Environment

A new concept fusing conservation, accommodation and tours is on offer from The Catlins operator.

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Fish & Game says it is closely monitoring Lake Okataina near Rotorua for signs of an invasive gold clam species that has infected the Waikato River.

The Labour Party has released its first climate manifesto that outlines how the party will progress its emissions reduction goals.

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

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

New Zealand’s Wildlife Act will be revamped to better protect native species and improve biodiversity, says Conservation Minister Willow-Jean Prime.

Festival organisers need to be able to manage their response to extreme weather events as summers are increasingly plagued by flooding and heatwaves.

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

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.

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

NZ businesses want to do the right thing but face barriers to supporting nature.

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.

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.

“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.

Tourism Industry Aotearoa and the Tourism Environment Leadership Group are holding a webinar discussion exploring the draft Environment Action Plan tomorrow, 6 July.

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

The Department of Conservation is requesting people who head out on the water this winter to pick up loose fishing items and protect migrating whales.

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.

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 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?

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission has warned of growing climate change risk to New Zealand’s rail infrastructure following a derailment.

Drought, fire and higher temperatures could affect the region’s tourism industry.

A new initiative hopes to restore the Hauraki Gulf’s mussel beds back to their former abundance.

More than 80% of North Island lakes and 45% in the South Island are suffering from poor health, according to a new study.

New Zealand’s glaciers continued to display signs of ice loss over the summer, in line with trends seen in previous years which show no signs of abating, according to NIWA.

A study into how tourism could be affected outlines scenarios from orderly to severe.

Rotorua Lakes Council is installing public glass recycling ‘bintainers’ around popular holiday hotspots around Lake Rotomā and Rotoiti.

The annual Ōkārito GorseBusters event is returning again in 2023 with a strong contingent of local and international visitors taking part in the cleanup.

Dolphin advocates want to see more action to protect Hector’s dolphins after a Department of Conservation report noted the deaths of a mother and calf killed by a trawl net.

New research suggests New Zealand is one of the least vulnerable countries to the dangers of glacial lake floods.

A new way to apportion carbon emissions taxes on airline passengers could be the answer to creating a fairer system that does not discriminate based on travel class.

The Department of Conservation has extended a citizen science project encouraging members of the public to report sighting of kekeno New Zealand fur seals.

Air New Zealand and Trees That Count have reflected on their first partnership anniversary with a look at the achievements over the last year.

A wet start to 2023 followed by the impacts of Cyclone Hale has hurt holiday hotspots like Northland, Hawke’s Bay and Coromandel, but government support for affected operators is not in the pipeline.

North America’s travel and tourism sector accounted for 9.3% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, according to new data from the World Travel & Tourism Council Sustainable and the Saudi-based Sustainable Tourism Global Center.

The industry group puts its “stake in the ground” on the worldwide industry’s emissions target.

There has been a significant increase in visitor interest in Antarctica.

“New Zealand needs to be a premium destination,” says the Marlborough operator.

Christchurch and Hamburg Airports have embarked on a joint partnership to develop infrastructure for the use of green hydrogen in aviation for both ground vehicles and aircraft propulsion systems.

Light pollution from Auckland’s Sky Tower and central business district are contributing to injuries and deaths of seabirds, according to a new study.

Lake Whakatipu’s TSS Earnslaw is turning 110-years-old and may soon have a new lease on life through a decarbonisation project.

The Department of Conservation has closed the Central North Island’s Arataki Track in Pureroa Forest Park due to landslip and erosion damage.