News Direct: Media releases
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.
Major emitters group: delay ETs till we see Australia's scheme
11 Apr 2008
As the dark clouds of a possible recession gather on the horizon, the prospect of facing increased fuel and electricity costs as a result of the most ambitious emissions trading scheme in the world is certain to be adding to business pessimism, according to the Greenhouse Policy Coalition.
All public consutlation documents now on one site
10 Apr 2008
A new on-line consultations website portal has been launched, believed to be the first of its kind for New Zealand.
Smith: Biofuels joins climate change debacles
9 Apr 2008
Biofuels is set to join the list of climate change policy debacles, with the Minister admitting sustainability standards will not be in place by 1 July, says National’s Climate Change spokesman, Nick Smith.
Ricoh sponsors climate change project on Celsias
9 Apr 2008
Ricoh has become a Founding Corporate Sponsor of a climate change project on Celsias.com.
Fuel economy star ratings go on cars for sale
8 Apr 2008
Fuel economy star rating labels go on show on all new and most late model used cars from yesterday.
Kiwis back waste levy, but not too clear on who gets the new tax money
8 Apr 2008
New Zealanders strongly support a levy on solid waste but they are divided on who should receive the money, according to survey results released by the Product Stewardship Foundation.
Windfarmers: More wind means security and reasonable price
8 Apr 2008
New Zealand must maximise use if its world class wind resource if it wants a secure and reasonabely priced electricity supply in future.
Government agencies reveal size of their footprint
7 Apr 2008
The Government's34 core agencies have a 159,000 tonne carbon footprint
Energy users' Group: Consumers and business will pay $600m for ETS
7 Apr 2008
New Zealand consumers and businesses will pay nearly $600 million more in 2009 than their Australian counterparts because of the misalignment in timing of the New Zealand and Australian Emissions Trading Schemes, according to the Major Electricity Users’ Group (MEUG).
‘Green’ car conference a sham – expert
4 Apr 2008
New Zealanders shouldn’t be fooled by quick fixes to the current energy crisis, says the car buyers’ Dog & Lemon Guide.
Smith: End the mad rush on the bio fuels bill
4 Apr 2008
The Government must heed the message of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment that its biofuels bill is flawed and a risk to New Zealand’s clean, green brand, says National’s Environment spokesman, Dr Nick Smith.
Greens insist on biofuel sustainability standard
4 Apr 2008
The Green Party agrees with the Parliamentary Commissioner's advice that biofuels should not proceed in New Zealand unless they are sustainable, Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says.
Dunne: slam the brakes on biofuels
4 Apr 2008
UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne has joined the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment in urging the Government and all parties to slow down and consider the real effects of the Biofuel Bill currently before Parliament.
'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.
