WIND ENERGY

?    Manawatu wind farm on track
New Zealand Herald 24/06/2004. The countrys largest wind farm is due to start generating enough electricity to power 35,000 homes in just over eight weeks. Meridian Energys $150 million Te Apiti project in the southern Ruahine Range between Palmerston North and Woodville has towers and turbines three times the size of those on existing windfarms. It will also be the first to be connected directly into the National Grid, and will produce between 90MW and 100MW. More& http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?reportID=5

?    Wind power farm a blot on the landscape, say objectors
New Zealand Herald 22/04/2004. The Auckland regions first wind farm is being opposed by Franklin residents who fear it is the forerunner of a picket fence of giant turbine towers along the west coast. Genesis Energy is seeking resource consent for up to 19 wind turbines on the exposed weathered hills of the southern Awhitu Peninsula, near Waiuku and Karioitahi Beach. The state-owned generators bank of aircraft propeller-like turbines could support up to 25 megawatts of generation - enough to supply 8000 houses.   
More& http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3573649&thesection=news&thesubsection=general&thesecondsubsection=&reportid=5

ELECTRICITY INDUSTRY

?    NZ spot electricity: avg prices halve on heavy rainfall
Dow Jones 23/06/2004. Average New Zealand wholesale power prices halved in the seven days ended Tuesday as heavy rain filled lakes to overflowing, resulting in hydro generators selling power for as little as 1 NZ cent a megawatt-hour. Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki in the Waitaki River hydroelectricity scheme, a significant source of the countrys hydropower, were respectively 77% and 95% full as of Tuesday, according to data provided by the Marketplace Co, operator of the countrys wholesale power market. More&

?    Sources predict late play for Powerco from Vector
Sunday Star-Times 27/06/2004. True to its word, electricity company Vector was not among potential buyers of Powerco to register interest with sales agent PricewaterhouseCoopers late last week. Yet market sources were still not discounting a structured play for Powerco from the Auckland-based lines company outside the bid process.  More&
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2954118a13,00.html

COAL INDUSTRY

?    Green MPs and activists slam coal mine approval
NZPA 22/06/2004. Greenpeace and Green Party MPs condemned the decision yesterday to give approval to Solid Energys Cypress opencast coal mine on the West Coast. Greenpeace said the coal mine was another nail in the coffin for the climate.  
More& http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2947999a13,00.html

OIL AND GAS

?    Gas explorer Austral may seek more cash
The Dominion Post 26/06/2004. Wellington-based oil and gas explorer Austral Pacific Energy is in a strong financialposition, but a further capital raising may be needed, chairman David Newman has told shareholders. Austral Pacific listed on the Canadian Toronto Venture Exchange and the New Zealand stock exchange in January, after raising $8.8 million in December through a share and warrant offer. More&  http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2952997a13,00.html

GENETIC ENGINEERING

?    GE Free NZ seeks monitoring of research
The Dominion Post 22/06/2004. No date has yet been set for environmental protest group GE Free New Zealands bid to force monitoring of a genetic engineering research site. The groups president, Claire Bleakley, is suing the Environmental Risk Management Authority (Erma) in the High Court at Wellington. The case was called in private yesterday and a  date for the full hearing has yet to be set. Scottish company PPL Therapeutics pulled out of genetic engineering trials at a Whakamaru, South Waikato, farm. Erma had approved experiments in which PPL sheep carried human DNA for medical research. More&  http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2948013a7693,00.html

WASTE MANAGEMENT

?    Online track to curb tyre dumping
The Dominion Post 23/06/2004. A scheme to deal with the problem of millions of unwanted tyres could end up raising the cost of buying new tyres. Tyre Track is an on-line collection system that aims to reduce the number of old tyres that are illegally dumped or stockpiled. It is a joint initiative of the Environment Ministry and the Motor Trade Association, which represents tyre manufacturers, distributors and retailers. More&
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2949384a7693,00.html

?    Australian government vows to build nuclear waste dump despite court setback
Associated Press 25/06/2004. The government vowed Thursday to fight a court decision that scuttled its plan to build a low-level nuclear waste dump in the Outback in South Australia state. Earlier Thursday, the Federal Court unanimously ruled in favour of the state government, blocking the federal government from using the compulsory urgent acquisition provision of the Lands Acquisition Act to buy land for the dump in Woomera in the states arid north.  
More& http://www.enn.com/news/2004-06-25/s_25251.asp

CONSERVATION

?    Coastal plan into action next week
NZPA 25/06/2004. A regional coastal plan covering Northlands 3000km coastal area, prepared by the Northland Regional Council, has won Conservation Minister Chris Carters  approval and will take effect next week. The plan, which governs the use, development and protection of the regions coastline, comes after more than 10 years of work by the Northland Regional Council. It covers activities in coastal waters from the high tide mark out to the 12-mile territorial limit. More& http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2952710a7693,00.html

?    DOC wants to hear about sightings of Southern Right whales
NZPA 24/06/2004. Researchers fearing the New Zealand population of Southern Right whales may be in peril want to know of any sightings of the whale around the coastline. About 30 individuals are thought to live around this country, possibly as few as four being females of breeding age, but information of sightings by the public could show even that estimate to be too optimistic. More& http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2951590a7693,00.html

?    Blakes vision to live on
The New Zealand Herald 26/06/2004. A trust has been set up to ensure that others will continue Sir Peter Blakes vision for the worlds oceans. The Sir Peter Blake Trust was launched yesterday at Sir Peters old school, Takapuna Grammar, with initial Government funding of $3.8 million. It will foster adventure, environmental education and leadership. More&
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3574948&thesection=news&thesubsection=general

?    DOC cracks down on tour operators
The Press 23/06/2004. The Department of Conservation is cracking down on tour companies operating in the South         Islands parks and reserves without concessions. DOCs Canterbury concessions supervisor, Claire Muir, said in the past eight months she had contacted or attempted to contact 25 illegal operators and that was only the tip of the iceberg. Hot spots for illegal operators included Arthurs Pass, the Hooker Track at Mount Cook and Castle Hill.
More... http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2949105a7693,00.html

?    Albatross petition presented to UN
NZPA   26/06/2004. A petition signed by 100,000 people, including Prime Minister Helen Clark, calling for an end to illegal pirate fishing that kills albatrosses was presented to  the United Nations today. The petition, which aims to protect albatrosses in the Southern Ocean was organised by Forest and Bird on behalf of the BirdLife International Save the Albatross campaign. More...
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2953970a7693,00.html

WATER

?    Waitaki reports released
Scoop.co.nz 24/06/2004. Two major reports on proposals to take water in the Waitaki catchment were released today by the Ministry of Economic Development (MED). The reports are: A draft national cost benefit analysis, by Sinclair Knight Merz; and An evaluation of the economic impact of Project Aqua on New Zealands electricity system, by Concept Consulting Group.  More& http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0406/S00249.htm

?    Irrigation and hydro power plan for river
Otago Daily Times 22/06/2004. A new proposal has emerged for a combined irrigation and hydro-electricity generation scheme in North Otago. The proposal was outlined to a number of stakeholders in North Otago yesterday and has come from a think tank established by Waitaki Valley resident and Waitaki First chairwoman Helen Brookes. It has the potential to deliver water to large areas of North Otagoand the south of the Waimate district.  More& http://www.stuff.co.nz/otago/0,2106,2948268a3845,00.html

?    Toilets targeted in Australian water-saving strategy
Associated Press 25/06/2004. Australia, one of the driest countries on Earth, is considering laws to reduce the amount of water literally going down the toilet. With a water-supply crisis looming in many cities, the government introduced water-saving legislation on Thursday, including a ban of toilets that flush more than 5.5 liters (1.45 gallons). Environment Minister David Kemp said water-wasting toilets were just the first target. Minimum efficiency standards could also be set for shower heads, washing machines, and             dishwashers.  More& http://www.enn.com/news/2004-06-25/s_25252.asp

?    Drought hit Australia plans to save ailing rivers
Reuters 26/06/2004. Australia yesterday announced a national plan to save the countrys rivers, hit by the worst drought in 100 years, which will see a reduction in water drawn for irrigation and a system of tradeable water rights. Drought-gripped Australia is the worlds highest user of water per person despite being the driest inhabited continent. Environment experts warn more than a quarter of Australias rivers are in danger of drying up and stringent restrictions on water use now extend nation-wide. More&  
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2952995a7693,00.html

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