Author Archive

Aboriginal Mithaka take battle against fracking to UN

Radio New Zealand: esterday's state election in Queensland was watched closely by the Mithaka people - Aboriginal traditional owners of some of the iconic landscapes known as Channel Country in south western Queensland. They have taken their concerns to the UN, saying the state government has violated international law by failing to consult them over fracking.

No respite from ‘worst storm in decade’

Radio New Zealand: The storm has caused "millions of dollars" of damage to electricity networks after hurricane-force winds since Tuesday snapped concrete power poles and felled massive trees from Cape Reinga to Kaiwaka. A Far North farmer described it as the worst since Cyclone Bola in 1988. The MetService said on Thursday night that Northland could get up to 150 millimetres of rain between now and Saturday morning, as well as winds that could reach gale-force in exposed places. The winds are also likely to be strong...

Australia: Cities ‘must adapt’ to climate change

Radio New Zealand: An Australian urban planner says climate change is a daunting reality for the country and significant changes to how people live are necessary to prevent towns becoming deserted. Last year was Australia 's hottest year on record and temperatures are expected to rise further. Australia's Bureau of Meteorology said 12 locations in South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales recorded temperatures of 48°C or higher in December. Western Australia urban planner Charles Johnson says people need to...

New Zealand: Study of effect of climate change on kauri trees

Radio New Zealand: An Auckland University scientist is studying what impact climate change will have on kauri trees. Kauri are considered a taonga to many Maori and were an important resource for early Maori who burned kauri gum as an insecticide, used their resin to make ink for moko and felled trees to make giant waka. Dr Cate Macinnis-Ngreceived a grant of $345,000 from the Marsden Fund to research the effects of climate change on kauri. Dr Macinnis-Ng said it is unclear how vulnerable kauri are to the more frequent...

Climate change could halve snow depths – report

Radio New Zealand: A climate change report has concluded that snowfall levels could halve over the next 80 years. The report, by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) says snow depths could reduce to as much as 80% of the normal base by 2040 and drop as low as 50% by 2090. Ski field operators say that means they will likely have to rely heavily on costly snow machine technology to keep their fields open. Mt Ruapehu and Coronet Peak operators say they use some of the best snow making...