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NEW ZEALAND ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT DIGEST October 20, 2004
CLIMATE CHANGE
€ Big jump in atmospheric CO2 levels in NZ: scientist
NZPA 13/10/2004. Big, unexplained jumps in annual levels of carbon dioxide levels recorded in Hawaii have also been seen in the southern hemisphere, New Zealand scientists say. Carbon dioxide is the main gas blamed for blanketing the planet and pushing up temperatures since the Industrial Revolution, “Over the past three decades carbon dioxide concentrations have risen from 320 parts per million in 1973 to 374 ppm in 2003, said atmospheric scientist Gordon Brailsford. More... http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3062804a7693,00.html
€ Business accolade for government climate change programme
Scoop.co.nz 12/10/2004. A Ministry for the Environment (MfE) programme to award tradable emissions units to businesses, individuals and other organisations tackling climate change has won the Supreme Award at this year’s BearingPoint Innovation Awards. The Projects to Reduce Emissions programme is administered by MfE’s Climate Change Office. Through it, units are awarded to projects that will lead to a net reduction in the emission of greenhouse gasses over business as usual that make a successful application through a tender process, the second round of which closes this Friday. More... http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0410/S00198.htm
€ Chief British scientist says act now on carbon dioxide
Reuters 12/10/2004. The world faces a surge in extreme weather events because of global warming and governments must act immediately to avert disaster, Britain’s chief scientist said on Tuesday. “Already we are witnessing increased storms at sea and floods in our cities,” David King said. “Global warming will increase the level and frequency at which we experience heightened weather patterns. More... http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=6481214§ion=news
FARMING
€ ECan nod to effluent spray
The Press 14/10/2004. A controversial application to spray dairy-farm waste on land near Lake Ellesmere has been approved by Environment Canterbury (ECan). Corllea Cows Ltd was yesterday granted approval to spray effluent from 750 cows on to its paddocks over a 31-year period. Environmental, Maori and farming groups had opposed the application, saying it would set a precedent for discharging more waste near the already polluted lake. More... http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/thepress/0,2106,3063901a6530,00.html
PLANNING ISSUES
€ ‘Naturalness’ at risk from cape lodge, says objector
The Dominion Post 14/10/2004. The arrival of American billionaire Julian Robertson’s luxury lodge at Black Reef Pt would reduce the “naturalness” of Cape Kidnappers, objector Charles Gordon says. Mr Gordon’s family has links with the cape area dating back to 1850 and his brother Angus Gordon recently wrote a book on their family history there. His concerns about the impact of the lodge and 24 chalets if they go ahead are among issues being raised in three separate appeals against Hastings District Council’s resource consent for the lodge. More... http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3064046a7693,00.html
AQUACULTURE
€ Anarchy can’t rule future of marine farming industry
Scoop.co.nz 13/10/2004. Marine farming anarchy will not be allowed to jeopardise New Zealand’s valuable coastal environment or the marine farming industry, says Fisheries Minister David Benson-Pope. Mr Benson-Pope says he is surprised many marine farmers are demanding virtually unconstrained free use of marine space without any of the normal checks and balances that land-based businesses would expect. More... http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0410/S00215.htm
€ Forest and Bird Society warns of oyster farm damage to harbour
NZPA 14/10/2004. Forest and Bird Society is warning Kaipara Harbour in Northland faces serious damage after Minister of Conservation Chris Carter gave a 100ha oyster farm the chance to apply for a resource consent. Aquaculture applications are subject to a moratorium but Mr Carter has given approval for an early end to that for an area of Kaipara Harbour, Kaipara Forest and Bird said in a statement. More... http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3064963a7693,00.html
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS
€ IAG NZ wins New Zealand Sustainable Business Award
Scoop.co.nz 13/10/2004. IAG NZ has taken out a top prize at the 2004 New Zealand Sustainable Business Awards. IAG NZ, which trades under the State and NZI brands, won first place in the large business category at the annual awards held last night at the Carlton Hotel in Auckland. This is the second time the Sustainable Business Network (SBN) has run national awards aimed at celebrating outstanding business performance in New Zealand and highlighting exceptional achievement as an example for others to follow. More...
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0410/S00178.htm
€ Drug firm tries hybrid cars as environmental measure
Zwire.com 13/10/2004. Pharmaceutical manufacturer Roche has announced plans to improve the environment as part of the company’s commitment to lower greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent over the next five years. As part of the effort, Roche is integrating Toyota Prius and Ford Escape hybrid vehicles into its pharmaceutical sales fleet. More... http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1614&dept_id=161049&newsid=13142137&PAG=461&rfi=9
€ Former oil executive joins the green movement
ABC News 14/10/2004. A former oil industry executive who’s crossed the line and joined the green movement is calling for significant reductions in petrol use. Greg Bourne is something of a poacher turned gamekeeper. He used to be the regional president of the big energy company, BP. But this week he took up a post as the Australian head of the World Wildlife Fund. He says that by mid-century, the world must reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 60 per cent. More... http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2004/s1219762.htm
CONSERVATION
€ DOC man comes to rescue of tiny flower
The Daily News 13/10/2004. A native buttercup is being propagated to stop the threatened plant from becoming extinct in Taranaki. Ranunculus recens grows on coastal cliffs near Manaia, but the small South Taranaki population was at risk because the cliffs were eroding into the sea, Department of Conservation (DOC) officer Jim Clarkson said. “It’s a bit of a worry really. We certainly don’t want to lose them in Taranaki.” More...
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3063570a7693,00.html
€ DOC Targets Wilding Pines
Scoop.co.nz 13/10/2004. The Department of Conservation is moving forward with projects to control wilding pines in Otago and Canterbury, following the increase in DOC funding announced in June by Conservation Minister Chris Carter. The extra funding has allowed both conservancies to strengthen their assault on the spread of wilding pines. More... http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0410/S00124.htm
BIOSECURITY
€ Mosquitos found in tyres at Auckland port
NZPA 12/10/2004. Exotic mosquitos have been found in Auckland in used tyres being shipped from Rarotonga to Fiji via Auckland. Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry quarantine staff making a routine inspection yesterday found the larvae and a pupa in tyres which had been off-loaded from the MV Forum Rarotonga, an island trader which carried mixed cargo to New Zealand. More... http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3062535a11,00.html
WASTE
€ South taking trash
The Southland Times 13/10/2004. Southlanders had recycled enough waste to fill the city’s Water Tower 11 times in the past year, Invercargill City Council waste minimisation officer Carolyn Dean said. Latest statistics show Southlanders are recycling 120 tonnes of waste a month. “I think that the way that people are doing it is excellent. The ones that are doing it are doing it really well. More... http://stuff.co.nz/stuff/southlandtimes/0,2106,3062785a6568,00.html
MAORI ISSUES
€ Nats would bar claims on waters
The Dominion Post 12/10/2004. National says it would exclude the foreshore, seabeds, lakes and rivers from Treaty of Waitangi claims if it were in power. The policy announcement came yesterday after party leader Don Brash outlined opposition to a proposed settlement that would return the beds of 13 lakes to Rotorua’s Te Arawa iwi - a move National says would open the door to never-ending claims.
More... http://stuff.co.nz/stuff/dominionpost/0,2106,3061404a6479,00.html
ELECTRICITY INDUSTRY
€ Contact deal protects sole access to Wairakei land
The Dominion Post 18/10/2004. Contact Energy has hammered out a deal with the Crown that protects its sole access right to land at Wairakei for geothermal uses. State Owned Enterprises Minister Mark Burton said the deal preserved the present and future use of the Crown land at Wairakei, near Taupo, for electricity generation, recreation and tourism and forestry. More... http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3067469a13,00.html
€ Aussies plug into Kiwi know-how
The Sunday Star-Times 17/10/2004. Victoria Electricity is an Australian start-up company with a difference. Six months after launch, the Melbourne-based electricity retailer has netted more than 12,000 customers and is growing by more than 3000 customers a month. But this is a New Zealand story. It began two years ago when Wellington-based investment company Infratil became interested in the activities of Auckland electricity marketers Don Cheeseman and Steve Eskrigge. More... http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3067386a13,00.html
€ Electricity demand growth continues in September
Scoop.co.nz 14/10/2004. This year’s trend of strong electricity demand continued in September, following record demand over the cold winter months. “The weekly demand totals in September were consistently ahead of the same weeks in 2003 and 2002, continuing the strong demand trend of winter”, says Meridian Energy spokesman Alan Seay. Total electricity demand this year is still running about 5% higher than last year. More... http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0410/S00198.htm
€ Watchdog approves Powerco sale deal
The New Zealand Herald 14/10/2004. The Takeovers Panel has given its blessing to a controversial deal that allows the New Plymouth District Council to sell surplus bonds paid out in the Powerco takeover deal. Last week, the panel said the deal, where Sydney brokerage Tricom agrees to take on the bonds issued by Prime Infrastructure, might breach the Takeovers Code that says all shareholders must be treated the same. After a day-long meeting in Auckland on Tuesday, the panel said yesterday it was satisfied the deal did not break the law. More... http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/businessstorydisplay.cfm?storyID=3600317&thesection=business&thesubsection=energy&thesecondsubsection=general&thetickercode=PWC
OIL PRICES
€ Kerry says Bush mismanagement behind oil price hikes
The New Zealand Herald 13/10/2004. Democratic challenger John Kerry has blamed President George W Bush’s “gross mismanagement” of the Iraq war for rising gas prices and vowed to free the United States from dependence on Middle East oil in 10 years. The Massachusetts senator rebuked his Republican rival, a former Texas oil man, for warming “the hearts of his powerful friends” in the industry with a US$15 billion ($22 billion) tax break while leaving average American consumers out in the cold. More...
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?reportID=1162625&storyID=3599769
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