KiwiRail has secured a $350 million loan facility to fund the purchase of two new inter-island ferries. The loan is the first in the world to be certified by the Climate Bond Initiative. The Climate Bond Initiative is a global scheme that uses rigorous scientific criteria to determine whether loans and other debts are consistent […]
A new carbon credit market has launched in New Zealand to target the restoration of native forest. A large proportion of trees planted for carbon credits in New Zealand are non-native pine species. However, Carbonz, founded by PhD student Finn Ross, aims to bring together buyers and sellers of native forest carbon credits. “What we’re […]
A new initiative is helping Rotorua businesses become more sustainable and work towards carbon neutrality. The project, coordinated by RotoruaNZ and the Rotorua Sustainability Charter, includes support packages of more than $2000, tailored workshops and focused consulting. The businesses would commit to benchmarking and lowering their carbon emissions. Rotorua Sustainability Charter advisor Desirae Kirby said […]
Biological controls of one of New Zealand’s worst invasive weeds – old man’s beard – have been established at several locations in the country. Old man’s beard, introduced from Europe early last century, is a plant that disrupts native biodiversity. In biological control, living organisms are used to control the pest. Two types of biological […]
A New Zealand survey expedition has recently returned from studying the remnants of the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai volcano in Tonga, which erupted in January this year. The expedition, led by NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research) and funded by the Nippon Foundation, discovered that the volcano was still largely intact. This came as […]
The first green hydrogen plant in New Zealand has officially started production. The 1.5 MW green hydrogen plant, located in Taupo, was established by Halcyon Power and uses electricity generated by the nearby Mokai geothermal power plant. Halcyon Power is a 50/50 joint venture of Tuaropaki Trust and Japan-based Obayashi Corporation. According to Halcyon Power […]
Three years ago Hyundai NZ brought the first hydrogen powered car to New Zealand – the Nexo – but the only place it could refuel was the company’s own small plant out the back of its head office in Mt Wellington. Hyundai NZ General Manager Andy Sinclair described the Nexo’s importation as putting the “egg […]
New Zealand’s biggest solar power plant will produce enough electricity to power 30,000 homes, and allow planes to pull up and recharge. The $100 million plant will cover the equivalent of 262 rugby fields at Christchurch Airport. The development is 50 times larger than any other solar farm currently operating in New Zealand. Alongside it […]
This article written for the news organization ‘TheConversation’ and is based on a presentation given at a Sanctuaries of New Zealand workshop earlier this year on the theme of iwi and conservation. As world leaders continue negotiations at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, several agreements reached so far have acknowledged the connection between climate […]
Campaigners are celebrating their victory in a long-running battle to preserve a world-famous Coromandel summer destination, with a public-backed charity buying the northern headland of New Chum Beach for $2.15m. The sale of the 30ha piece of land in Wainuiototo Bay to the New Zealand Coastal Trust means the area will be protected from development. […]