Earlier this week, we launched a report that showed that our clean energy sector could become the beating heart of our nation’s economy whilst creating many tens of thousands of jobs. Here's the infographic, the report, and the full modelling document.

The report was based on detailed economic and energy analysis by DLR, the German Space Agency as well as New Zealand based experts. Its conclusions showed that with the right Government action we could transform our energy landscape and in doing so play a role in delivering the clean technology solutions that the world needs.

At Monday’s official launch on board the Rainbow Warrior in Wellington, we were joined by over a hundred guests including politicians from the Labour and Green parties, business and industry leaders, economists and sci... Read more >

Last week I was lucky enough to be one of the group of local grassroots organisers from around the country who spent a few fantastic days at sea on the Rainbow Warrior's Bluff-to-Wellington journey. Something of a childhood dream of mine, it was a surreal and, luckily for us, sun-drenched experience. The Rainbow Warrior is all you imagine it to be; a ship made incredible by it’s people: a colourful array of inspiring folk from around the world with far more fascinating stories than you can take in over three days.

The six of us were invited aboard for a very specific purpose. As locals of areas around Aotearoa threatened by deep sea oil drilling, we came together to spend three days with each other, and Greenpeace, to learn, share, strategise and plan. We all share the common goal of ensur... Read more >

Yesterday was a good day. It was a day that my colleagues in Indonesia and around the world feared might never come. It was a day when that we have taken a huge step closer to saving remaining rainforests of Indonesia and the communities and endangered species who call them home.

Last night, in Jakarta, the notorious rainforest destroyer Asia Pulp and Paper, the world’s third largest paper supplier and owner of New Zealand based Cottonsoft, launched its new ‘Forest Conservation Policy’ committing to “end the "clearing of natural forest" across its entire supply chain, with immediate effect[i]”.

Many of my colleagues have invested endless hours over the last decade to expose the role that APP has played in the destruction of rainforests and persuade them to take this positive step.  Afte... Read more >

It's almost a year since we climbed the Shell-contracted drilling rig, Noble Discoverer.  Landing on the pier that day we felt dwarfed by the vast 53 meter drill tower that sat atop this rusting hulk which Shell was to use to pioneer their drilling programme in the Arctic.

Insignificant as we were we felt something had to be done – a light had to be shone on Shell’s insane plans to drill for oil in the icy Arctic wilderness.

Not in my wildest dreams did I think we would succeed as we did remaining atop the drill tower for over 77 hours.

During daylight hours I explained dozens of times to outlets from CNN to the Taranaki Daily news why we were taking such a dramatic stand.

For my part I feel I owe it to my children to be counted among those demanding immediate action on climate chang... Read more >

While the thought of official councils — with their high-level policy workshops and multilateral task forces — is enough to send most sensible people into fits of abysmal loathing, there is one such council that anyone passionate about the high north should care about: the Arctic Council.

Laudable aims

Created by the Ottawa Declaration in 1996, the Arctic Council is “a high level intergovernmental forum to provide a means for promoting cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States.” Of particular importance to the Council are “issues of sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic.”

These are fine, noble words and laudable aims. But, as my dear grandmother often reminded me, such words tend not to butter many parsnips. Read more >

Not much to show for though...

The weather is the weather some sailor I know always says. And given the kind of weather that the New Zealand subantarctic is famous for we have been extraordinarily lucky with it in the short time that we have had here with the Rainbow Warrior. One sunny day, one slightly crap one and two misty rainy ones.

Today's our last day here in the Auckland Islands and it was relatively kind. It was 'claggy' as they say here amongst the "subbies" club. Misty rain with cloud on the ridge lines. Every now and then it cleared and it was always a little breath taking when it did, as if revealing itself all in one go would be too much for us to bear.

Last night we were tucked up inside Carnley Harbour. When the wind picked up and we recorded 48 knot gusts, the boat swinging around in the wind and the a... Read more >

New Zealand waters are home to 47 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises, which is over half the world’s 80 species of cetaceans. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!

Of course things aren’t all chilled out in cetacean-world what with fishing nets, being hunted, the fishing industry taking their kai, pollution and mining threats. Give ‘em a break!

That’s not what the Government intend to do. Proposals for deep sea oil drilling are now covering substantial areas off our beaches like a patchwork of potential disaster 

Early in the process, sonar explosives are used that bounce off the sea floor to find oil and gas. It must be NO FUN to be a whale going about your own business, using echo-location to navigate, find food and having a sonar explosion hit you. Not nice at all.

But the greatest environmental r... Read more >

The sub-Antarctic islands.  Not so much on our doorstep but definitely in our hood.  Of all the nature freaks I know and love only a few possess an intimate knowledge of this far-flung, incredibly wild place.  As for the regular town folk in my life, the ones who drive their cars to the gym where they can ride bikes indoors, safely tucked away from those pesky, unpredictable elements, well they know nothing of these places.  I hope this trip will change that.

We are the caretakers of a place that’s hard to describe without sounding like a lonely planet travel writer on ecstasy.  It is incredibly beautiful here, surreal in its isolation and wildness.  But it’s not just the lonely landscapes and deep, amazingly clear, full oceans that make it special. It’s the creatures that call this Worl... Read more >