Posts by Gareth Hughes

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  Sustainable energy for all - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  It’s not every day I share an infographic from the World Bank but I thought this one was a good one. It is incredible that we have 1.2 billion people without power in 2013 and providing clean renewable electricity is a huge opportunity to save lives, build jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. read more
  June 11, 2013 1:46 pm - 26 Comments
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  Good news for our ocean - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Thanks to consumer pressure, Sealords announced today its canned tuna will soon be FAD-free. That means that Sealords has agreed to stop using fish aggregation devices (FADs), a method of fishing that also can kill other wildlife such as turtles and sharks. This is good news for our oceans. Big thanks goes to Greenpeace and [...] read more
  May 29, 2013 5:05 pm - 5 Comments
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  Kiwi Bid Launch – speeches - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  We launched the Kiwi Bid – our campaign to stop risky deep sea drilling off our coasts – at Auckland’s famous Piha beach with the help of NZ ocean sports legends Mischa Davis and Rob Hamill. What’s it all about? We bring you some snippets from the speeches… read more
  May 28, 2013 5:24 pm - 1 Comment
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  Hands across the sand opposing risky deep sea oil - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  With the Government’s announcement a couple of weeks ago that they are opening up 190,000 more square kilometres to oil drilling, there’s never been so much at stake in the movement to protect our waters, coasts and climate from deep sea oil. And Aotearoa is responding. Opposition to this risky extreme form of oil extraction [...] read more
  May 15, 2013 4:30 pm - 66 Comments
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  Farrar wrong on renewables - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  As you might have caught we have (alongside Labour) announced a plan to cut excessive profits from the Electricity Sector and return the money to households. David Farrar over on Kiwiblog yesterday posted about the total cost of Electricity Production claiming that renewable options – which we prefer are more expensive than coal and gas. [...] read more
  April 18, 2013 4:35 pm - 154 Comments
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  Akaroa marine reserve - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  The Dan Rogers marine reserve in Akaroa Harbour has recently been approved by Conservation Minister Nick Smith which is a good step for marine conservation but raises many wider issues and questions. It’s good to see another marine reserve created, even if it was shrunk by Smith, because it’s only the second on the east [...] read more
  April 16, 2013 10:39 am - 3 Comments
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  NZ border threats – now in 3D - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  I nearly choked on my muesli this morning listening to Maurice Williamson on Morning Report on the emerging border threat facing our country….3D printers! read more
  April 12, 2013 11:42 am - 58 Comments
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  Anadarko amendment proves need for human rights scrutiny - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  In a little victory, last night we managed to avoid the third and final reading of the Crown Minerals Bill, containing the terrible and possibly unlawful ‘Anardarko Amendment’ from passing today. read more
  April 11, 2013 2:27 pm - 3 Comments
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  Running hot and cold- energy tip for the week - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  There are heaps of opportunities to save money and energy and I am going to start posting tips to make it easier to be energy efficient. This week I’m looking at hot water. read more
  April 11, 2013 11:50 am - 5 Comments
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  Japan’s worst whaling season ever - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Japan has just had its worst whaling season ever and I’m hoping it’s the last. It’s testimony to the brave protest actions of the Sea Shepherd activists who went into this whaling season with more boats than ever and put their bodies on the line to protect the whales. read more
  April 8, 2013 12:21 pm - 6 Comments
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  SOP to Petrobras is law-making at its worst - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Simon Bridges’ amendment to the Crown Minerals Act criminalising protest activity at sea has just been tabled in Parliament and is an unneeded overreaction that takes away Kiwis right to protest. read more
  April 3, 2013 4:05 pm - 10 Comments
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  Subsidising big corporates with your Internet bill - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  With transport, housing, power and food prices all increasing, how would you feel if the Government artificially kept your Internet bill high? How would you feel if the reason to keep costs higher than they should be or need to be is to guarantee income for Chorus (a new part of old-Telecom)? read more
  April 3, 2013 12:36 pm - 12 Comments
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  IMF calls for fossil fuel subsidy reform - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  The IMF have come out strongly against fossil fuel subsidies, saying that they are threatening both the environment and the stability of the global economy. The IMF has calculated around $1.9 trillion worldwide, or 8 percent of Government revenue is spent on energy subsidies the vast majority of these contributing to climate change. read more
  March 28, 2013 2:31 pm - 94 Comments
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  How would you rate Speaker Carter’s performance? - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Question Time is an important part of our parliamentary democracy. How do you think the new Speaker is going in refereeing it? read more
  March 27, 2013 8:23 pm - 9 Comments
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  Greens take on MFAT at cricket - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  The test match between New Zealand and England currently drawing to a close is proving an absolute rip snorter as cricketing purists would say. Another game of cricket occurred on the weekend. A game only slightly less passionately fought out. The annual Parliament 11 vs MFAT cricket match. This year I joined a team that [...] read more
  March 26, 2013 4:12 pm - 1 Comment
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  It’s been a good week for sharks - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Over the past couple of weeks, the parties of the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species or better known as CITES have been meeting in Bangkok to discuss the worlds endangered species. On the agenda were a number of proposals relating to elevation of the endangered status for some species of sharks. In [...] read more
  March 18, 2013 5:14 pm - 3 Comments
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  Japan and Gas Hydrates-Fire in Ice - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  In news out this week, it’s clear the new frontline of climate change is deep at the bottom of the ocean. read more
  March 14, 2013 4:45 pm - 76 Comments
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  Key in Brazil wooing Petrobras - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Never one to turn down an opportunity to welcome a foreign oil company to drill in 100% Pure New Zealand’s waters, John Key currently in Brazil, is encouraging the Brazilian company Petrobras to return. read more
  March 12, 2013 3:31 pm - 6 Comments
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  Time to protect the Kermadecs - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Talk about not seeing the forest for the trees. The Seafood Industry Council’s Lesley Campbel has an opinion piece in the Dominion Post arguing the Kermadecs do not need marine reserve status which shows the fishing industry lobby are their own worst enemy. read more
  March 7, 2013 10:16 am - 5 Comments
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  Whales needlessly dying on the doorstep of our largest city - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Imagine if a Japanese whaling fleet every year came down to New Zealand and hunted and killed two critically endangered whales in the Hauraki Gulf, just off Auckland? read more
  March 6, 2013 4:28 pm - 27 Comments
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  Lignite coal to stay in the hole - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  I am celebrating today after the news that Solid Energy will be dropping its Lignite project in Southland. This is a win for the climate and our environment and for Southland. read more
  February 22, 2013 3:50 pm - 20 Comments
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  Speculating on spectrum - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Today Communications Minister Amy Adams announced the Government’s plans for allocating the 700MHz spectrum that has been freed up by the switchover to digital TV. It’s a big deal for New Zealand and I’m urging that the Government engage and consult with Māori and the public over the opportunities. The public should get a say. read more
  February 21, 2013 4:12 pm - 32 Comments
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  New South Wales Government acts on oil and gas concerns - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  The New South Wales government has announced a ban on all coal seam gas development within two kilometres of residential areas and industry clusters, such as horse breeders and wine producers, across the state. What can we learn from it in New Zealand? read more
  February 20, 2013 1:23 pm - 45 Comments
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  Tell Southland District Council to keep the coal in the hole - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Southland District Council is calling for submissions on its proposed District Plan. This is your chance to tell the Southland District Council that you want a sustainable and prosperous future for Southland, and call on it to make new mining and drilling for lignite coal and coal seam gas a prohibited activity. read more
  February 19, 2013 8:55 pm - No Comments
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  Silverstripe wins govt contract - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Good news from Kiwi open-source software firm. It’s great to see Kiwi businesses do well, and with so many challenges facing manufacturers and exporters great to have a good news story coming out of our software industry. According to Stuff: Government websites will switch to free, open-source software from Wellington firm Silverstripe under an “all-of-government” [...] read more
  February 7, 2013 2:51 pm - 25 Comments
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  Solid Energy’s future is in clean energy - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  There hasn’t been a great deal of good news lately for Solid Energy. What does the future hold? read more
  February 7, 2013 12:25 pm - 163 Comments
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  Skynet strikes: $616.57 for three songs - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  The Copyright Tribunal have handed down the first penalties for copyright infringement under the so-called Skynet three-strikes law. read more
  January 30, 2013 8:43 pm - 15 Comments
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  The fracking boom is here - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  BusinessDesk said today, “Onshore Taranaki oil explorer TAG Oil is planning more than 130 new onshore wells, with 13 to be drilled in 2013 and consents sought for platforms from which another 120 could eventually be drilled.” Not all wells will necessarily be fracked, but you can be certain that fracking technology has made the [...] read more
  January 25, 2013 4:45 pm - 151 Comments
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  What is New Zealand’s best beach? - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Summer in Aotearoa means sun, sand, BBQs and beaches. But the beaches we love are under threat from deep sea oil drilling. Vote for your favourite beach to find out more. read more
  December 22, 2012 7:22 pm - 23 Comments
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  Why the TPPA is bad for intellectual property - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  New Zealand has been hosting the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPPA) negotiations in Auckland this month and while this has brought some media attention to this important issue, an area that hasn’t attracted much focus is the impact it will have on intellectual property (IP). read more
  December 10, 2012 3:08 pm - 6 Comments
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  We need a moratorium on fracking in New Zealand - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  We need a moratorium on fracking in New Zealand. With so many unanswered questions remaining after the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s (PCE) recent interim report it would be irresponsible to allow the looming large expansion of fracking for oil and gas into new regions to go ahead. read more
  December 10, 2012 2:44 pm - 26 Comments
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  Fracking report is a red flag not a green light for new fracking wells - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s interim report on fracking entitled, “Evaluating the environmental impacts of fracking in New Zealand” was tabled today in Parliament. read more
  November 27, 2012 5:43 pm - 55 Comments
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  Adams and Yellow, make the call on phone books - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Every year around 6.5 million phone books are printed and distributed across New Zealand, many to households that don’t read, need or want to receive them. It is time to change our system. read more
  November 26, 2012 11:42 am - No Comments
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  Where is the Conservation Minister on Bryde’s whales? - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  It’s not just Japan that is killing whales regularly. Auckland Regional Council estimates that, since 1989, on average two Bryde’s whales per year in New Zealand die from ship strike. News out yesterday from the Department of Conservation has found that ship strike was the cause of death for a Bryde’s whale found near Auckland, [...] read more
  November 16, 2012 1:16 pm - No Comments
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  Poetry for Maui’s - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  On Wednesday I had the awesome opportunity to speak to a class of 8 year olds at Eastern Hutt School about Maui’s dolphins. It was such a great day, while I was there I got to listen to their poetry and see all the effort they have put in to raising awareness and wanting to make a difference. I wanted to share a couple of their poems: read more
  October 25, 2012 4:33 pm - 1 Comment
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  How you can help protect the Ross Sea - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  The Ross Sea is one of the most pristine ecosystems on earth, and its vitally important we keep it that way for the health of our oceans. That’s why it was so disappointing to see that New Zealand’s proposal for an ineffective Marine Protected Area (MPA) released yesterday, which amounts to more of a fishing protection area. read more
  September 13, 2012 3:52 pm - 7 Comments
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  EU warns against fracking while NZ oil lobbyist has head in the clouds - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Last week three new reports commissioned by the European Union about fracking were released, which voiced strong concerns around fracking for shale gas, the unconventional gas sector and the lack of sufficient regulation in place to deal with the shale gas boom. read more
  September 12, 2012 4:48 pm - 3 Comments
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  Joyce shows Government foolish on biofuels - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Anyone else nearly choke on their Weet-Bix this morning listening to Steven Joyce on Morning Report? read more
  September 11, 2012 9:19 pm - 19 Comments
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  Better choices than digging holes in the ground - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  The Government’s “drill it, mine it, frack it” economic plan for New Zealand is a lazy gamble that belies a lack a vision. read more
  August 29, 2012 5:15 pm - 8 Comments
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  Gas hydrates and the extreme energy age - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  If you needed proof we are in the post-peak oil, extreme energy age one need just look at where the Government is going for their next fix. The Government has recently announced the first tranche of the MoBIE Science and Investment Round which included $3.2 million funding for gas hydrate exploration. read more
  August 29, 2012 11:30 am - 9 Comments