Environment News & Articles
Local Government Minister Simon Watts: 20% of Councils' Water Plans Approved, Benefitting 2.5M Kiwis
5 days ago | 81 viewsTwenty percent of councils have had their water services delivery plans approved, benefiting over 2.5 million New Zealanders with financially sustainable approaches for the next decade under the Local Water Done Well initiative. The collaborative effort in the Waikato Water Done Well plan covers multiple districts and aims to achieve efficiencies for over 170,000 people. By utilizing shared services and lower-cost finance, councils can manage water plan costs effectively, easing financial burdens on communities and ensuring prudent investments in water infrastructure.
Tags: Simon Watts Taupō District Council Hurunui District Council Kaikōura District Council Waikato Water Done Well Local Government Minister Watercare Charter CCO New Zealanders Local Water Done Well.New Zealand Government Passes Bill to Protect Farmland and Forestry in Climate Change Response
6 days ago | 100 viewsThe Government passed the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Scheme Forestry Conversions) Amendment Bill to prevent wholesale conversion of farmland to pine forests, aiming to balance food production and Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) confidence. Key changes include limits on exotic forestry registrations for productive farmland, flexibility for farmers to convert up to 25% of land to forestry, and provisions for Māori-owned land. The Bill aims to support rural economies, create jobs, and ensure ETS credibility, with a review planned for 2028 to assess effectiveness.
Tags: Todd McClay Simon Watts Government Climate Change Response Emissions Trading Scheme Forestry Conversions Agriculture Forestry New Zealand Land UseSure! Please provide me with the topic or main idea of the content so I can generate a suitable title for you.
1 week ago | 62 viewsThe content discusses the benefits of practicing mindfulness, including stress reduction, improved focus, and emotional regulation. Mindfulness involves paying attention to the present moment without judgment, which can lead to greater self-awareness and better decision-making. By incorporating mindfulness techniques into daily routines, individuals can experience enhanced well-being and overall mental health.
Tags: I'm sorry but you haven't provided any text for me to extract keywords from. Please provide the text so I can generate the tags for you.Protecting Hoiho Population: NZ Implements Emergency Fishery Closure
1 week ago | 101 viewsThe Government is implementing a temporary emergency fishery closure around the Otago Peninsula to protect the hoiho population in mainland New Zealand. Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones will conduct public consultation on permanent measures to address hoiho bycatch in the area. The consultation will include proposals such as extending the set net ban and implementing an escalating response framework to reduce hoiho bycatch towards zero.
Tags: Shane Jones Hoiho Fisheries New Zealand Oceans Closure Bycatch Set net ban Public consultation Emergency fishery closureGovernment Boosts Funding for Tasman District Clean-Up, Supporting Local Job Seekers
1 week ago | 92 viewsThe Government is allocating an additional $300,000 to aid the ongoing clean-up efforts in the Tasman district following heavy rainfall in June and July 2025. The Enhanced Taskforce Green program, activated in July, is employing local job seekers to assist farmers and growers in their recovery efforts. This funding extension, totaling $800,000, will support job seekers until December 2025, providing them with work experience and the opportunity to transition to seasonal horticulture work.
Tags: Louise Upston Government Funding Taskforce Green programme Job seekers Farmers Growers MSD Natural disasterSeafood Sustainability & Innovation Awards 2025: Winners Drive Marine Conservation & Market Growth
1 week ago | 117 viewsThe Seafood Sustainability and Innovation Awards recognized projects like re-seeding juvenile pāua and driving mussel farming innovation. Professor Kura Paul-Burke of the University of Waikato was celebrated for championing healthy oceans through community-based restoration efforts. Other winners included individuals and organizations contributing to sustainable practices and innovation in the seafood sector.
Tags: Seafood Sustainability Innovation Awards Shane Jones Māori knowledge marine science aquaculture industry John Young Clearwater Mussels Oceans and FisheriesNew Public Reserve Established: Watts Peninsula - Te Motu Kairangi in Wellington
2 weeks ago | 143 viewsA public reserve named Watts Peninsula, also known as Mātai Moana, will be established on the Miramar Peninsula in Wellington, with significant historical and cultural value. The reserve, promised by the government in 2011, will encompass 72 hectares of land transferred from Land Information New Zealand to the Department of Conservation. Managed by a charitable trust appointed by Wellington City Council, Taranaki Whānui, and DOC, the reserve aims to preserve ecological, historical, and cultural significance, funded by the council and Taranaki Whānui.
Tags: Miramar Peninsula Te Motu Kairangi Tama Potaka Chris Penk Watts Peninsula Mātai Moana Land Information New Zealand Department of Conservation Fort Ballance Wellington City CouncilFish & Game Family Fishing Licences Updated for Equal Rights and Inclusion
3 weeks ago | 140 viewsFish & Game New Zealand's family fishing licences are being updated to grant equal fishing rights to both adults starting from the 2025/26 angling season, allowing independent fishing and voting rights in Fish & Game elections. The change aims to address the historical anomaly where the second adult on the licence, often a woman, could not fish independently or participate in elections. Minister Meager hopes the update will enhance accessibility for women and young families, encouraging more people to enjoy angling and ensuring financial relief with no price increases to Fish & Game angling licences confirmed for the upcoming season.
Tags: Fish & Game New Zealand family fishing licences Hunting and Fishing Minister James Meager University of Otago Women on the Fly NZ Dame Lynda Topp Richie Cosgrove freshwater fishing.Government Grants $2 Million for Tasman District Flood Recovery
3 weeks ago | 209 viewsThe Government has allocated up to $2 million to Tasman District Council for flood recovery efforts, including waste cleanup and infrastructure repairs. Environment Minister Penny Simmonds highlights the challenges faced by the region, particularly in areas like Riwaka and along the Motueka River. The emergency waste funding aims to support councils in managing waste after emergencies and help communities like Tasman towards recovery.
Tags: Government Tasman District Council recovery flooding Environment Minister Penny Simmonds waste cleanup infrastructure repairs silt removal emergency waste fundingLocal Water Done Well: Government Legislation Benefits Communities Nationwide
4 weeks ago | 164 viewsThe Government's Local Water Done Well legislation aims to provide safe, reliable, and financially sustainable water services to local communities across the country. The legislation focuses on ensuring financial sustainability, oversight, and accountability in water service delivery, with the Commerce Commission overseeing economic regulation to ensure fair pricing and quality infrastructure. Councils are encouraged to submit water services delivery plans that meet the requirements and provide flexibility to make arrangements best-suited for their communities, ultimately benefiting Kiwis with improved water services.
Tags: Local Government Minister Simon Watts Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson Kiwis Watercare charter Three Waters policy Local Government (Water Services) Act Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act Commerce Commission councils water services delivery planPreserving Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki: Meet the Guardians Ensuring Future Generations Enjoy this Natural Beauty
1 month ago | 235 viewsConservation Minister Tama Potaka highlights the support from Te Tōpuni Kōkōrangi to preserve Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki for future generations. The four Crown appointments to Te Tōpuni Kōkōrangi include individuals with expertise in ecology, strategic advisory, cultural development, and governance leadership. These appointments aim to ensure the protection and enhancement of the area, with joint decision-making on certain concession matters between the Crown and Te Tōpuni Kōkōrangi as per the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Act.
Tags: New Zealanders Conservation Minister Tama Potaka Professor Bruce Clarkson Stephen Daysh Hemi Sundgren Rex Hendry Te Tōpuni Kōkōrangi Te Kāhui Tupua Maori TaranakiNew Clean Vehicle Standard Updates Promise More Affordable and Fuel-Efficient Cars for Kiwis
1 month ago | 348 viewsThe Government is updating the Clean Vehicle Standard to provide importers with greater flexibility in meeting CO2 targets and ensuring access to more fuel-efficient and affordable vehicles for New Zealanders. Changes include allowing credit transfers between importers, extending credit lifespan, and setting targets not based on vehicle weight. These improvements aim to reduce costs passed on to consumers, support importers in bringing in more fuel-efficient vehicles, and are part of the Land Transport (Clean Vehicle Standard) Amendment Bill (No 2).
Tags: Government Clean Vehicle Standard CO2 targets Kiwis Transport Minister Chris Bishop importers credits New ZealandGovernment Progresses Major Marine Protection for Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana
1 month ago | 229 viewsThe Government is progressing towards significantly increasing marine protection in the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana to restore biodiversity and benefit future generations. This move aims to preserve unique wildlife habitats, support local economies, and address ecological decline in the Gulf. The Department of Conservation will lead the implementation of the new rules, focusing on education, compliance, and monitoring to protect critical habitats and balance community, environmental, and economic needs.
Tags: marine protection Hauraki Gulf Tīkapa Moana biodiversity Conservation Minister Tama Potaka New Zealand economic value Department of Conservation DOC Marine Rangers Goat Island2025 Conservation Board and NZCA Appointments: Strengthening Environmental Efforts in New Zealand
1 month ago | 231 viewsThe latest appointments to New Zealand's 15 Conservation Boards aim to enhance environmental efforts in the country. Minister for Conservation Tama Potaka announced a total of 145 appointments, including 21 reappointments, 37 new appointments, and 87 continuing members, focusing on diversity and community representation. Additionally, two reappointments and four new appointments were confirmed for the New Zealand Conservation Authority to provide strategic policy advice for conservation efforts in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Tags: Conservation Board Conservation Authority Tama Potaka New Zealand Aotearoa Department of Conservation DOC appointments environmental efforts community interestsNew Zealand's Biodiversity Research Centre: Future-Proofing Natural History and Creating Jobs
1 month ago | 221 viewsThe Government is investing in a new Biodiversity Research Centre in Upper Hutt to replace the earthquake-prone and inadequate Tory Street facility, preserving Te Papa’s natural history collection of over 860,000 specimens. The project, costing $155.4 million, is part of a $6 billion infrastructure initiative and will create construction jobs for over 2,000 people, with completion expected by March 2028. The collection transfer and decommissioning of the current facility are scheduled to be completed by April 2029.
Tags: Government Biodiversity Research Centre New Zealand Paul Goldsmith Te Papa infrastructure projects natural history construction jobs environmental science scientific research