Environment & Conservation

Te Waikoropupū Springs near Takaka in Golden Bay will be the first water body in 10 years to receive special legal protection.

Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari is now home to six more kākāpō, bringing the grand total of translocated birds to 10.

Queenstown Lakes District Council has appointed Dr Leslie Van Gelder as chair of its Climate Reference Group.

The Department of Conservation is seeking information about a shooting that killed a two-year-old sea lion on a Dunedin beach.

Carnival Corporation’s Princess Cruises is providing funding for Dunedin-based Natures Wonders to support penguin colonies around Otago.

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Liquid hydrogen-fueled aircraft could reduce New Zealand’s carbon emissions by up to 900,000 tonnes annually by 2050, according to a report from a consortium that includes Air New Zealand and Christchurch Airport.

The National Party is promising to expand New Zealand’s EV charging network with a $257m rollout of 10,000 chargers across the country over four years.

RealNZ has raised $175,000 from its annual Conservation Ball to help establish a new population of the critically endangered orange-fronted parakeet kākāriki karaka.

Queenstown Lakes District Council is turning to technology in an effort to monitor wildfire risk and environmental conditions in two of the district’s recreation reserves.

The operator will not allow large tour groups to return to its popular glowworm caves attraction.

The Department of Conservation has opened consultation on a plan to restore and revive the Rakitata (Rangitata) River in Canterbury.

The operator on the state of the luxury market, taking the long view, and its new conservation credit programme.

The Airports Council International Asia-Pacific has awarded Christchurch Airport the Green Airports Recognition 2023 and the Airport Carbon Accreditation – Mentor.

There are mixed results from Air NZ and Auckland Airport as they grapple with sustainability while travel ramps up.

The Department of Conservation has apologised and is making changes to the way it handles complaints and manages permits following kiwi deaths at Cape Sanctuary.

WWF New Zealand says tourism is a potential beneficiary of new legislation to protect and restore the Hauraki Gulf.

The global cruise industry is bouncing back fast from the pandemic with a record 32 million passengers expected in 2023, says CLIA.

Tourism is crucial to many economies but climate change is putting parts of the industry at risk.

The National Kiwi Hatchery is among a group of partners trialling a robotic kiwi to help protect native birds from uncontrolled dogs in the wild.

Wellington Airport has taken the first step to gaining independent validation of its net zero emissions by 2030 and absolute zero by 2050 targets.

Conservation and environment groups have welcomed the government’s plan to nearly triple the Hauraki Gulf protection area with 19 new marine protection areas.

The attraction is developing a new tool to support NZ’s popular wildlife, such as whales, and ecotourism too.

Ecotourism is one of five main opportunities for New Zealand as it attempts to build a greener economy, according to a report from Boston Consulting Group.

Maritime New Zealand is calling on people to have their say on proposed changes to maritime and oil pollution levies.

Destination Queenstown and electric car maker Polestar have partnered to promote the decarbonisation of tourism at the destination.

Regeneration and conservation projects are the latest to get co-funding from the $44m Innovation Programme for Tourism Recovery.

Glenorchy Air says it intends to be the first Queenstown-based flight operator to use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in turboprop aircraft after securing a new plane for its fleet.

Trees That Count has launched a crowdfunding campaign that aims to raise money for native tree plantations, in celebration of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Support for tourism in Aotearoa New Zealand has increased, according to research from Tourism New Zealand.

Wellington Airport has published its Kaitiakitanga report on how it plans to achieve net zero emissions by 2030 and absolute zero by 2050.

The Department of Conservation is calling for people to get involved with the 54th annual Conservation Week next month.

“I think we’ve got an incredible opportunity to showcase to the world, what we can do here,” says Ziptrek Ecotours’ executive director.

Japan Airlines is launching a new clothing rental service called Any Wear, Anywhere, which it claims can help reduce aircraft emissions, writes EcoWatch’s Cristen Hemingway Jaynes for the World Economic Forum.

The Auckland Climate Festival is bringing more than 150 events and tens of thousands of people to the city this September to celebrate and inspire transformative change for the climate.

Tour operator Cycle Journeys is committing to offset its carbon emissions from its fuel-powered vehicle fleet and its clients’ accommodation.

Wellington Airport plans to be net zero in its carbon emissions by 2030.

The annual whale and dolphin count is back this weekend with the Cetacean Census taking place at coastal areas around the country.

Millennium Hotels and Resorts and Save The Kiwi have partnered on a new consumer option to help support native kiwi.

Tourism stakeholders should engage with the draft Tourism Environment Action Plan to help shape the sector’s influence on the environment, say industry leaders.

Regeneration tourism projects and a regular national tourism strategy are also proposed in the 91-page document.

Air New Zealand says it is unfair to be accused of greenwashing because of its environmental messaging and that many of its compostable hot beverage cups end up in landfill.

Airbnb has announced its support for Tiaki – Care for New Zealand, with a commitment to educating guests to travel in New Zealand with respect.

The National Kiwi Hatchery is celebrating 153 new chicks – the most successful on record for any season.

Seventy years ago today, Kiwi Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Mt Everest. Now, mountaineering is hugely popular and commercial but that has come with consequences, write tourism researchers.

New Zealand needs biodiversity data to help address tourism’s impact on the environment, says The Aotearoa Circle.

Conservation Minister Willow-Jean Prime has met with the Department of Conservation and Northland Regional Council to discuss a collaborative approach to future goals.

The World Travel & Tourism Council has called on governments around the world to “get serious” about incentivising sustainable aviation fuel production and set ambitious targets to produce adequate supply. 

How will aviation continue to grow while doing its fair share on climate change?

Forest & Bird has criticised the government’s Budget 2023 for its lack of investment in reducing climate change and biodiversity loss.