Environment & Resource Management Archive

  • Gareth Hughes

    Can’t or won’t? - by Gareth Hughes



    On Tuesday, Steven Joyce, Minister of Economic Development and Science and innovation, wrote about the ‘you cant’s’ of our country, in an opinion piece in the NZ Herald. Feeling that perhaps I am one of those people he criticises as ‘people who in the one breath chant “more jobs, more jobs” and then in the next breath say “but don’t do that, or that, or that”, I thought I would ask Mr Joyce a few questions about why he and... read more
    February 10, 2012 2:11 pm - 12 Comments
  • Catherine Delahunty

    Waitangi Wisdom - by Catherine Delahunty



    The Act Party’s sole MP John Banks was moaning in the House this week about the “terrible” protests at Waitangi. The last time he visited Waitangi on Waitangi Day was in 1990 when someone dared to throw a T-shirt at the Queen. Apparently, that makes him an expert.  I have been going to Waitangi every [...] read more
    February 9, 2012 9:22 am - 12 Comments
  • Russel Norman

    Super Fund invests in Chinese property bubble? - by Russel Norman



    The New Zealand Superannuation Fund has, on our behalf, decided to take a $23 million bet on a property development company with significant exposure to China — a country where some reports say that there are 64 million vacant apartments. The Fund’s stake in Hong Kong-based property development company Sun Hung Kai is the tenth [...] read more
    February 9, 2012 8:05 am - 2 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    The best way to oil independence is to provide alternatives and use less - by Gareth Hughes



    The Ministry of Economic Development’s Briefing to the incoming Energy Minister predicts New Zealand could become a net exporter of petroleum by 2030 if new oil fields are developed. It’s a laudable goal to reduce our expensive dependence on foreign oil but it would be a lot smarter to invest in alternatives like better public transport, renewable electricity and sustainable alternative fuels. read more
    February 3, 2012 10:14 am - 30 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    Energy Strategy to worsen Energy Outlook - by Gareth Hughes



    The Ministry of Economic Development have released their Energy Outlook for New Zealand and it should be a wake-up call for the Government. The report projects New Zealand’s future energy supply, demand, prices and greenhouse gas emissions but the major challenges identified in it are at odds with the Governments ‘drill it, mine’ fossil-fuel-focused Energy Strategy. read more
    January 30, 2012 12:34 pm - 45 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    Easy to to have your say on EEZ Bill - by Gareth Hughes



    Submissions for the Government’s new bill regulating the Exclusive Economic Zone close this Friday and we need as many as possible to help improve this law. read more
    January 25, 2012 2:14 pm - 1 Comment
  • Gareth Hughes

    Labour should join call for immediate moratorium on fracking - by Gareth Hughes



    Today Labour renewed its call for an investigation into hydraulic fracturing, or ‘fracking’, and its implications for New Zealand. Considering Labour’s concerns, they should commit to backing the call for an immediate moratorium, the only way we can safeguard our rights to clean water and air and a safe environment read more
    January 25, 2012 11:40 am - 13 Comments
  • Julie Anne Genter

    Cycling to Southland — Epilogue - by Julie Anne Genter



    This is how the story ends. Yesterday I took apart my bike and crammed it into the small rental car of a friend attending the festival. We drove back to Dunedin airport, where incredibly helpful people gave us materials to pack up the bike. Upon arrival in Wellington, I unpacked it, put it back together [...] read more
    January 24, 2012 3:37 pm - 22 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    SOPA: Web victory or strategic withdrawal? - by Gareth Hughes



    It was incredibly inspiring to see the Internet mobilise to oppose the two draconian online copyright bills going through the US House and Senate. Whilst it was a victory it’s still too early to see if it will be enduring read more
    January 24, 2012 2:39 pm - 5 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    Trans Pacific Partnership to impact Kiwi books - by Gareth Hughes



    According to a leaked draft of the proposed intellectual property chapter, the TPP would require countries (such as Canada, Japan and New Zealand) that meet the international copyright term (standard of life of the author plus 50 years) to add an additional 20 years to the term of protection. read more
    January 24, 2012 11:34 am - 21 Comments
  • Julie Anne Genter

    Day 8 – Made it! - by Julie Anne Genter



    For those of you who have followed my journey, I figured I’d better let you know that I made it safe, sound, and not even too fatigued at the Keep the Coal in the Hole summer festival south of Mataura. A bit anti-climactic, isn’t it? I woke early this morning, and headed for the hilly [...] read more
    January 22, 2012 12:30 am - 73 Comments
  • Julie Anne Genter

    Day 7 — Serenity to accept that I cannot change - by Julie Anne Genter



    I’ve cycled 120km in one day before. Once, when I was 23. It was exhausting then, though I didn’t have much weight on my bike and hadn’t spent the previous week cycling five to eight hours a day. Oh, and I was probably fitter, too. Eight years later, I thought if there were enough hours in [...] read more
    January 20, 2012 10:31 pm - 3 Comments
  • Julie Anne Genter

    Day 6 – just 110km or so to go - by Julie Anne Genter



    I’m nearly in Southland, having traversed coastal Otago, and headed west into the strong winds this evening. I left beautiful Karitane this morning, after an incredible breakfast that included gluten free pancakes made by my exceedingly generous hosts. The morning was cool and overcast, perfect conditions for cycling, and still very beautiful. The ocean was [...] read more
    January 20, 2012 3:55 pm - 2 Comments
  • Julie Anne Genter

    Day 5 — Serendipity and Community - by Julie Anne Genter



    You know when things don’t go as planned, and it unexpectedly  works out much better? That was my day today. (Long distance solo bike journeys, in my experience, have this seemingly magical effect… Though I’m sure there’s nothing supernatural about it.) The plan was to cycle from Oamaru to the little village of Waikouaiti, where [...] read more
    January 19, 2012 12:52 am - 3 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    Internet goes on strike (why this blog is black) - by Gareth Hughes



    The Green Party is blacking out their website for an hour today to protest the Stop Internet Piracy (SOPA) and PROTECT IP (PIPA) Acts currently debated in the US because of its impacts on New Zealanders access to a free and open Internet and online businesses. read more
    January 18, 2012 10:40 am - 18 Comments
  • Steffan Browning

    The Food Bill, not as sweet as first appeared - by Steffan Browning



    A culture of home gardening, food sharing and small artisan producers are at risk of being suppressed by future Ministerial decree. The Food Bill, supposedly intended to reduce compliance costs for the food industry, while eventually reducing the incidence of food borne illness, has such sweeping powers that best intent could be lost under bureaucratic pressure. [...] read more
    January 18, 2012 9:10 am - 7 Comments
  • Julie Anne Genter

    Day 4 — The strawberry trail into Otago (after a slightly emo pep talk) - by Julie Anne Genter



    Disclaimer: the purpose of this trip is not any of the following A. To reduce my own carbon footprint (I try to do that, but the reality is that I have to fly back) B. To encourage others to risk their lives cycling on state highways C. To say that everyone should always cycle or take [...] read more
    January 17, 2012 11:26 pm - 7 Comments
  • Julie Anne Genter

    Day 3 — The straight and narrow path (to Timaru) - by Julie Anne Genter



    When I arrived in Ashburton completely shattered last night, I informed Kaye at the reception desk that I would be leaving early. “Perhaps seven,” I said, thinking the earlier I left, the less wind I would encounter. “Oh, but you may just want to have a lie in after all that,” she smiled. “I’ve got [...] read more
    January 16, 2012 10:22 pm - 9 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    Southern Ocean whaling, send in the navy! - by Gareth Hughes



    I’ve been calling on the Government to send an offshore patrol vessel for a while now to monitor the whale hunt, to ensure the safety of all vessels down there and to ‘bear witness’ to this environmental crime but the Government has consistently refused to act. read more
    January 16, 2012 3:17 pm - 19 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    Save our amazing sea lions - by Gareth Hughes



    These are amazing animals that deserve our protection not bad regulations that push them closer to extinction. read more
    January 16, 2012 2:18 pm - 2 Comments
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