New Zealand, current population about 4.2 million, was among the earliest members of the United Nations.
It has been prominent in moves to protect the Earth, including having a Cabinet Minister sailing on a ship into the French nuclear testing zone in protest against the testing. The French Government later sent to New Zealand a team of spies, who fatally blew up a Greenpeace ship in Auckland.
It is proud of its "clean, green" image but most New Zealanders concede that it's not perfect.
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Leading environmental country[]
NZ leads world in environmental performance - study
An international report has rated New Zealand as leading the world in environmental performance.
The 2006 Environmental Environment Index, a pilot nation-by-nation study jointly produced by Yale and Columbia Universities, showed six nations - led by New Zealand, followed by five from Northern Europe - have achieved 85 per cent or better success in meeting critical environment goals ranging from low ozone levels, to clean drinking water, low greenhouse gas emissions and sustainable fisheries.
- NZPA, 24 Jan 2006
Food miles[]
Some European organisations are labelling New Zealand produce to show that it has come a long way and therefore cost the world more in carbon emissions.
Counterproductive for some consumers - some look at the sticker indicating air travel and think it must be fresher.
Facts, however, may have got in the way of a good story. Trucking olives from southern Italy to England has a huge carbon cost. Not to mention the overall carbon costs involved at previous stages of production.
Places, projects and networks[]
Wanted pages and external links
- Intersect Network
- South Coast Environment Society, based in Riverton
- NZ Sustainable Households Programme
- Earthsong Eco-Neighbourhood
Projects and networks by topic please see New Zealand links
Related Wikipedia content[]
- Environment and Conservation Organisations of Aotearoa New Zealand W