News

Nelson-based Greenshell mussel company SPATnz is publicly releasing the startling results of its multi-year breeding programme developed in partnership with Sanford, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and the Cawthron Institute. The results show that selected hatchery mussels can grow up to twice as fast as those caught from the wild. The work is expected to be worth around $200 million a year to the wider New Zealand economy*.

A collaboration led by Victoria University of Wellington has received $13 million in funding to help New Zealand transition to a zero-carbon society by applying data science to the aquaculture industry.

A free ‘E-bikes and your workplace’ breakfast event attracted more than 25 people in Auckland on October 22. Hosted by Auckland Transport at its headquarters at 20 Viaduct Harbour Ave, e-bike uses and benefits were the hot topic as advice on introducing e-bikes to fleets and how to help staff buy them were discussed.

EV smart charging technology has benefits for owners and will reduce the future load on New Zealand’s energy system if advantage is taken of it now. So says the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) which commissioned KPMG to undertake research on EV smart charging technology for use in homes, the report released on October 15.

Casino and hospitality operator SkyCity Entertainment Group has been certified carbon neutral, and as part of its plans to be greener will temporarily switch off the lights of the Sky Tower. The NZX-listed entertainment company has paid $86,000 to offset the equivalent of 12,866 tonnes of carbon from its Auckland, Hamilton and Queenstown businesses, and says it is committed to running a greener operation. Its Adelaide business will be certified carbon neutral next year.

One of New Zealand’s leading tourism operators, Ngāi Tahu Tourism, is set to convert one of its petrol-powered jet boats to 100 percent electric. The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) today announced that Ngāi Tahu Tourism was one of four projects to receive funding from its Marine Electrification Fund.

Now companies, universities and other organisations have developed business plans to reduce thier carbon footprints, or even go carbon neutral, the next frontier was for employers to help their workers do the same. "This is definitely going to become the norm- 100 per cent," said Stuart Bryant, head of facilities at SkyCity.

Auckland Airport has continued to be recognised globally as a leading sustainable business, after being selected for inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) Asia Pacific, one of the world’s most prestigious sustainability indices.

With industry across the country challenged to cut carbon emissions, breweries are making moves to reduce their footprint. Now one Christchurch brewery is making one of their beers more environmentally friendly by launching a new carbon zero beer.

With the Interim Climate Change Commission (ICCC) calling for the electrification of up to half our national vehicle fleet by 2035, and almost half of those expected to be in Auckland, Vector and Auckland residents have embarked on a trial to test smart technology that could help manage the change. This is the first time a trial of this nature and scale has been conducted in New Zealand.