckland lines company Vector has met its 2030 emissions reduction reduction target five years early, more than halving its direct emissions, and crediting innovation and a laser-focus for its success in a hard-to-abate sector.
NZ needs to be part of a regional SAF strategy: Z, Air NZ
9 Sep 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | New Zealand needs to be part of a regional strategic approach to sourcing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with domestic production less the aim than ensuring access to the fuel from one of a number of strategically positioned bio-refineries around the world.
Govt passes law to limit farm-to-forest conversions
Today 11:45am
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Government has passed legislation intended to limit farm-to-forest conversions in the Emissions Trading Scheme, with ministers saying the changes “restore balance,” while opponents call it a band-aid that risks climate targets.
'Non-negotiable' – EU carbon pricing to hit Kiwi exporters, expert warns
11 Sep 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | High carbon exports will inevitably face a high carbon tax at the EU border, possibly in the next five years, and high methane agricultural products might not be exempt, an international expert told a local audience yesterday.
