Westport, Oct 1 NZPA - Privately owned Hydro Developments Ltd today received the green light for its "green" power scheme using polluted water from the Stockton open cast mine in Buller.

Wellington, May 27 NZPA - The Labour Party will introduce a Member's Bill aimed at reinstating a democratically elected Environment Canterbury council, Labour leader Phil Goff says.

Wellington, April 22 NZPA - Government fix-it specialist Dame Margaret Bazley is to take over as chair of commissioners overseeing Environment Canterbury, and fixing Canterbury's water issues.

Wellington, April 7 NZPA - West Coast-Tasman MP Chris Auchinvole has joined at least one local mayor in welcoming a decision granting resource consent for a hydro project on the Mokihinui River.

Wellington, April 7 NZPA - Conservation groups are condemning a decision to allow a 80-metre high hydro dam to be built on the Mokihinui River north of Westport but many locals are welcoming the project.

Wellington, April 6 NZPA - Allowing a 80-metre high hydro dam to be built on the Mokihinui River north of Westport is wrong, the Green Party says. Meridian Energy today received resource consent for the dam.

Wellington, April 1 NZPA - Agriculture Minister David Carter has dismissed conflict of interest claims aimed at him in Parliament yesterday over a water consent on his Canterbury farm as "scurrilous".

Wellington, March 31 NZPA - Green Party co-leader Russel Norman has asked Auditor-General Lyn Provost to investigate what he says is a potential conflict of interest involving Agriculture Minister David Carter and a proposal to dam the Hurunui River.

Wellington, March 30 NZPA - Environmental lobbyists tonight raised concerns that the axing of Canterbury's regional council may be an effort by the Government to weaken existing water conservation orders on the region's rivers and smooth the path to dam-building.

By Chris Ormond of NZPA