Sea Cleaners and Manukau Harbour Forum chair Jon Turner recently spent a morning in a hovercraft ferrying up and down the mudflats to remove tyres that had been used in old seawalls. They collected about 250 but there are thousands of them. Sea Cleaners report the volume of rubbish removed...
The Environmental Defence Society is critical of the government’s intention to establish a new fast-track consenting regime, as outlined in this letter, sent by the Minister for Resource Management Reform to stakeholders on 31 January. The new stand-alone law will enable Ministers to approve projects that are locally, regionally or...
From Feb 1, what we can put in our recycling bins has changed. This, from TV1, is helpful:
New national standards for recycling come into effect on 1 February 2024, with identical guidelines across the country for what items can and cannot be placed in kerbside recycling bins. Items accepted in kerbside recycling bins from 1 February: Glass bottles and jars Paper and cardboard Plastic bottles, trays, and...
Auckland’s popular beaches, including Okahu Bay and Mission Bay, are polluted with microplastics at rates at least 50 times worse than reported elsewhere on New Zealand’s coasts, researchers have discovered. They used sophisticated imaging techniques to identify the microplastics, many of which were widely used in packaging, coatings, footwear and...
Today, the Environmental Defence Society published its briefings for incoming ministers in the coalition government, covering these portfolio areas: Hon Penny Simmonds, Minister for the Environment Hon Chris Bishop, Minister for Resource Management Reform Hon Todd McClay, Minister of Hunting and Fishing Hon Tama Potaka, Minister of Conservation Hon Simon...
Five years ago, fossil fuel corporations were banned from from oil and gas exploration in New Zealand’s ocean. The coalition government wants to lift this ban. The Green Party has a petition opposing this move. You can read and sign the petition here. Image: Green Party
Freshwater rules are changing in Tāmaki Makaurau and Aucklanders can have their say on how to improve the region’s rivers, lakes and streams. The details are included in a discussion document called Setting our Direction for improving freshwater in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. See AkHaveYourSay.NZ. This work is driven by the...
The Free Fares Campaign says that the public transport discounts introduced this year are an important step towards transport equity and emissions reductions. Their petition, launched yesterday, calls on the incoming Minister of Transport to retain these discounts: half-price public transport for Community Services Card holders and under-25s, half-price Total...
Two species of exotic caulerpa seaweed have been found in the north of New Zealand, including in Tāmaki Makaurau. This invasive marine pest has the potential to seriously harm and transform our coastal environments. If you think you see exotic caulerpa, note the location, take a photo and report it...