Environment

Environment headlines with summaries.

• Fossil found by father and 10yo son suggests species originated in Zealandia

  New Zealand science

  2 Sep 2023

  

  A recently-discovered fossil suggests a group of sea birds originated in the waters around Zealandia, rather than in the Northern Hemisphere as previously thought.

  New fossil species suggests tropicbirds originated in Zealandia

• One application accepted so far under new OIO farm-to-forest rules

  Country farming

  1 Sep 2023

  

  The first decisions under new rules for farm-to-forest conversions have been released, with two of the three applications being declined.

  One application accepted so far under new OIO farm-to-forest conversion rules

• Plans for 200-hectare solar farm in North Canterbury

  Country rural

  31 Aug 2023

  

  A North Canterbury farmer says installing 200 hectares of solar panels on his farm would be a win-win situation.

  Far North Solar Farm plans to install 200 hectares of solar panels on North Canterbury farm

• Backsliding in the battle against pest species

  conservation

  29 Aug 2023

  

  The Detail - Conservation projects across the country risk losing progress as money gets tighter and budgets are slashed.

  Backsliding in the battle against pest species

• Thousands of penguins die in Antarctic ice breakup

  World climate

  25 Aug 2023

  

  A catastrophic die-off of emperor penguin chicks has been observed in the Antarctic, with up to 10,000 young birds estimated to have been killed.

  Climate change: Thousands of penguins die in Antarctic ice breakup

• South Koreans angry over Tokyo's nuclear waste plan

  World Pacific

  13 Aug 2023

  

  Hundreds of people march in Seoul to protest against plans to release nuclear wastewater into the ocean.

  Fukushima nuclear disaster: Activists march against Tokyo's waste plan

• 'A special moment': The cry of the kiwi reaches Karori

  New Zealand Wellington Region

  10 Aug 2023

  

  The rare sound of kiwi calling is returning to western Wellington suburbs after 150 years.

  After 150-year absence the cry of the kiwi reaches Karori in Wellington

• From slash to cash: Finding innovative ways to fertilise and heal the land

  New Zealand technology

  10 Aug 2023

  

  Innovators across New Zealand are working on solutions for the huge amount of silt and woody debris that is clogging beaches and riverbanks on the East Coast.

  From slash to cash: Finding innovative ways to fertilise and heal East Coast land

• Tawaki return to coastal forests for start of breeding season

  New Zealand conservation

  6 Aug 2023

  

  Fiordland crested penguins are one of the world's rarest penguin species, and breed near Lake Moeraki.

  Fiordland crested penguins return to coastal forests for start of breeding season

• Significant Natural Areas rules too broad, research centre says

  New Zealand local council

  5 Aug 2023

  

  Bioprotection Aotearoa is concerned rules around areas of significant biodiversity are too broad and need more focus.

  Significant Natural Areas rules too broad, research centre says

• The charismatic kākāpō is booming, but its friends need help

  conservation animals

  4 Aug 2023

  

  The Detail - Having kākāpō in the North Island wilderness again is an historic win for our native manu, but conservationists say other species are at risk of falling through the cracks.

  The charismatic kākāpō is booming, but its friends need help

• Popular bird poll seeks 'Bird of the Century'

  New Zealand conservation

  29 Jul 2023

  

  The Bird of the Year competition is set to heat up as Forest and Bird seeks to find the Bird of the Century to celebrate its 100th year.

  Bird of the Year becomes Bird of the Century to celebrate 100 years of Forest & Bird

• Leafy berm lauded by one council agency, another threatens to chop it down

  New Zealand local council

  29 Jul 2023

  

  A garden was once hailed as an "inner-city oasis" by Auckland Council's Watercare now faces the chop at the hands of another council entity: Auckland Transport.

  Leafy berm lauded by one council agency, another threatens to chop it down

• River path shift may threaten West Coast town's waste water treatment

  New Zealand local council

  18 Jul 2023

  

  Rural properties and Franz Josef's waste water treatment system may be threatened by the flood-prone Waiho River changing its course.

  Waiho River's change in course may threaten Franz Josef waste water system

• High levels of toxic nitrates in water moving under and through South Auckland to harbour

  New Zealand

  15 Jul 2023

  

  The levels detected in a new GNS study in groundwater and streams around Pukekohe and Bombay are eight times the 'national bottom line' in rivers.

  High levels of toxic nitrates in water moving under and through South Auckland to harbour, research shows

• Officials seek solution to Lyttelton cruise ship passengers overwhelming buses

  New Zealand transport

  11 Jul 2023

  

  Canterbury Regional Council has committed to reducing the impact of cruise ship on its buses services which are struggling to keep up with demand.

  Officials agree to urgently find solution to Lyttelton cruise ships overwhelming buses

• Wellington one step closer to new sewage sludge treatment plant

  New Zealand infrastructure

  6 Jul 2023

  

  Wellington City Council has signed a deal with a construction consortium to build a new sewage sludge treatment plant at Moa Point.

  Wellington City Council signs deal to build sewage sludge treatment plant

• Clean up of DOC visitor sites after wild weather ongoing

  New Zealand conservation

  3 Jul 2023

  

  More than 80 percent of Department of Conservation visitor sites forced shut by wild weather in the North Island earlier this year have reopened.

  Clean up of DOC visitor sites after wild weather ongoing

• Waste company throwing kerbside recycling in with rubbish looks overseas for workers

  New Zealand Local Democracy Reporting

  26 Jun 2023

  

  Overseas recruits have been called in to help fill gaps in a labour shortage which has led to recycling and rubbish being chucked into the same rubbish truck and taken to landfill.

  Waste company throwing kerbside recycling in with rubbish looks overseas for workers

• New additional ETS scheme floated in review of carbon market

  New Zealand Politics

  19 Jun 2023

  

  The government has floated a series of options to reform the Emissions Trading Scheme, with the highest ranked option one which sets up a whole new additional ETS scheme.

  New additional ETS scheme floated in review of carbon market

• Why off-season roses are thriving better in cyclone-hit Esk Valley

  New Zealand rural

  19 Jun 2023

  

  Along the fence lines of the cyclone-devastated Esk Valley, red roses still turn their little faces towards the pale winter sun, and their unusually strong flush this year has turned heads.

  Rich flush of roses blooming in the mud of cyclone-hit Esk Valley

• Owner of controversial former chemical plant wants to hear from former staff, contractors

  New Zealand Taranaki

  14 Jun 2023

  

  The owner of a controversial former chemical plant in New Plymouth wants to quiz people with links to Ivon Watkins-Dow ahead of remediating the site.

  Dow to survey former staff, contractors of controversial chemical plant

• Ban now in place to fight caulerpa spread

  Local Democracy Reporting Northland

  12 Jun 2023

  

  The government and mana whenua have put in place an anchoring ban to fight the growing threat of one of the world's most invasive marine seaweeds.

  Bay of Islands anchoring ban now in place to fight caulerpa spread

• Raging Canada wildfires threaten critical infrastructure, force evacuations

  World

  8 Jun 2023

  

  More than 400 wildfires are burning across the country, with the province of Quebec among the worst affected, and sending a blanket of smoky air wafting over US cities.

  Raging Canada wildfires threaten critical infrastructure, force evacuations