Labour's new freshwater policy would make it tougher for farms to intensify operations.

A famously clear spring near Nelson is a step closer to having special status.

Water quality in cities was twice as bad as on farmland, Nick Smith said today.

Greens say the Budget's environment and conservation funding is far below what's needed.

Muaupoko tribe wants a $1.6 million injection. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Consents given to firms to take our water opened taps on furious row.

Another major stocktake has painted a grim picture of our freshwater environment.

Five findings from a new independent stocktake of the state of our lakes and rivers.

National's reform of the Resource Management Act is finally complete.

NZ's economic growth is "approaching its environmental limits", a once-a-decade environmental report card says.

OPINION: The principle that nobody owns our water hasn't stopped water bottling companies from gaining ownership for free.

Our fresh, clean water is a precious resource, say protesters.

Isaac Davison examines the departure of three groups from the Land and Water Forum advisory group.

COMMENT: The Environment Minister's promise to make 90 per cent of rivers swimmable by 2040 is a cynical sleight of hand, writes Gen Toop from Greenpeace.

Our forests and other land areas may be sucking up to 60 per cent more carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere than previously thought and we can likely thank our native trees for much of it.

Five National MPs have been given new roles by Prime Minister Bill English.

The state of our rivers and lakes has predictably come under intensified focus this summer, as Kiwis head to their favourite watering holes.

A new fight may be developing between Government and iwi over fishing rights, this time in the Marlborough Sounds.

Work to uncover answers on the Havelock North water contamination incident which caused over 5000 people to become ill is under way

Film director James Cameron says he hopes the Government manages to establish an ocean sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands - saying "we've got to hold on to what we are losing".

A leading climate scientist has welcomed a new 20-year Government "roadmap" that singles out climate change as an environmental research priority for New Zealand.

Awaroa Beach has become part of the Abel Tasman National Park after 40,000 Kiwis raised the money to buy it.

Sarah Thomson wasn't happy with the targets the Government has set to combating climate change - so now she's taking it to court.

Kauri tree occupier Michael Tavares says he can’t promise he will take a break from environmental activism, but he can promise he won’t be trespassing to climb any more trees in the next year.

Letters sent to west Auckland iwi and local board members about a proposal to fell two large kauri trees in Titirangi did not mention the protected trees would be included in “vegetation” to be removed from the site.

Consent processes regarding the removal of a mature kauri tree on a Titirangi section were correctly followed, a report by Auckland Council has concluded.

Michael Tavares has entered a guilty plea in the Waitakere District Court for wilful trespass.

The Ministry for the Environment has released figures showing that carbon pollution, which New Zealand is adding to, increased 42 per cent globally.