News Direct: Media releases
Northland Climate Resilient Communities Fund open for applications
17 Sep 2024
Media release | Northland communities are set to get a boost to support community-led initiatives that build resilience to the immediate and ongoing effects of climate change.
Govt releases Wairoa flood review findings
11 Sep 2024
Media release | The independent rapid review into the Wairoa flooding event on 26 June 2024 has been released.
ICNZ backs faster progress on adapting to climate change
10 Sep 2024
Media release | The Insurance Council of New Zealand urges prompt action on climate change adaptation, highlighting significant risks to people and property as comprehensive strategies are called for to mitigate future disasters.
PHINZ Welcomes acclaimed author Lloyd alter as conference keynote speaker
10 Sep 2024
Media release | Lloyd Alter, renowned architect and author, will address upfront carbon emissions at the Passive House Conference in Wellington, highlighting vital challenges in sustainable building practices.
Climate action tracker launches
9 Sep 2024
Media release | A new online climate impact monitor aims to demystify the action – or inaction – of Aotearoa New Zealand’s top carbon emitters.
OPINION: Trees are the answer to more resilient rural landscapes, not the threat
9 Sep 2024
Media release | There are many ways the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association (NZFFA) could respond to Ewan McGregor’s opinion piece about the threat of pines to our rural landscape.
Graduate champions climate justice in world’s highest court
6 Sep 2024
Media release | Law graduate Justin Sobion is helping to tackle one of the world’s biggest problems in the world’s highest court.
Greenpeace slams govt decision to expand seabed mining permit area
4 Sep 2024
Media release | Greenpeace says it’s "unbelievable" that wannabe seabed miner Trans-Tasman Resources has been given the go-ahead to nearly quadruple the size of the area it wants to mine in the South Taranaki Bight.
Mayoral Forum calls for stronger action to meet emissions targets
30 Aug 2024
Media release | The Taranaki Mayoral Forum is very concerned that New Zealand is not on track to meet its emissions targets.
EDS’s Restoring Nature report sets out pathway to modernise the conservation system
30 Aug 2024
Media release | The Environmental Defence Society has launched a report, which sets out a comprehensive package of recommendations for a new conservation system.
New reports highlight NZ’s opportunity to boost climate finance
29 Aug 2024
Media release | Two new reports reveal how New Zealand can meet its climate finance obligations ahead of COP29.
New Zealand, China hold high-level climate change talks
29 Aug 2024
Media release | Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment, Huang Runqiu is departing New Zealand today after the Fifth Ministerial Climate Change Dialogue between New Zealand and China.
Next steps to clean-up the East Coast
29 Aug 2024
Media release | Forestry Minister Todd McClay today announced the establishment of the ‘Tairāwhiti Forestry Action Group’ to expedite wood clean-up in Tairāwhiti and help implement best practice for forestry.
AgriZeroNZ invests extra $4m in Kiwi company developing methane-inhibiting bolus
28 Aug 2024
Media release | AgriZeroNZ is investing a further NZD $4 million in Ruminant BioTech, to accelerate the commercialisation of a methane-inhibiting bolus specifically suited to New Zealand’s pastoral farming system.
$78m finance facility to accelerate solar development
28 Aug 2024
Media release | A tripartite signing of agreements that further facilitates the uptake of new renewable energy generation was signed at parliament today.
Next steps on electrifying NZ
27 Aug 2024
Media release | The Government will progress a series of reforms to make it easier and cheaper to consent, build and maintain renewable electricity generation as well as electricity distribution and transmission, say RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Energy Minister Simeon Brown.
Climate advocates set strong expectations at start of Pacific Islands Forum
27 Aug 2024
Media release | Nuku’alofa - Climate advocates have set strong expectations at the start of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.
Fast-track Approvals Bill "still fundamentally flawed," despite welcome changes
26 Aug 2024
Media release | Forest & Bird has welcomed the news today that the government has listened to the tens of thousands of New Zealanders who have raised growing concerns about the proposed Fast-track Approvals Bill.
Greenhouse gases down in most New Zealand regions in 2023
23 Aug 2024
Media release | Greenhouse gas emissions decreased in 13 out of 16 regions in New Zealand in the year ended December 2023, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.
emsTradepoint sale process continues
23 Aug 2024
Media release | Transpower today confirmed that its process to sell emsTradepoint and the gas and carbon trading platform operated by emsTradepoint is continuing.
Forest owners call for greater examination of forestry as a value land use
23 Aug 2024
Media release | Forest owners are concerned that the environmental and socioeconomic benefits of pine forests have been misrepresented by rhetoric in a new land use report.
Proposed Emissions Reduction Plan: A weak response that misses the target
22 Aug 2024
Media release | Health, energy and business experts are warning that the government’s second greenhouse gas ‘Emissions Reduction Plan” lacks the ambition needed to reach its target and will have consequences for our population’s health.
Hi-tech trials boost research on native forest carbon stocks
21 Aug 2024
Media release | Trials collecting data on forests using helicopter-mounted hi-tech 3D lasers are underway, which could have significant benefits for climate change mitigation and conservation.
Does climate reporting make a difference?
20 Aug 2024
Media release | Some of New Zealand's biggest companies submitted their first mandatory climate-related disclosures this year, but a new study shows disclosure doesn't guarantee better behaviour.
New analysis shows massive shortage of fossil gas, higher energy bills - govt must act to reduce demand
19 Aug 2024
Media release | New analysis of the MfE’s latest fossil gas demand modelling and MBIE’s latest fossil gas production forecasts show the current shortage will become cavernous in coming years.
Pragmatism and partnership hallmarks of Nelson’s recovery at second anniversary
19 Aug 2024
Media release | Nelson City Council is well advanced in its recovery work from the 2022 weather event due to innovative engineering and a successful partnership with govt in sharing the costs of repairs.
Lodestone Energy acquires key sites from Kiwi Solar
16 Aug 2024
Media release | Lodestone Energy, New Zealand’s leading solar generation company, has today announced the acquisition of two prime grid-scale solar sites in the Manawatu region from Kiwi Solar.
New report shows offshore wind industry in NZ can flourish through UK collaboration
15 Aug 2024
Media release | A new report published today illustrates the unique opportunity that the UK and New Zealand have to unlock the full potential of New Zealand’s offshore wind industry.
NZGIF raises more international finance for solar energy, totalling $365m
14 Aug 2024
Media release | New Zealand Green Investment Finance (NZGIF) has led a second debt issuance, making a total of $365m (NZD) available for medium to long term debt to solar providers.
NZ, Marshall Islands boost cooperation on disaster and climate resilience
13 Aug 2024
Media release | New Zealand and the Republic of Marshall Islands will cooperate more closely, including on making island communities more resilient in the face of disasters and the impacts of climate change, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says.
Study finds young children worry about water, climate
13 Aug 2024
Media release | Education experts from Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC), with a wider team of researchers, wanted to understand children’s perspectives on what was happening to these waterscapes.
One in five Environment Protection Authority roles could be axed
9 Aug 2024
Media release | Government spending cuts are forcing a key agency at the frontline of protecting our environment to propose axing one in five roles.
Study shows renewables raise food prices
9 Aug 2024
Media release | As countries including Aotearoa New Zealand embrace renewable energy production, a recent study sheds light on some overlooked impacts of this transition.
OJI Fibre to close Penrose recycle pulp mill due to high cost of energy
8 Aug 2024
Media release | 75 workers at OJI Fibre Solution’s Penrose Pulp Mill in Auckland learnt yesterday that the mill is likely to close by mid-December.
University of the South Pacific launches Centre for Sustainable Futures
8 Aug 2024
Media release | The University of the South Pacific (USP) is proud to announce the launch of the new USP Centre for Sustainable Futures, a central hub for climate change research and collaboration.
Mass bleaching of marine sponges largest event recorded worldwide
7 Aug 2024
Media release | A mass bleaching of more than 50 million sponges in Fiordland was the largest event of its kind ever recorded and is estimated to have cut the population by close to half, a new study reports.
Conservation Volunteers NZ gears up to plant their two millionth native plant
7 Aug 2024
Media release | Conservation Volunteers New Zealand (CVNZ) will celebrate planting their two millionth native plant this weekend in Ōtautahi's Red Zone.
Kiwis want greater focus on risk reduction, according to climate poll
6 Aug 2024
Media release | New Zealanders want a greater focus on reducing the impacts of climate change, according to the latest climate change poll by AMI, State and NZI Insurance.
A radically different world: preparing for climate change
6 Aug 2024
Media release | In his new book, A Radically Different World: Preparing for Climate Change, Jonathan Boston underscores a critical need for societies to supplement urgent measures to mitigate climate change with robust adaptation strategies.
It's time for Z Energy to really start 'moving with the times'
2 Aug 2024
Media release | Consumer NZ and its partner environmental and climate advocates welcome the High Court direction for Z Energy to get on with progressing the case about whether it has misled New Zealanders with its advertising.
Singapore Carbon Market Alliance launches
1 Aug 2024
Media release | The Singapore Economic Development Board and IETA have launched the Singapore Carbon Market Alliance, the first platform in Singapore aimed at helping companies obtain access to high-quality Article 6 carbon credits.
Interim report on Climate-Related Disclosure regime
31 Jul 2024
Media release | As part of its research into assessing the effectiveness of the Aotearoa New Zealand Climate-Related Disclosure Framework, the External Reporting Board has published an interim report by the University of Otago.
Methane-blocking extract from daffodils to be trialled in NZ
31 Jul 2024
Media release | An extract from the humble daffodil will be put to the test in New Zealand after UK research discovered its potential to cut methane emissions from livestock.
Trans-Tasman finance and climate ministers to meet
30 Jul 2024
Media release | Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will take part in the second annual Australia-New Zealand 2+2 Climate and Finance Ministers’ meeting in Brisbane this week.
More Kiwi firefighters to deploy to help battle Canadian wildfires
30 Jul 2024
Media release | A second group of 21 firefighting personnel from Aotearoa New Zealand will leave today for Alberta, Canada to help fight wildfires burning across the province.
Researchers test new way to remove carbon dioxide from air
29 Jul 2024
Media release | A new method to pump carbon dioxide out of the air has been developed by scientists from the UK and New Zealand.
Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail
25 Jul 2024
Media release | The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines.
New electric buses for Canterbury
24 Jul 2024
Media release | Canterbury Regional Council is celebrating its 21 newest electric buses, as it looks towards an all-electric future.
Tiwai increases demand response
23 Jul 2024
Media release | New Zealand Aluminium Smelter (NZAS) will reduce its electricity usage by a total of 185 megawatts (MW) from early August, in response to an additional demand response call from Meridian Energy.
Climate change minister to attend climate action meeting in China
22 Jul 2024
Media release | Climate change minister Simon Watts travelled to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.
Green budget 'ludicrous la-la land' – govt
Today 11:30am
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the budget was "clown show economics" and an "absolute circus".
Methanex closure comes early this year
Wed 14 May 2025
The almost-now-annual closure of Methanex has come earlier this year, giving more confidence that the electricity system will get through the winter without a fuel shortfall.
Fonterra linked to illegal deforestation, claims Greenpeace
5 Mar 2025
Dairy giant Fonterra's supply chain is linked with illegal deforestation, according to Greenpeace Aotearoa, after New Zealand's major importers of palm kernel have been found to be illegally operating palm plantations in Indonesia.
NZ could ditch 8 million fossil fuel machines right now to slash emissions
7 May 2025
The majority of the country’s ten million fossil fuel machines could be replaced cost-effectively with electric equivalents right now, new research from Rewiring Aotearoa has revealed.
Air New Zealand announces less ambitious emissions ‘guidance’
2 May 2025
Air New Zealand has published its first “emissions guidance,” saying it expects to reduce net “well-to-wake” greenhouse gas emissions from jet fuel by 20-25% by 2030, from a 2019 baseline.
Farming lobby attacks ‘loopholes’ in carbon forestry limits
7 May 2025
Beef + Lamb New Zealand is urging the government to close what it says are loopholes in new guidance around limits on carbon forestry.
FMA exemption grants compliance relief to climate reporters
7 May 2025
The Financial Markets Authority has signed off on new exemptions giving climate-reporting entities a break from some of their compliance duties.
