ENERGY INDUSTRY

?    Howard backs traditional power supplies
The Australian 16/06/2004. John Howard has hitched the nations future power needs to coal and oil in an energy blueprint that rejects a global framework for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. In releasing the federal Governments energy white paper, the Prime Minister steadfastly refused to sign the unfair Kyoto Protocol to limit greenhouse emissions - putting the Coalition directly at odds with Mark Lathams Labor. More&
    http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,9858175%5E601,00.html

?    Keep doors open on hydro power says IPENZ
Scoop.co.nz 15/06/2004. New Zealand cant keep closing the door on renewable energy options such as hydro power, said John Gardiner, the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) Deputy Chief Executive. Mr Gardiner said this in response to the Environment Courts recent decision to reduce the water rights that underpin the Tongariro Hydro  Power Scheme, and similar instances where obtaining water allocations and consents are becoming difficult.  More & http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0406/S00152.htm

?    Dobson scheme debated
NZPA 17/06/2004. Conservation Minister Chris Carter remained a staunch opponent of a proposed Dobson hydro scheme as National MP Nick Smith exploited contradictory statements about it yesterday. He asked in Parliament whether Carter agreed with West Coast-Tasman MP Damien OConnors recent comment that he believed a suitable land trade could be achieved, so that the scheme could go ahead. No, Im not sure a suitable trade can be arrived at, Carter replied. More& http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2943474a6160,00.html

?   Gas Investment boost should extend to distribution
Scoop.co.nz 16/06/2004. The Governments new plans to provide financial incentives for investment in gas exploration should be extended to include natural gas distribution, according to the Gas Association of New Zealand (GANZ).GANZ Chairman Trevor Goodwin said the announcement was a  constructive step in the right direction to encourage investment in the gas sector. The real challenge for New Zealand, however, is extending natural gas distribution networks so that gas is available to more domestic and small commercial users.   
More& http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0406/S00202.htm

?    Gas incentives please hardly anyone
The Dominion Post 17/06/04. They say in politics that if you are being attacked from both sides you have probably got it about right. More likely though its a dark compromise which satisfies no one and falls between two stools. So it is proving in the case of the proposed prospecting subsidies and royalty reductions for the petroleum exploration industry announced earlier this week. More& http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2944389a1865,00.html

?    Encouraging LP Gas is best strategic option
Scoop.co.nz 16/06/2004. Rockgas applauds the Governments stance in supporting exploration for gas and oil with a programme of subsidies. Rockgas does not however support the Gas Associations request that Government should incentivise the expansion of the natural gas reticulationnetwork. General manager of Rockgas, Owen Poole, said Government would be better advised to encourage the direct use of LP Gas which requires no subsidies. More& http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0406/S00215.htm

?    AGL big chance for NZs Contact Energy
Sydney Morning Herald 17/06/2004. Shares in New Zealand power giant Contact Energy surged nearly 2% yesterday as  speculation grew that a sale of Edison Missions 51% stake was imminent. Australian Gas Light is tipped as the frontrunner to buy the stake for about $NZ1.7 billion ($1.55 billion). Australias Origin Energy has also shown an interest. Contact shares jumped NZ12c to $NZ5.88, NZ3c off their historic high. More& http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/16/1087244977579.html

?    Collinge fired as Vector director
The New Zealand Herald 17/06/2004. Vector director John Collinge has been sacked from the board just a day after revealing secret privatisation plans for the Auckland powerlines company. But the head of Auckland Energy Consumer Trust, Vectors owner, said Collinges seat on the  board had been in doubt for months. Trust chairman Warren Kyd said possible conflicts with Collinges other role as a Vector trustee had raised concerns. More& http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/                businessstorydisplay.cfm?storyID=3573056&thesection=business&thesubsection=energy&thesecondsubsection=
electricity&thetickercode=

WASTE

?    Waste-reduction advocate to speak at conference
NZPA   16/06/2004. An advocate for waste reduction and recycling, Sheryl Stivens of Ashburton, will be the only New Zealand representative at a global Zero Waste Alliance meeting in South Korea next week. Ms Stivens, who manages the Wastebusters operation at Ashburton, said she would present three talks on New Zealands own Zero Waste programme.  More& http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2942325a7693,00.html

WATER

?    Flush proof loos proposed for water-starved Sydney
Reuters 16/06/2004. In Singapore you can get fined for not flushing a public toilet, in Sydney soon youll be encouraged not to. New South Wales water crisis means the end of the flushing urinal is at hand. If proposals before four Sydney councils are accepted, the water guzzlers will be replaced by blocks of bacteria. Woollahra, Waverley, Manly and Randwick councils are considering swapping the water for small new-age cubes that promise to stop the smell, keep the urinals clean and save 70,000 to 100,000 litres of water for each urinal every year. More& http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2942323a12,00.html

?    Groundwater a long term problem for Rotorua lakes
Scoop.co.nz 17/06/04. Lake Rotoruas water quality is likely to get worse before it gets better because of large stores of nitrogen-rich underground water. A new study commissioned by Environment Bay of Plenty has revealed that most of the groundwater currently entering the lake is too old to reflect the land development and intensification of agriculture in the Rotorua catchment after World War Two. More&
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/AK0406/S00113.htm

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

?    Environment summit to discuss growth and energy strategies
NZPA 18/06/2004. An environmental summit in Christchurch this weekend will focus on intense concern about the governments growth and energy strategies, Environment and Conservation Organisation chairwoman Cath Wallace said yesterday. The conference will be opened by conservation minister Chris Carter today. The conference will discuss smart strategies for moving forwards on to sustainable energy and sustainable development policies without simply steamrollering environmental and social interests, Ms Wallace said.
More& http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2944536a7693,00.html

CONSERVATION

?    Significant Ecological Areas identified in Auckland isthmus
Scoop.co.nz 16/06/04. Auckland City is moving closer to greening the city with the identification of ninety-four significant ecological areas within the isthmus which are proposed for scheduling and protection. The areas were identified as a result of extensive investigation following a council decision in 2001 to safeguard significant ecological areas within the Auckland isthmus.  More&
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/AK0406/S00108.htm

GLOBAL WARMING

?    Global warming risks not taken seriously
Sydney Morning Herald 17/06/2004. Climate change experts are frustrated the United States government and the public are not taking the risk of global warming seriously. They said that even as sea levels rise and crop yields fall, officials argue over whether climate change is real and Americans continue to drive fuel-guzzling SUVs. There is going to be large change, said atmospheric scientist David Battisti of the  University of Washington in Seattle. The risks are very large. More& http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/16/1087244983232.html

BIO-TECHNOLOGY

?    Fonterra slashes biotech investment
NZPA 16/06/2004. Fonterra, New Zealands biggest company and the biggest private-sector investor in research and development has slashed its science investment in biotechnology. The company wholly owns two research organisations: Fonterra Dairy Research at Palmerston North and Vialactia Biosciences (NZ) Ltd, in Auckland, which was the worlds largest biotechnology company targeting livestock. Fonterra has cut its funding of Vialactia by 40% to concentrate on research on which the intellectual property can be captured for a direct return to the dairy co-operative and its farmer shareholders. More& http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2942450a3600,00.html

POLLUTION

?    World Bank approves US$8.9 million grant to rehabilitate radioactive waste sites in Kyrgyzstan
Associated Press 17/06/2004. The World Bank said Wednesday it has approved a US$8.9 million grant to          rehabilitate radioactive waste sites that threaten Central Asias densely populated Fergana Valley. Kyrgyzstan inherited  several radioactive dumps from the Soviet nuclear industry. The uranium waste sites in the southern town of Mayluu-Suu threaten to contaminate water resources in the Fergana Valley, which Kyrgyzstan shares with two other former Soviet republics, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.  More&  http://www.enn.com/news/2004-06-17/s_24977.asp

?    Nelson smog levels exceeded 18 times
The Nelson Mail 17/06/2004. Nelson residents should welcome windy weather if they want to reduce air pollution levels which have already exceeded national guidelines 18 times since April, an expert says. The Nelson City Council tests for PM10, a small particle of air pollution. Council environmental monitoring coordinator Paul Sheldon said daily monitoring had been done at St Vincent St each winter since 2001. More& http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2944349a7693,00.html

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