New Zealand: All stories

Tiny sensors will allow bees to tell us their troubles
24 Jan 2014
Thousands of honey bees in Australia are being fitted with sensors as part of a world-first research programme to monitor the insects and their environment using a technique known as 'swarm sensing'.

So, if the carbon tax isn't working, what is?
24 Jan 2014
Melbourne Energy Institute director MIKE SANDIFORD asks the Abbott Government to explain:

Pulp politics bring tension to Tasmania
24 Jan 2014
KATE CROWLEY, Associate Professor of Public and Environmental Policy at the University of Tasmania, examines the tension between the economy and the environment in the state's politics:

China tops wind turbine installations
24 Jan 2014
China will remain the leading global consumer of wind turbine rotor blades over the coming years, a new international report says.

Farmers put weight behind water storage
24 Jan 2014
Farmers say climate change means water storage is more important than ever.
Z Energy adds clean-fuel outlet
24 Jan 2014
A second public truck stop is selling Z Energy’s low-emissions Z DEC fuel.

EDITORIAL: Forget the pretence and let's make a real start with our water quality
20 Dec 2013
It's been an interesting year, with new carbon markets opening in some of the largest economies in the world, including North America and China.

Post-recession, we're becoming a nation of greener Kiwis
20 Dec 2013
New Zealanders coming out of recession have quite different attitudes to sustainability than they had going in, says a social trend researcher.

ETS dysfunctional, says forestry academic
20 Dec 2013
Deforesation and a lack of new planting means New Zealand is unlikely to meet its 2030 emissions reduction target, a forestry expert is warning.

Fuels emissions levels show increase
20 Dec 2013
New Zealand's emissions from liquid fuels rose over the September quarter, latest figures show.

Court throws out Taranaki drilling challenge
20 Dec 2013
The High Court has dismissed Greenpeace's challenge to the EPA's decision over Anadarko's oil exploration in the Taranaki Basin.

Search is on for native forests carbon
20 Dec 2013
Government officials are reviewing just how much carbon is stored in our native forests.

FORUM: We don't want our landscapes to become movie fiction
20 Dec 2013
Eco-man MALCOLM RANDS - founder of the Ecostore business - argues for the protection of "brand New Zealand":

Don't burn crop rubble, says scholar
20 Dec 2013
A visiting scholar is questioning the Foundation for Arable Research's recommendation to burn crop residue.

Young scientist sets sights on future of the mozzie
20 Dec 2013
The potential impact of climate change on insect predator-prey interactions is being investigated by a University of Canterbury postgraduate scholarship-winning student.
Airways opens green routes
20 Dec 2013
Seven "green" aviation routes have been introduced across Asia Pacific.
Diesel additive has new outlet
20 Dec 2013
A second truck stop is to sell Z Energy’s low-emissions diesel additive.

Govt sitting on millions worth of Kyoto units
13 Dec 2013
The Government is sitting on millions of Kyoto units which could reduce the cost of the country's carbon liability.

Errors in forest returns could be costly, says expert
13 Dec 2013
Many forest owners could run into costly penalties for innocent mistakes in their carbon returns, a consultant is warning.

Move on carbon units worries foresters
13 Dec 2013
Last week's Government announcement on the future of carbon units after 2015 does nothing to stimulate action to reduce the nation’s net greenhouse gas emissions, says the Forest Owners’ Association.

Govt releases climate change commitment report
13 Dec 2013
The Government has just released the Sixth National Communication on Climate Change report.

Sydney set to paint the town ... green
13 Dec 2013
Green thumbs across Sydney are being encouraged to reach for the sky under the City of Sydney’s new green roofs and walls policy.

Why wise businesses should take note of Gen Y Kiwis
13 Dec 2013
Businesses must cater to the increasing needs, desires and purchasing power of Gen Y Kiwis, driven by sustainability concerns, according to a new Colmar Brunton survey.
Restrictions on CERs and ERUs
6 Dec 2013
The use of international Kyoto credits in the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme is to be restricted.

Beehive seems set to block cheap foreign credits
6 Dec 2013
The Government today is expected to announce moves to restrict the flow of cheap foreign carbon credits into New Zealand.

Govt has way to aid clean-tech pioneers, says Labour
6 Dec 2013
The Government could use its buying power to support New Zealand’s clean-tech pioneers, the Labour Party says.

NXT biofuels project excites retail chain
6 Dec 2013
The NXT Fuels biofuels refinery project could be a breakthrough for the industry, says fuel retailer Gull New Zealand.

Country on countdown to pricing environment
6 Dec 2013
A decision will be made early next year on whether New Zealand will put a price on its natural capital.

OPINION: Future of coal calls for serious debate … not slogans
6 Dec 2013
By CHIS BAKER, CEO, Straterra. Some New Zealanders are calling for an immediate ban on all new coal mines.

Carbon storage report will shape new laws
6 Dec 2013
A report launched in Wellington yesterday lays the foundations for new laws around the storage of carbon dioxide as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Wind industry wants gas turned down
6 Dec 2013
The wind energy industry is calling for New Zealand’s baseload gas-fired generation to be retired to converted to peaker plants.

Mix rice straw with wool and you get ... Mibu
6 Dec 2013
A new sustainable wool and rice straw blended upholstery fabric developed by a Wellington company goes into commercial production next year with the potential to create significant demand for New Zealand crossbred wool.

Study points finger at troublesome native birds
6 Dec 2013
Pukeko, kaka and gulls are the native bird species most likely to cause problems in New Zealand’s cities in the future, according to new research.
Stationary fuel cell market set to boom
6 Dec 2013
The stationary fuel cell market is forecast to show massive growth, climbing from $390m in 2012 to $7.52 billion by 2020, a new report shows.

Food stores switch to 'natural' refrigeration
29 Nov 2013
Foodstuffs is looking to drastically cut emissions and energy costs by switching to natural refrigeration.

NZ none the wiser after rejecting refugee’s case
29 Nov 2013
New Zealand has dealt with what is claimed to be the world’s first climate change refugee by throwing his case out of court and earmarking him and his family for deportation.

Future bright for small-wind power, says study
29 Nov 2013
The small-wind power market is expected to increase massively, from $609m in 2012 to $3 billion by 2020, says a new report.

Australia to ease environment path for drillers
29 Nov 2013
The Australian Government has made progress on establishing a one-stop-shop environmental approval process for offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage activities with the release of two draft reports for public comment.

Southern Alps glaciers in state of rapid change
29 Nov 2013
Glaciers of the central Southern Alps are in a state of rapid change with ice volumes set to reduce by up to 60 per cent by the end of this century, a study by Victoria University’s Antarctic Research Centre shows.

NZI Centre wins top sustainability rating
29 Nov 2013
Auckland’s NZI Centre has been awarded a five-star ‘market leading’ base building Certified Rating for energy use under NABERSNZTM, the office building energy rating scheme.

Wildlife writer wins our book draw
29 Nov 2013
Veteran environmentalist Julian Fitter will be able to spend his Christmas break reading about rivers ... not birds.

Motoring club takes prize for energy efficiency
29 Nov 2013
An motoring organisation has earned national recognition for leading the way with energy-efficient buildings and cutting carbon emissions in Australia.

EXCLUSIVE: Biofuels pioneer wants to go into production with refinery in NZ
22 Nov 2013
A New Zealand second generation-biofuels company is in the market for funding to build a refinery.

What Tim Groser told the world at Warsaw
22 Nov 2013
Climate Change Minister Tim Groser has put New Zealand’s emissions-reduction credentials to the COP19 gathering in Warsaw.

Abbott fund has high price, says analyst
22 Nov 2013
Australia’s Emissions Reduction Fund is likely to cost its government $A20 a tonne, and possibly $40 a tonne, an analyst says.

Melbourne expo might give us some answers
22 Nov 2013
Businesses looking for a steer on how Australia’s Emissions Reduction Fund scheme will work could find it at the Carbon Expo Australasia next month.

Rubbish bag claims not true, rules judge
22 Nov 2013
Another rubbish-bag maker has been prosecuted for making false claims about being environmentally friendly.

Local bodies need no-till, says scientist
22 Nov 2013
New Zealand local authorities are missing something when they prepare their environmental policies, a no-till advocate says.

Take a searching look at our rivers ... and be in the draw to win a copy of this book
22 Nov 2013
DAVID YOUNG has updated his 1986 historical geography Faces of the River. His new book is entitled, Rivers: New Zealand’s Shared Legacy, from Random House. In the politically and ecologically altered landscapes of the past quarter-century, almost nothing remains the same. This is especially true of our river systems, and especially of our lowland rivers. To go in the draw to win a copy of Rivers just email [email protected] with 'rivers' in the subject line.

New-look Christchurch wins accolades at Warsaw
22 Nov 2013
The Christchurch rebuild has been recognised internationally as the best current example of urban regeneration.