News

One of Queenstown’s biggest tourism players is looking to make waves in the eco-tourism sector. Ngai Tahu Tourism, which owns Shotover Jet, confirms it’s investigating how to power its famous jetboats with electric engines. Chief executive Quinton Hall says: “We currently have a project investigating how to electrify our jetboats, so hopefully we will see electric power in the not-too-distant future.”

Sustainability is becoming one of the most important ways by which consumers choose to purchase from a particular company – one that doesn’t display sustainable business practices and an environmental mindset will find itself at a disadvantage to those companies that are doing their part to create a circular economy. Office multifunction devices and consumables like toner cartridges can generate a significant amount of waste, but with sustainable business practices and processes, that doesn’t have to be the case. Fuji Xerox is a company that is leading the print industry in sustainable business practices and it has already made waves by creating contributing toward a circular economy that works.

Contact Energy has become the first energy company in New Zealand to have its emission reduction targets approved by the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi). This verifies the company’s commitment to reduce its emissions in line with what is required to achieve global targets in the Paris Agreement.

The responsibility for fighting climate change doesn't just rest with farmers - urban businesses and city dwellers need to take action too, writes Rod Oram. He hopes the example of some leading businesses will inspire more companies and urban households to get involved.

In the 2019 Colmar Brunton Corporate Reputation Index released today, in partnership with Wright Communications, Toyota New Zealand is the only international brand to figure in the top 10 companies. It is also the only vehicle supplier in the top 20 most reputable companies. Sitting in fourth position amongst Kiwi brand icons such as Air New Zealand and The Warehouse is great news for Toyota and reaffirms its decades-long commitment to New Zealand and providing Kiwi motorists with reliable and affordable vehicles. Notably the Colmar Brunton Corporate Reputation Index is based on the global RepZ framework and measures four standard attributes to arrive at a total reputation score.

ANZ has announced a new home loan product for customers wanting to upgrade their homes to higher, more sustainable standards. The Healthy Home Loan Package offers a 0.70% discount off ANZ’s standard fixed home loan rate and 1.00% off standard floating and flexible home loan rates, along with fee waivers across a range of accounts. It is available for new builds or upgrades to homes with a Homestar rating of six or above.

Everybody's talking about electric vehicles (EVs) in New Zealand at the moment and it seems like almost every major carmaker is focused on EV power in some way. NZ is theoretically the ideal environment for EVs, with over 80 per cent renewable electricity. So you might think it strange that Toyota, NZ's number one car brand and a pioneer of alternative eco-power with its hybrid engines, doesn't have any pure EVs and only one plug-in of any kind: the rather niche Prius Prime.

Opinion piece from Toll on the work they're doing to reduce their emissions and be smarter when it comes to driving, energy, fuel efficiency, planning & facilities. *Article on p33

​Courtney Simpson spent $22,000 on an electric car to bring down her carbon footprint. By the time she's finished paying it off the Nissan Leaf, she will only be marginally ahead financially compared to running a petrol-guzzling car, but that's not the point. "Driving an EV, or cycling has a much higher emotional return," she says.

The Warehouse Group recently made the decision to go carbon zero, making it one of three major retailers that have done the move worldwide – a bold move by any standards. Chief executive Nick Grayston shares why the retailer made this decision, why it isn't just a greenwashing strategy and its plans to expand on this in the future.