New Zealand News

Artist eyes Albert Park for 'living sculpture'

Environmental artist Chris Booth wants to create a "living sculpture" under Albert Park as a central Auckland tourism attraction, if he can get financial backing.His idea is for a 250m-long tunnel that people can walk through and...

Brian Fallow: NZ faces big calls over climate pledge

The Government has two big and difficult decisions to make regarding New Zealand's international commitments on climate change.The first is to set a firm target for emission levels in 2020.So far all it has put on the table is...

UN climate chief turns to business leaders for action

As Governments bicker over who should do what to slow the pace of global warming, the United Nations' climate chief is increasingly looking to business leaders to show the way forward to a low-carbon future.Christiana Figueres said...

Experts seek rights bill for cetaceans

Marine biologists and philosophers have joined forces to support a controversial declaration of rights for whales and dolphins on the grounds that their astonishing intelligence and emotional empathy puts them on a par with humans.They...

NZ Refining to spend $425M on Marsden Point upgrade

The Marsden Point oil refinery is to undergo its third major upgrade in seven years, with the board of New Zealand Refining signing off a $425 million project today, despite also announcing a 40 percent drop in profit for the year...

Jim Eagles: Untidy Kiwis let us all down

The picnic table in the shade of the trees, next to the pirate ship playground on the shores of the Firth of Thames, looked rather inviting on a hot day.So, while the two grandsons climbed to the deck of the ship, swished cutlasses...

Hens left to die on empty farm

An egg farmer has escaped prosecution after a Martinborough farm was abandoned, leaving hen houses thick with filth and scores of dead chickens.The dead birds were discovered after a neighbour complained to authorities about the...

Fyfe attacks EU carbon tax on flights

The European Union's inclusion of international airlines in its emissions trading system has come under fire from Air New Zealand boss Rob Fyfe amid talk it could trigger a trade war.The EU added flights to its cap-and-trade carbon...

John Peet: Time to defy the worship of growth

Main cuts in resource use and pollution must come from wealthy, writes John Peet, chairman of Sustainable Aotearoa NZ. Financial markets around the world are trying to adjust to the momentous stresses evident in the US and Europ...

Beach Busters: Plastics foil clean-up crew

Clean beach campaigners have discovered that not all plastics are created equal - some are much more environmentally harmful than others."We do find the worst offenders in terms of products to be food wrappers, foam packaging, plastic...

Scientists test seals for radiation after Japan tsunami

Scientists say preliminary tests indicate radiation didn't cause lesions and other symptoms associated with sickened or dead ringed seals found along Alaska's northern coast last year.The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration...

Eight in race for worst-packaging title

Loose vegetables are packed on meat trays and wrapped in plastic, a modern "convenience" adding to the million tonnes of rubbish tipped into Auckland landfills every year.The trend, seen in many supermarkets, has been highlighted...