Wellington, June 4 NZPA - The Government's new environmental protection agency (EPA) -- which will take over the nation's genetic-engineering regulator and be expected to protect our oceans from seabed mining catastrophes -- may turn out to be a toothless tiger, critics say.

Wellington, May 20 NZPA - New Zealand markets itself as being "clean and green" but doesn't have any legislation requiring national monitoring of the environment, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment says.

Wellington, April 22 NZPA - New Zealand needs regular national environmental reporting if it wants to keep selling itself as clean and green, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment says.

By Kent Atkinson of NZPA Wellington, March 24 NZPA - Politicians considering the Electricity Industry Bill are being urged to provide for development of a "smart" electricity grid.

Wellington, March 9 NZPA - Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee has approved electricity retailers pushing ahead with the widespread introduction of "dumb" smart meters which a parliamentary watchdog has warned will primarily benefit retailers rather than help householders cut their energ

By Kent Atkinson of NZPA Wellington, Feb 9 NZPA - The Government plans to give water storage and irrigation projects a shot in the arm, and later this year will reduce regulatory "roadblocks" constraining the sector in Canterbury.

Wellington, Jan 28 NZPA - Environment Minister Nick Smith's decision to "call in" controversial consents sought for large-scale factory dairy farms in the South Island's Mackenzie Basin has won praise from environmentalists and the regional council, Environment Canterbury.

Wellington, Dec 10 NZPA - "Really smart" electricity meters could save householders up to 15 percent of their power bills -- before they even buy any appliances with technology to communicate with the meters, Parliament's Environment Commissioner Jan Wright said today.

Wellington, Nov 3 NZPA - A new report saying New Zealand focuses too much on climate change is muddled and superficial, Environment Commissioner Jan Wright says.

Wellington, Oct 30 NZPA - Electricity consumers need "smart meters" and "smart tariffs" which allow them to reduce their electricity consumption when prices peak, says a leading lobbyist.