David Williams, environmental journalist

03/11/2024

Tension and frustrations flare on the Chatham Islands over forest-planting plans by a slick company from the mainland.

26/10/2024

Analysis: The Government’s gazumping action over Otago’s water gives an insight into the lengths it appears willing to go to pursue a pro-agricultural agenda.

The Government’s gazumping action over Otago’s water shows just how far it’ll go to pursue a pro-agricultural agenda, writes David Williams

20/10/2024

Blindsided agricultural and irrigation groups rail against a proposal to exert greater control over intensive farming in Canterbury. But environmental groups and tāngata whenua say the region’s rivers and groundwater are degraded, and more needs to be done to halt the decline.

Blindsided agricultural and irrigation groups rail against a proposal to exert greater control over intensive farming in Canterbury

17/10/2024

Gill Cox, Transwaste Canterbury's chair, says the province fought hard 30 years ago to get well-managed waste, “and we’ve got it”. “Let’s not revert back to what I call the days of the 52 dumps.”

An increase in applications for new landfills in Canterbury has one industry veteran scratching his head.

15/10/2024

Fast-tracking new subdivisions in the country’s premier tourist resort will test its creaking infrastructure.

Fast-tracking new subdivisions in Queenstown, the country’s premier tourist resort, will test its creaking infrastructure

11/10/2024

New figures bolster the claim spending on new renewable electricity projects by Meridian, Mercury and Genesis collapsed after they were listed.

New figures bolster the claim spending on new renewable electricity projects by Meridian, Mercury and Genesis collapsed after they were listed

09/10/2024

‘Coaching’ from Government ministers suggested a gondola feature housing to get fast-tracked approval, but there’s public opposition.

23/09/2024

The Government is accused of acting like Biff Tannen, from the Back to the Future movies, during a fractious regional council meeting.

The Government is accused of acting like bully Biff Tannen from Back to the Future, during a fractious regional council meeting

18/09/2024

Canterbury’s regional council, ECan, has started consulting on a plan change which, critics say, will entrench the over-allocation of freshwater.

Critics pan a proposed fix after a Supreme Court decision up-ended how water consents are considered in Canterbury.

09/09/2024

Media-shy businessman Gary Rooney is demanding the withdrawal of a formal warning issued to his company after an investigation into ECan chair Peter Scott. He’d also like an apology. “We are investigating and considering our options carefully,” Rooney tells Newsroom.

A South Canterbury businessman, whose company was formally warned after an investigation into ECan’s chair Peter Scott, speaks out

01/09/2024

Flaws in our national livestock-tracing system contributed to the spread of Mycoplasma bovis – but is NAIT fixed now?

05/08/2024

This podcast is a microcosm of how Newsroom works -- I'll tackle an issue in detail, and my colleague Marc Daalder will explain things at a high level. 🙌

Today from The Detail: Reality has intruded on our national airline's climate targets, and it's backed down from some lofty aims.

28/07/2024

The Department of Conservation is in greater need of a commissioner than Health NZ, a veteran scientist says

23/07/2024

A stark review of the Department of Conservation’s finances and capabilities says it’s chronically overworked and underfunded, stretching it too thin to meet its functions and responsibilities.

The Department of Conservation faces a $70m-plus funding gap over the next four years, a financial review warns

21/07/2024

While ECan and Peter Scott might want to draw a line under a recent investigation, fundamental questions remain.

While ECan and Peter Scott might want to draw a line under a recent investigation, fundamental questions remain

18/07/2024

A key plank of the Government’s emissions offset plans will prolong fossil gas production.

Turning to carbon capture is a big and potentially costly risk, some say, but the gas industry calls for pragmatism, reports David Williams

15/07/2024

Resources Minister Shane Jones refuses to answer fresh questions about an undeclared dinner on the South Island’s West Coast which, newly released emails reveal, was arranged by his staff.

10/07/2024

Selection for a global island restoration programme was the backdrop to conservation job cuts on the Chatham Islands.

The Department of Conservation’s job cuts on the Chatham Islands have a surprising international dimension, reports David Williams