Environment News & Articles
Boost in Great Walks Bookings Signals Conservation Success and Economic Growth
4 days ago | 103 viewsA significant boost in the number of people booking bednights along the country’s Great Walks is a good sign for conservation tourism and local businesses, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. Opening day bookings for each of the Great Walks were up by over 10,000 bednights compared to last year, totalling more than 140,000 bednights and bringing in more than $9 million to the Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai, says Mr Potaka. “Booking system upgrades - including a new online lobby - successfully processed a peak of nearly 12,000 people waiting to book the Milford when it opened on 28 May in an hour.
Tags: Conservation Minister Tama Potaka Great Walks Conservation tourism Local businesses Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai International Visitor Levy National Parks Rakiura National Park International visitorsSelwyn District Leads the Way in Water Services Reform with Launch of Selwyn Water
6 days ago | 123 viewsSelwyn District is the first council in the country to launch its new water services entity, Selwyn Water, meaning safe, reliable, and affordable drinking water and wastewater for ratepayers, Local Government Minister Simon Watts says. “The launch of Selwyn District’s water service entity today marks a significant milestone of water reform, and I look forward to seeing similar Local Water Done Well plans progress in the coming months,” Mr Watts says. “Selwyn District Council is also the first council to have a Water Services Delivery Plan accepted and approved by the Secretary for Local Government, Paul James and the first to establish a water services council-controlled organisation (CCO) under the Coalition Government’s Local Water Done Well policy.
Tags: Selwyn District Simon Watts Local Government Minister Paul James Selwyn Water Water Services Delivery Plan Commerce Commission Department of Internal Affairs Sam Broughton Local Water Done WellAccelerating Economic Growth Through Efficient Conservation Land Applications Processing
6 days ago | 118 viewsA targeted effort to reduce the backlog of applications for use of conservation land is accelerating economic growth without compromising conservation values, says Conservation Minister Tama Potaka. “Over the years, decision makers at the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai became wrapped and trapped in a sticky ball of red tape unnecessarily slowing the success of tourism operators, researchers, major infrastructure project developers, among many others. “The department is doing a great job delivering on my expectation to crack on with the mahi.
Tags: Conservation Minister Tama Potaka Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai tourism applications economic growth infrastructure AI tools Kokiri Lime conservation landNew Zealand Sends Specialist Team to Support Canada's Wildfire Response
6 days ago | 152 viewsMinister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says New Zealand is sending a seven-person specialist team to Manitoba on Wednesday 9 July to support Canada in its response to severe wildfires across the country. “Canada is dealing with an intense and escalating wildfire season, with fires raging across multiple provinces,” says Ms van Velden. “More than 20,000 people have been displaced from their homes.
Tags: Brooke van Velden Minister of Internal Affairs New Zealand Canada Manitoba wildfires firefighting Fire and Emergency New Zealand Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre Stewart IslandsConservation Minister Announces $22 Million Investment for Native Species and Pest Control in National Parks
1 week ago | 187 viewsToitū te marae a Tāne-Mahuta me Hineahuone, Toitū te marae a Tangaroa me Hinemoana, Toitū te tangata. Significant investment into supporting native species and tackling invasive pests in national parks has been announced by Conservation Minister Tama Potaka. Mr Potaka visited the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust facility near Christchurch today, where he announced $22 million from the International Visitor Levy will go to restoring unique wildlife in national parks, islands and other popular visitor sites over the next three years.
Tags: Hineahuone Tangaroa Hinemoana Tama Potaka Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust Canterbury DOC IVL New ZealandNew Flexible Insulation Rules to Cut Costs for Designers, Builders, and Homeowners
1 week ago | 368 viewsOverly rigid insulation rules are being removed to ease costs for designers, builders and homeowners, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced. “I’ve heard clearly from the industry that the current one-size-fits-all approach to insulation requirements is needlessly driving-up costs. “The most prescriptive compliance pathway currently available for insulation – known as the Schedule Method – doesn’t allow for design trade-offs that can affect a home’s energy efficiency, like adjusting window size.
Tags: insulation rules designers builders homeowners Chris Penk energy efficiency Building Code Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment Far NorthGovernment Invests $56 Million in Rural Canterbury Water Resilience Projects for Increased Productivity and Climate Adaptation
1 week ago | 269 viewsThe Government is investing more than $56 million into water resilience projects in rural Canterbury to help protect against changing weather patterns and increase productivity through higher value land use, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson say. “Ease of access to water is a top priority for Canterbury’s rural communities,” Mr Jones says. “Canterbury has so far avoided the extreme drought experienced in previous years, thanks in part to high rainfall over December and January.
Tags: Shane Jones Mark Patterson Government Water resilience projects Canterbury Rural communities Regional Infrastructure Fund Opuha Dam Balmoral Water Storage Facility Waimakariri Irrigation SchemeGame-Changing Reservoir Project to Boost Economy and Agriculture in Wairarapa Region
2 weeks ago | 318 viewsA reservoir to be built near Carterton will be a game-changer for the town and wider Wairarapa region, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. The 20ha reservoir, which will hold up to 1 million m3, will provide water for industry at Waingawa Industrial Park and irrigation for land. “Water resilience has been identified as a regional priority for Wairarapa.
Tags: Carterton Carterton district council Coalition government Going for growth Regional infrastructure fund Shane jones Waingawa industrial park WairarapaGisborne Community Receives $3.55M Cyclone Gabrielle Relief Grants: Minister Brooke van Velden
3 weeks ago | 281 viewsMinister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says that communities in the Gisborne region are benefitting from $3. 55 million in grants from funds raised through a special Lotto draw for Cyclone Gabrielle relief. “Cyclone Gabrielle had a devasting impact on the East Coast, causing widespread destruction to property and requiring significant relief efforts.
Tags: Auckland Bay of plenty Brooke van velden Cyclone gabrielle appeal trust East coast Fire and emergency new zealand Gabrielle Gabrielle appeal Gisborne Hawke ’ s bay Northland Pehiri emergency management group Ruatoria volunteer fire brigade St john gisborne area Tahunga residents association incorporated Tararua WaikatoBacking biodiversity protection for Kaimai Mamaku
3 weeks ago | 293 viewsA $750,000 investment into Iwi and community led biodiversity protection at Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park will benefit the environment and sustainable tourism, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. “We’re backing much-needed protection for one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most unique conservation parks and southern-most kauri habitats through work to eradicate destructive wild goats, contributing to a healthier and scenic visitor experience near Tauranga,” Mr Potaka says. “Browsing animals, like wild goats affect forest regeneration significantly, and are considered a potential spreader of kauri dieback through soil they carry.
Tags: Aotearoa new Aotearoa new zealand Auckland International visitor levy Kaimai mamaku conservation park Kaimai mamaku restoration project Karangahake gorge Rotorua Tama potaka Tauranga ZealandExpanding biodiversity markets in NZ - Speech to the NZ Farm Environment Trust alumni
3 weeks ago | 233 viewsIt’s my pleasure to be here today amongst some of the strongest guardians of our native biodiversity in the country. Wouldn’t we rather have more carrot than stick if we work for nature on our land? That’s what my announcement about expanding a voluntary nature credits market in New Zealand was about last week at Fieldays.
Tags: Fieldays New zealand ZealandNational Volunteer Week celebrates millions of volunteers
4 weeks ago | 212 viewsNational Volunteer Week kicks off today and is the biggest celebration of volunteering in New Zealand, says Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector Louise Upston. “This week is an opportunity to thank the millions of volunteers who make a difference to our communities every day,” Ms Upston says. Over 53% of adult New Zealanders volunteer, either for organisations or directly helping others, and 89% of community organisations are volunteer run.
Tags: Community and voluntary sector Louise upston National volunteer week New zealand