The Waikato, New Zealand's leading electricity generation region, is launching the country's first regional energy strategy at the Beehive on Wednesday, as it seeks to help ensure the country continues to have access to reliable energy at an affordable price.

New Zealand scientists are part of an international research group which has gained U.S. Department of Energy funding to sequence the genome of Dothistroma, the fungus that causes red band pine needle disease.

Oamaru, July 7 NZPA - Declining resource consent for a $900 million hydro-power scheme on the lower Waitaki River would encourage New Zealand to look at more sustainable energy generation, the Environment Court was told today.

14 OCT 2008 - Labour's sustainable infrastructure announcement is a disappointing mixture of already-announced initiatives and promises so vague they have no real meaning, the Green Party says.

17 September 2008 - The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) today released its Hawkes Bay Forest Industry and Wood Availability Forecasts Report that indicates an increase in wood availability in the region after 2016 and increased opportunities for the sector.

2 SEP 2008 - The Crown has made a submission on Meridian Energy's wind farm proposal in the Central North Island, Environment Minister Trevor Mallard said today.

Round two of the four-year government funding initiative to kick-start the deployment of marine energy generation devices in New Zealand opens today.

27 June 2008 - To help safeguard New Zealand's ocean ecosystems, the government is drafting legislation to manage the environmental effects of currently unregulated activities in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Environment Minister Trevor Mallard announced today.