The Rena grounding  on Astrolabe Reef off Tauranga in October 2011 is regarded as New Zealand’s worst maritime environmental disaster. The grounding caused 350 tonnes heavy fuel oil to leak into the sea from where it was carried by tidal currents and wind and deposited on nearby beaches. Bad for human commercial and recreational activities, but deadly for wildlife. Maritime New Zealand has recently released figures of some of the wildlife affected:  http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/incident/

High quality information on the environment supports high quality environmental planning.The Government is currently assessing the standard of environmental reporting and is proposing legislative change so as to improve environmental reporting in New Zealand. A discussion document has been prepared and it is currently open for submission. To read more go to: http://www.mfe.govt.nz/environmental-reporting/about/

To find out more about the Hamilton Gully Restoration Programme visit: http://www.gullyguide.co.nz/index.asp?pageID=2145821438

Under New Zealand systems, communities have the opportunity to participate in where  local authorities choose to spend the rating dollar. The Long Term Plan and Annual Plans made under the Local Government Act 2002 are  vehicles which can be used for these discussions or alternatively they may arise as special projects.

by Mairi Jay

The International Energy Agency, an organisation charged with advising its member states (Australia, NZ, Canada, the US and the European Union) about energy policy and security, has just issued its conclusion that CO2 emissions in 2010 were the highest in history, and that 80% of projected 2020 emissions from the energy sector are already locked in (i.e. they involve energy generation from fossil fuels that are already existing or under construction).  An IEA spokesperson suggests that “This significant increase in CO2 emissions and the locking in of future emissions due to infrastructure investments represent a serious setback to our hopes of limiting the global rise in temperature to no more than 2°C”   (http://www.iea.org/index_info.asp?id=1959).

 Renewable energy in forms such as hydro, wind, solar, tidal and biofuel are being viewed by many as the path to salvation. The way forward to limit and potentially avoid the spectre of global climate change. New Zealand has set hefty targets to promote and develop renewable energy sources. The New Zealand Energy Strategy 2011 records that the government retains the aspirational, but achievable, target that 90 percent of electricity generation be from renewable sources by 2025 (in an average hydrological year) providing this does not affect security of supply.

 http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/155810/highway-threatens-killer-worm

Take a look at this article which raises classic planning issues in an unusual form.

What do you think?

(Photo: Rototuna, Hamilton)

The greatest fear for young New Zealanders is the prospect of living in a city apartment according to a United Nations survey conducted by Canterbury University academic Bronwyn Hayward. She said that young people feared apartment living because it would cut them off from outdoor pursuits. This may be one factor fuelling the continual demand in New Zealand for single storey housing in suburban locations with all the long term implications that this has for urban sprawl and car useage.

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