Utilities and resources

Getting down to the business of climate change
The New Zealand Stock Exchange and several leading companies recently announced their intention to establish a New Zealand-based carbon trading market to service the Asia-Pacific region. The Government has also indicated that it will be making cabinet decisions on emissions trading over next few months. In this article, Bell Gully partner Simon Watt provides some background on emissions trading and the growing body of support for using emissions trading as a means for businesses to reduce their carbon footprint.

New discussion document on the Permanent Forest Sink Initiative (PFSI)
Following on from the Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change discussion document released at the end of 2006, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has now issued a consultation document on the proposed regulations and cost recovery methods for the PFSI together with a proposal for a forest sink covenant.

Toing and froing in telecommunications
Bell Gully senior solicitor, David Blacktop, provides an overview of developments in the telecommunications sector this quarter where the toing and froing and posturing in relation to telecommunications regulation continues.

National Policy Statement on electricity transmission
A draft National Policy Statement (NPS) on electricity transmission has been prepared and approved by Government and a Board of Inquiry set up. The Board has published the NPS and called for public submissions on the NPS by 25 July.

Recent developments in the electricity sector
An overview of decisions, discussion documents and terms of reference released in the electricity sector over this quarter.

Enquiries and information

For more information on any of the cases, articles and features in Commercial Quarterly, please email Diane Graham or call her on 64 9 916 8849.