Auckland Council can reduce the use of fossil fuels for energy. They can not only take action to make hospitals, schools, and buildings more sustainable but also support small businesses to make a transition to sustainable energy and provide assistance in the process.   The Earth is reaching closer and closer to the tipping point. A lot of that is due to climate change; which is caused by greenhouse gas emissions. The main cause of greenhouse gas emissions is from energy. Energy emissions happen from the farm where they are collected, to the way they are used in homes. Promoting sustainable, emission-free energy would have a positive effect on the Earth. The small businesses would also benefit from cheaper power, and having the cost covered to persuade more people to switch. Auckland Council should fund the small businesses $400 for the first month of switching to sustainable energy.  Auckland Council would run this program, under which a business owner could call their office and request funding to switch to sustainable energy. The $400 would cover most of the first month of sustainable electricity. Our goal is that with this new incentive, small business owners would be inclined to support sustainable energy because of the benefit to their business. 1. The small businesses would benefit from transitioning to sustainable energy. Sustainable energy is more inexpensive than fossil-fueled energy, which would benefit small businesses that need to use a lot of power (eg. heating and chilling food).  2. Having more businesses switch to sustainable energy would also reduce emissions in New Zealand. Currently, over 40% of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions come from activities such as driving, generating electricity, and manufacturing. Encouraging businesses to use sustainable energy could reduce that number, reducing New Zealand's overall emissions.  The effects that could have on our environment are really important. Reduced emissions could slow global warming, reduce air pollution, and keep New Zealand on track in our Sustainable Development Goals.  Global warming is an urgent issue, we need to take action to stop it. It's caused by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trapping heat from the sun. Even though it may seem small, every second more glaciers begin melting, and sea levels rise which causes coastal cities; like Auckland to flood. Slowing global warming is a large thing that could be affected by more businesses transitioning to sustainable energy. Air pollution is caused by emissions of pollutants into the air. These pollutants are fine particles like smoke that can travel into the body and affect our health. Air pollution causes health problems such as asthma, heart disease, and stroke. Air pollution causes around 6.7 million premature deaths each year. That's 6.7 million lives gone and millions more devastated by the loss. Preventing emissions from businesses is a step in stopping this issue, which is an action we should all take. So, take action for small businesses using sustainable energy. It helps not only the environment and businesses but also you. Who knows who could be affected by the effects of our emissions next?

In the latest salvo of Luxon’s War On Nature, commercial fishing will be allowed in new ‘highly protected’ areas in the Hauraki Gulf marine park after a last-minute U-turn by ministers. This is a huge broken promise to Aucklanders and a damaging blow to the Tīkapa Moana Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, which is on the brink of ecological collapse.  Overfishing, habitat loss and pollution have already led to a 57% decline in key fish populations, a 67% decline in seabirds, and a 97% decline in whales and dolphins in the Hauraki Gulf. Scallop and crayfish populations are functionally extinct in some areas. The creation of new marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Hauraki Gulf is critical to protecting and restoring the ecological health of this precious area while also ensuring that a family can go out and catch a feed. The Hauraki Gulf Marine Protection Bill was going to do that but the future of Hauraki Gulf is now even more at risk because the government has bowed to the fishing industry and decided to ammend the bill to allow commercial fishing in areas that are designed to provide a critical safe haven for marine life to recover.  Sign this petition now to call on the Luxon Government to reverse the last-minute decision to amend the Hauraki Gulf Marine Protection Bill Read more  • Campaigners slam ‘unconscionable’ last-minute permit for commercial fishing in Hauraki Gulf sanctuary • Govt wants new protection areas in Hauraki Gulf while allowing some fishing • Hauraki Gulf Tīkapa Moana bill amendments a slap in the face for mana whenua and advocate groups • Iwi leaders slam Potaka‘s ’weak’ justification for continued commercial fishing of Hauraki protected areas

This campaign urges the government to prioritise a greener future by revising current policies and redirecting funds towards sustainable initiatives that benefit everyone. By securing dedicated funding for tree planting and passing legislation to support eco-friendly infrastructure, New Zealand can significantly reduce its carbon emissions and stay true to its carbon-zero commitments under the 2016 Paris Agreement. Instead of investing in projects that offer little long-term value—such as controversial road expansions or excessive spending on defence upgrades—resources could be better allocated towards initiatives that protect the environment and our communities for future generations. To offset household electricity for a year, we would each need to plant approximately five trees. With this information, it would be best to plant more than 10, 000 trees as a basis number. By planting a sufficient number of trees in New Zealand, we can offset our carbon footprint. This change can create an enormously positive impact on New Zealand's ecosystem. By supporting this cause,  we can offset our carbon footprint and work towards achieving net-zero emissions. This approach will allow us to maintain our thriving agricultural sector while contributing to environmental sustainability. The growth of flora in our ecosystem encourages native species to thrive in better conditions. We need to begin a program that allows normal citizens of New Zealand to find a tree to plant locally. This needs to be free of cost, and easily accessible for citizens around the country.  By letting people receive trees to plant, free of cost, we can obtain our billion trees program goal by 2028. This is a great way to grow trees voluntarily, trees for free. Yina Zheng, Daniel Dickson, Hyungwoo Kim, the Trees for Free campaign team

Sāmoa's Marine Pollution Advisory Committee (MPAC) has confirmed that the HMNZS Manawanui is leaking “residual oil” from three locations of the stricken naval ship. Chief of NZ Navy Rear Admiral Garin Golding says that "There is obviously fuel coming out of the Manawanui" but currently has no plans to send in their 30-person cleanup team, which remains on standby. The ship was carrying 950 tonnes of light diesel oil.  Anger and frustration is growing in Sāmoa, with locals fearing for their livelihoods and food sources. Village high chief Tuia Pepae Pua says local fishermen are already selling fish coated in oil, with locals reporting sickness after eating contaminated fish. Samoan local Jay Ah Schuster says “I know we get a lot of assistance from New Zealand and that, but that doesn’t mean you can’t say sorry for killing our corals, killing our fish, endangering our marine life."

We are standing at a critical moment in time when the deep sea is under increasing threat from human activities. The blobfish is a prime example of a species on the brink of extinction, not because of natural causes, but due to destructive practices like deep-sea trawling. It's essential to act now because if the blobfish, which was only recently discovered, is already at risk, other species we don't even know about may already be disappearing. The damage caused by deep-sea trawling is devastating and widespread, affecting entire ecosystems that take decades, if not centuries, to recover. Why do we need to join together now in a campaign for change? • Protect Biodiversity: The blobfish is just one species among many that are suffering due to our lack of protective measures for deep-sea environments. By acting now, we can safeguard the rich diversity of life that exists in the depths of the ocean. • Preserve Ecosystems: Once deep-sea habitats are destroyed, the damage is often irreversible. Protecting these environments now ensures future generations will benefit from healthy marine ecosystems. • Raise Global Awareness: A campaign like this helps raise awareness not only for the blobfish but for the broader issue of deep-sea conservation. The more people know, the more support we can build for long-term change. • Drive Policy Change: By uniting in this campaign, we can push for policy reforms that ban destructive fishing practices and enforce stricter regulations for deep-sea exploitation. Find out more about the blobfish!  

At the centre of the Luxon Government’s War on Nature is the Fast Track Bill. This damaging new legislation shortcuts environmental protections and sidelines both Te Tiriti and democracy. It could see the forests and oceans of Aotearoa reduced to open-cast mines, rivers and lakes turned to sewers, and precious wildlife condemned to extinction. Australian miner Trans Tasman Resources has already said it will use the Fast Track to gain access to the South Taranaki Bight where they plan to rip up 50 million tonnes of the seabed every year for over 30 years. Opposition to the Fast Track has already been widespread and some industry leaders are already saying they won’t use the Fast Track as a result. We need more to follow their lead. Sign on to this open letter to industry now to help push more of them to opt out of the Fast Track.

No dolphin should be drowned in a net. Yet since Christopher Luxon has been Prime Minister, at least 15 Hector's dolphins have been killed by the fishing industry. They include a mother and calf pair, juvenile dolphins and adults, with almost all of them around Canterbury. Māui and Hector's used to be the most abundant dolphins around NZ's coastal waters. Now they are among the world's rarest.  PM Luxon must protect Hector's from the fishing industry. Be a Dolphin Defender and help stop extinction. Links Stuff Luxon office protestors say at least 15 Hector’s dolphins killed since he was PM The Press, Andrea Vance Dolphin protest targets PM Luxon’s office Stuff Fisheries Minister rejects dolphin protestors claims  TV3 The Grim Reaper visits Botany from 4.34 Stuff poll  Our wrap video  Our Givealittle page  

Affordable public transport means everyone can stay connected and have easy access to their places of work, study, and community. Access to public transport is especially critical for younger people.  Yet, some people in New Zealand view ownership of vehicles as a sign of economic progress and success which fuels the "cars is how we move around mindset". Because of this view, the Government is putting massive amounts of funding into road projects.  At the same time, the Government has made large cuts in funding for the Community Connect programme. Community Connect was a targeted package aimed at making public transport more affordable. From 1 July 2023, Community Connect provided: • half-price fares for people aged 24 and under • free fares for children aged 12 and under. It will take a lot of time for people to get out of the ‘cars first’ mindset and make different behaviour decisions.  Cheaper public transport is a big stepping stone into achieving the ‘collective transport first’ goal.   Increased use of public transport can lead to a decrease in reliance on private vehicles, reducing traffic congestion, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to New Zealand’s climate change mitigation goals.  As young people are more aware, open to, and statistically more likely to use public transport for access to education and jobs, we need to offer a hand to this shift in behaviour.  We are Fare Fighters, a campaign group of school students. Please sign our petition if you also want to make getting around easy and accessible for all young people!  If you would like to have more information, we encourage you to explore this article - Public transport subsidies are ending. Here's how much ...RNZhttps://www.rnz.co.nz › news › national › public-transport...

The Manukau Harbour is a taonga of Auckland, a vital ecological and cultural asset with huge potential for eco-tourism and recreational use.   Yet the Manukau has long been abused as a dumping ground for Auckland’s waste, from landfill reclamations to industrial waste discharges. Currently and inappropriately, our Council uses the Manukau for the discharge of Auckland’s treated wastewater effluent. The shallow and predominantly closed nature of the harbour inhibits the natural flushing of contaminants, resulting in prolonged exposure to pollutants. It is time for this practice to cease, and the mana of the Manukau Harbour be restored.   For a start we want Auckland Council to acknowledge the significant harm caused to the Manukau Harbour and its tributaries by the discharge of treated and partially treated wastewater. The Māngere Treatment Plant is the largest freshwater tributary to the Manukau Harbour. Its discharges, and other treatment plant discharges, are severely damaging to this predominantly closed salt water environment. Soon this damage will increase due to higher volumes of treated effluent expected once the Central Interceptor (CI), comes online.     Our petition is urging the Government to change the legislation to direct Auckland Council and Watercare to take the necessary steps to ensure Manukau Harbour is free of waste water discharges.  Even when treated, wastewater pollution endangers marine life and encourages invasive weeds to smother the sea bed. This pollution leads to eutrophication and habitat degradation, causing significant harm to marine life and ecosystem health.  Discharges have resulted in our beaches being closed due to levels of E-coli and other bacteria reaching unhealthy levels for humans to swim in. Contaminated water in the Manukau Harbour presents serious risks to public health. The value of this harbour is diminished due to the negative perceptions caused by continued wastewater pollution. Consents to discharge wastewater into the Manukau have in the past been set with long durations and automatically renewed. We believe it’s time that existing and future discharge consents be limited and alternative solutions need to be put in place so that future discharges to the Manukau Harbour and its tributaries cease to be needed.   Action on this is needed now by way of legislative change that enforces the desired outcomes on Auckland Council and its Council Controlled Organisation Watercare, or any other such organisation in the future.    By updating the legislation the Government can direct and support Auckland Council and Watercare to: 1. plan for future methods of discharge management so that discharge consents into the Manukau Harbour and its tributaries cease to be needed once current consents lapse.  2. restrict renewed discharge consents from permitting discharges into the Manukau Harbour and its tributaries after a period of 10 years from the date this condition is ratified (allowing Auckland Council and Watercare adequate time to devise and implement alternative solutions).  3. disallow granting of new discharge consents into the Manukau Harbour and its tributaries (excluding renewal consents as conditioned under 1.b).  4. disallow redirection of discharges to other consented outflows into the Manukau Harbour and its tributaries.  5. identify and remove all indirect sewage discharge points into the Manukau Harbour and its tributaries, such as those by weir diversion from combined rain and sewer pipes, within 15 years from the date this condition is ratified.    Auckland Council and Watercare need to list options for replacement of discharges into the Manukau Harbour, along with conditions associated with these options (including full public consultation before adoption). Suggested options include:  1. A direct pipeline to discharge into the Tasman Sea at a distance from the foreshore that prevents discharged water from returning to the beaches along the West Coast, and of a quality of discharge that meets defined standards for discharges into the sea (to be defined).   2. Irrigation of farmland (must apply only to land that is away from watercourses that enter the Manukau Harbour and its tributaries).  3. Reticulation through industrial grey water uses and back for retreatment, such as to be used for industrial processes at Glenbrook Steel Mill.  4. Piped to reservoirs such as the Waitakere or Hunua Reservoirs for reprocessing into Auckland’s water supply.  5. Purified to a standard acceptable for drinking water and reused as part of Auckland’s water supply  6. Processed through a man made wetland development in line with the City of Arcata, Arcata Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, with appropriate management and monitoring plans in place.  7. Other options that need to be approved.  Let’s work towards a future where it is safe for families to swim in the Manukau harbour. Please sign our petition and protect the Manukau Harbour for future generations!  Support for this petition This petition is raised on behalf of the following organisation and undersigned signatories • The Manukau Harbour Restoration Society (MHRS) • Weymouth Residents and Ratepayers Association • Stop Polluting the Manukau Harbour Incorporated (SPTMH) • The Onehunga Enhancement Society (TOES) • Aotea Sea Scout Group • Clarks Beach and Waiau Pa Residents Association • Te Ākitai Waiohua Waka Taua Incorporated The intent of the petition is also supported by Te Kawerau ā Maki, iwi of the northern Manukau.

Everyone has a right to know that the water coming out of their kitchen tap is safe to drink. We should all be able to take a dip in our local river without getting sick.  But across Aotearoa, the health of lakes, rivers, and drinking water is worsening – and one of the worst contaminants is nitrate, coming from the intensive dairy industry.  Now Christopher Luxon’s government plans to get rid of the only freshwater protections in New Zealand. They want to see more cows living in mud, polluting rivers with more sediment and cow effluent.  And they’re removing Te Mana o Te Wai – a policy that puts the health of freshwater ecosystems first, the health of people second, and commercial use of water last. They are giving commercial interests free reign to pollute with no regard for the health of nature or people.  This will put rural communities across the country, as well as entire cities like Christchurch, at risk of unsafe levels of nitrate contamination in their drinking water. And it will lead to more unswimmable lakes and rivers.  New Zealanders may have voted for a change of Government, but they did not vote for unsafe drinking water. They didn’t vote for lakes and rivers to be treated like open sewers. For the sake of all New Zealanders, Luxon must keep his hands off the freshwater protections. Release: Government repeal of Te Mana o Te Wai condemning rural communities to unsafe drinking water, Greenpeace

Te Waikoropupū Springs have some of the clearest water ever measured on earth. Last year the Springs received a Water Conservation Order (WCO) from the Environment Court. The WCO gives a special cloak of protection that which councils must abide by when considering resource consents.    Yet if the Fast Track Approvals Bill were to pass into law the way it is written, the Government would be able to bypass the protections the WCO gives Te Waikoropupū Springs.    We have also become aware that Siren Gold Mining has been invited to fast track an application to mine in the Golden Bay area under Sam’s Creek.     Sam’s Creek Mine is essentially an arsenic mine. Up to eleven million tonnes of arsenic-laden rock will be mined. The processing of the rock will most likely happen at a plant to be developed on farmland in the Upper Takaka Valley. Arsenic-laden rock will be pounded to a fine powder and passed into a slime heap containing cyanide and other chemicals. The ore's high arsenic content would leave over 75,000 tonnes of highly toxic substance in the slime heap once the gold is removed.    If the slime heap were to leak into the aquifer, as is likely to happen over time, it would mean the stygofauna in the aquifer would die and the crystal-clear waters be lost forever.    The Save Our Springs Campaign was formed to protect Te Waikoropupu Springs. Thousands of people have worked over many years to protect the precious taonga that is Te Waikoropupū Springs. We are still planning to deliver our 17,000 strong petition to Save Te Waikoropupū Springs from the threat of synthetic nitrogen.    We must draw a line and speak up before the Fast Track Bill becomes law. Unless there are changes all 16 Water Conservation Orders around the country will be threatened.    Sign our urgent petition to save te Waikoropupū from the fast tracked gold mine! Help us stop the Fast-Track being the death trap for Te Waikoropupū.     Links:  Fast track: What’s the story? Greenpeace, March 2024 Waikoropupū Springs water conservation order, Ministry for the Environment  Maps: Te Waikoropupū Springs  

All life deserves to thrive. Yet the Luxon Government has declared the biggest assault on nature, democracy and Te Tiriti in decades with their Fast-Track Bill. If passed unopposed, the new law will allow the destruction of lands, rivers and seas through more mining, dams, roads, drilling and ocean pillaging. It will also deny local communities a say about those projects and severely restrict input from iwi, hapū and experts. Call on Prime Minister Luxon to stop the Fast-Track Approvals Bill!