News Direct: Media releases

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.

Green roof scoops green award

8 Apr 2008

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.

Climate change "motorway" to higher value production

4 Apr 2008

The effects of climate change are one of the greatest threats we face, Agriculture Minister Jim Adnerton has told the Large Herds Association conference at New Plymouth. If we handle it the right way, it will also be our motorway to higher value production.

Mallard speech: Sustainable development at a sustainable price

4 Apr 2008

Here is the full keynote speech of Environment Minister Trevor Mallard, presented yesteray to Planning Institute members conferencing in Greymouth.

Consultation on climate change measures continues

3 Apr 2008

Climate Change Minister David Parker has welcomed the start of the next round of public engagement on the Labour-led government's important climate change policy of emissions trading.

New research reveals green, social issues drive 11% of buyers

2 Apr 2008

New research shows New Zealanders' purchasing decisions are influenced most by price and quality.

Trans-tasman biotech projects receive $3.8 million

2 Apr 2008

Three trans-Tasman biotechnology projects will receive a total of $3.8 million in grants under the Australia New Zealand Biotechnology Partnership Fund.

No need for NZ to drag feet on biofuels

1 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.

Conserving biodiversity is a business opportunity, say IUCN and Shell

1 Apr 2008

Gland, Switzerland (IUCN)– The business case for conserving nature is strong and getting stronger, according to a new report published today by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and Shell International Limited.

Solar industries welcome National subsidy boost

1 Apr 2008

The Solar Industries Association welcomes the possibility of increased support for solar water heating as announced by the Hon Dr Nick Smith MP, National Party Climate Change Spokesman.

Family Party to oppose carbon tax

1 Apr 2008

Family Party leader Richard Lewis says the party is unconvinced that carbon based taxes are justified or necessary.

International biofuels and electric vehicles experts speaking at Wellington

31 Mar 2008

Six international speakers will join local experts to discuss the future of biofuels and electric vehicles in New Zealand at a conference in Wellington on Wednesday (April 2).

Wind farmers tilt at gas power for pushing up prices

31 Mar 2008

To say the 90% renewable energy target will be directly responsible for increased electricity prices ignores current electricity price trends, say Fraser Clark, CEO of the New Zealand Wind Energy Association.

Solar water heating grant to double under National

31 Mar 2008

A future National Government would introduce a $1,000 per household solar water heating grant and simplify the complex building consent rules for solar water heating in order to double the number of systems, says National's Climate Change spokesman, Nick Smith.

Forum explores low-carbon futures for local government

31 Mar 2008

“Innovative and forward-thinking councils committed to working on climate change will come together to discuss low-carbon futures for local government at the Communities for Climate Protection®- New Zealand 2008 Forum,” said Diana Shand, National Programme Manager for ICLEI’s Communities for Climate Protection - New Zealand (CCP-NZ) Programme.

Bollard: ETS will add to headline inflation

31 Mar 2008

The introduction of an Emissions Trading Scheme in New Zealand will also add to headline inflation here, Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard says in an economic outlook speech.

Air NZ: Do you want carbon credits with that?

28 Mar 2008

Air New Zealand customers now have the option to fund the purchase of carbon credits to offset their travel.

Minister of Energy rejects gas lobby claims

28 Mar 2008

Energy Minister David Parker says the oil and gas industry claim that renewable electricity will be more expensive than the gas fired electricity future the gas industry prefers is wrong.

Ballance: Nitrification inhibitor use tracked by software

28 Mar 2008

Ballance Agri-Nutrient’s nitrification inhibitor science is now recognised by the wider agricultural industry.

Right-Wing Council's Agenda is to Deny Climate Change

28 Mar 2008

City Vision-Labour Councillors are dismayed but unsurprised that Auckland's right-wing Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) Council has done a U-turn on climate change by systematically removing progressive actions and programmes initiated by the last Council from Dick Hubbard's Mayoral Taskforce on Sustainability.

Unreliable renewable generation contributes to high spot prices

28 Mar 2008

“The flaws in the policy to ban new thermal power stations are being graphically illustrated by current high electricity spot prices,” said Ralph Matthes, Executive Director of the Major Electricity Users’ Group (MEUG).

Solid Energy records further improvement in environmental performance

28 Mar 2008

Solid Energy has published its 2007 Environmental Report reporting that for the second year in a row, the company has met its overall policy objective of having a net positive effect on the New Zealand environment. The overall improvement for the year to 30 June 2007 was 6.6% [1].

Cuba: Energy Program Saves One Million Tons of Oil in One Year

28 Mar 2008

Ciego de Avila, Cuba, March 25 (acn) -- Cuba saved nearly one million tons of oil in the period between 2006 and 2007, which translated into 400 million dollars, as a result of the ongoing nationwide energy program, known here as Energy Revolution.

Top business speakers appearing at carbon market workshop

27 Mar 2008

Experienced carbon market taders will feature at a Ministry for the Environment and Emissions Trading Group Carbon Markets Workshop in Wellington on April 4.

UK-NZ collaboration on climate change?

27 Mar 2008

The UK Minister for Trade and Investment is expected to provide detail on possible collaboration with New Zealand on climate change issues when he speaks at Auckland on April 4.

Environment Bay of Plenty welcomes major lake restoration move

27 Mar 2008

Environment Bay of Plenty has welcomed today’s announcement by the Prime Minister that the Government will be contributing $72.1 million to restore the Rotorua Lakes.

Now it's spot the cars with stars

27 Mar 2008

Car buyers wanting to save money on their fuel bills will find it easier to choose a vehicle that goes further on a full tank, as a result of new fuel efficiency labels.

Australia's threatened species face extinction due to climate change

27 Mar 2008

Australia's extinction crisis heats up as temperatures rise in the face of global climate change, a new report by WWF-Australia says.

Transpower announces half-year result - operating surplus down $23.6m

26 Mar 2008

Transpower, the owner and operator of the national electricity grid, made good progress on planning and implementing necessary investment in the grid during the six months ending 31 December 2007.

Greenpeace occupies coal ship; calls for real action on climate change

26 Mar 2008

Greenpeace ship the Rainbow Warrior has blocked a shipment of export coal from leaving the Port of Lyttelton.

New national environmental standard proposed on water flows

25 Mar 2008

A proposed national environmental standard on ecological flows and water levels will help look after New Zealand's freshwater resources, Environment Minister Trevor Mallard has announced.