Environment

Environment headlines with summaries.

• Warmest September as global temperatures soar

  World weather

  6 Oct 2023

  

  This year is on track to be the warmest on record after September temperatures alarm scientists.

  Warmest September on record as 'gobsmacking' data shocks scientists

• Thousands of litres of diesel from grounded trawler leaks into ocean

  New Zealand Canterbury

  7 Oct 2023

  

  Thousands of litres of diesel has leaked from a boat which ran aground on Banks Peninsula two weeks ago, says Canterbury Regional Council.

  Grounded Austro Carina boat leaks all its diesel into ocean at Red Bluff

• Government announces six new South Island marine reserves

  Politics Election 2023

  5 Oct 2023

  

  The government has announced plans for six new marine reserves between Timaru and the Catlins, expected to come into force in the middle of next year.

  Government announces six new South Island marine reserves

• The ambitious project trying to restore almost a fifth of NZ to healthy forest

  New Zealand conservation

  5 Oct 2023

  

  An ambitious new project aims to re-plant and restore at least 2.1 million hectares of native forest over the next 10 years.

  Recloaking Papatūānuku hoping to restore almost one-fifth of NZ to healthy forest

• Researchers call for urgent emissions cuts as Antarctic sea ice 'drops off a cliff'

  New Zealand science

  3 Oct 2023

  

  Marine and ice specialists from top research outfits gathered at an emergency summit in Wellington on Tuesday to discuss record low sea ice in Antarctica this year, which they described as "deeply…

  Researchers call for urgent emissions cuts as Antarctic sea ice 'drops off a cliff'

• Hundreds of The Warehouse Group sites to be powered by solar farms

  Business climate

  19 Sep 2023

  

  More than 260 sites owned by The Warehouse Group are set to be powered by solar farms as the group inks a long-term agreement with Lodestone Energy.

  Hundreds of The Warehouse Group sites to be powered by solar farms

• The burning question on rubbish

  environment energy

  18 Sep 2023

  

  The Detail - Incinerating rubbish and producing electricity as a by-product could be a great solution to scarce landfill space, or a step backwards environmentally.

  The burning question on rubbish

• Asbestos found on Waimakariri river bank

  New Zealand Local Democracy Reporting

  11 Sep 2023

  

  Environment Canterbury has issued a warning after materials containing asbestos were discovered in an old dump site in the Waimakariri River Regional Park, on the north bank.

  Asbestos found on Waimakariri river bank

• 'Carrot and stick' - How Rotorua halved early deaths from air pollution

  New Zealand Local Democracy Reporting

  7 Sep 2023

  

  The estimated number of Rotorua adults dying early from the impacts of poor air quality has halved in 13 years - contributing to a social cost saving of more than $100 million, district councillors…

  How Rotorua halved early deaths from air pollution

• Should soft plastics be collected in kerbside recycling?

  conservation

  4 Sep 2023

  

  It is estimated that thousands of tonnes of soft plastics are sent to landfill each year. Audio

  Should soft plastics be collected in kerbside recycling?

• 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