New Zealand: Politics
Scientists see new energy value in our forests
19 Nov 2018
Forestry’s value to New Zealand’s climate change effort is not in carbon storage but in powering the low-carbon economy, says our leading forest research institute.
How we'll pay for National's mismanagement
12 Nov 2018
Climate mismanagement under the National government means New Zealand will have to use international carbon credits to meet its emissions reduction targets, says a leading carbon forestry executive.
New RMA will cover effects of climate change
9 Nov 2018
The Government’s overhaul of the Resource Management Act will include the way it deals with climate change.
Shipowners could face tougher emissions rules
8 Nov 2018
Ships operating in New Zealand might soon be liable to tough new rules on air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Treasury likes bonds to reward tree-planting
7 Nov 2018
Environmental impact bonds encouraging the planting of native forests could help to cut New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions, Treasury says.
Meat farmers want two-pronged methane move
6 Nov 2018
Beef, lamb and deer farmers say they accept New Zealand’s methane emissions will have be cut – but not to net-zero.
Exploration ban close to becoming law
5 Nov 2018
The Government’s partial ban on new oil and gas exploration could become law this week.
You're dreaming, business lobby tells Govt
2 Nov 2018
Business New Zealand doesn’t support any of the Government’s proposed 2050 emissions reduction targets, saying they are based on wishful thinking and magic.
Buying credits last resort, say energy managers
1 Nov 2018
Buying international carbon credits to meet New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction commitments will be expensive and should be a last resort, the Government has been told.
Don't do a Rogernomics, warns enviro chief
30 Oct 2018
Decarbonising the New Zealand economy cannot be a repeat of Rogernomics, says Environment Secretary Vicky Robertson.
Emissions intensity drops, but a long way to go
29 Oct 2018
New Zealand’s emissions intensity has dropped 41 per cent since 1990, but the country still has a lot of work to do to cut carbon from the economy, a new report says.
Exploration ban sound signal, says forum chair
26 Oct 2018
Changes to the Crown Minerals Act that will see most new oil and gas exploration banned are the type of signals businesses need, says one of the people heading a ground-breaking finance sector project.
Group wants climate action to save native species
25 Oct 2018
Tougher resource management rules and incentives to store carbon in native forests are among just-released recommendations to protect New Zealand’s native species from climate change.
We're using more fossil fuels, says energy report
19 Oct 2018
New Zealand’s consumption of fossil fuels is climbing, new figures show.
Air pollution growing threat, says new report
18 Oct 2018
Air pollution from vehicles and woodfires is affecting the climate and threatens the health of New Zealanders, a new report shows.
Why our monetary system suits Zero Carbon Act
15 Oct 2018
New Zealand’s monetary policy system is a good model for the Zero Carbon Act, says the country’s stock exchange.
$840 MILLION: What climate change has cost us
11 Oct 2018
Climate change has cost New Zealand at least $840 million over the past decade – prompting warnings at a business conference that adaptation to now-unavoidable impacts could cost more than cutting emissions.
Why 6 per cent a year should get the job done
10 Oct 2018
Cutting global emissions by 6 per cent a year should keep warming to no more than 1.5deg, one of New Zealand’s top mathematicians has calculated.
NEW NATS: We're getting the climate message
10 Oct 2018
The National Party says it’s going through a “metamorphosis” on climate change – and it appears to include accepting that the way New Zealand uses its land is going to change.
Government backs cuts to reach 1.5deg
9 Oct 2018
The Government backs emissions cuts in line with keeping global warming to no more than 1.5deg, and says negotiations with the National Party for cross-party agreement on climate policy are going well.
Minerals sector puts case for use of public land
9 Oct 2018
Many of the minerals required for the low-carbon economy are on public conservation land in New Zealand, the minerals sector says.
Unions put case for place in low-carbon economy
5 Oct 2018
Unions will put the Government on notice today over what they think a “just transition” to a low-carbon economy actually means.
Public backs Govt's long-term climate strategy
4 Oct 2018
The Government’s plans to lock climate policy into long-term legislation – and to include all methane – has overwhelming public support.
ETS farming delay could be costly, says EY
2 Oct 2018
Postponing bringing agriculture into the Emissions Trading Scheme risks exposing New Zealand’s economy to a shock, says one of the world’s largest accounting firms.
Multilateralism is the key, PM tells world
1 Oct 2018
The world must return to multilateralism if it is to combat climate change, says Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Ministry likes look of targeted green taxes
26 Sep 2018
The Ministry for the Environment says it likes environmental taxes – especially for dealing with climate change and water problems.
OFFICIAL VIEW CLASHES ON OIL AND GAS STAND
25 Sep 2018
Officials want the door left open for a future government to allow oil and gas exploration again.
PM PLEADS CLIMATE CASE FOR PACIFIC
25 Sep 2018
Pacific people have a right to keep their maritime zones – even if their islands are gone, New Zealand has told the United Nations.
Farmers say no to environmental taxes
24 Sep 2018
Farmers are overwhelmingly opposed to environmental taxes – unless the revenue comes to them.
Getting rid of free credits worth $2b, says TWG
21 Sep 2018
Ditching free carbon credits for trade-exposed heavy emitters could generate $2.1 billion a year in revenue, the Tax Working Group says.
Why all new buildings should be carbon-neutral
20 Sep 2018
Requiring all new buildings to be carbon-neutral is the most cost-effective emissions-reduction action New Zealand can take, the Government is being told.
New maps will settle forest-planting posers
19 Sep 2018
The thorny question of whether land is eligible for carbon forests could soon be solved – with a map.
Officials wobble under Govt's climate assault
18 Sep 2018
The Government’s heavy climate-change work programme is putting pressure on officials, confidential papers show.
WISE WORDS: Where ProdCom report is wrong
17 Sep 2018
The Productivity Commission has got it wrong, say some of our wisest people.
Climate action-man puts new emissions option
14 Sep 2018
The man who got politicians from both sides of Parliament to agree on climate change says there might be a third option for dealing with New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Science is getting forests to release carbon secrets
14 Sep 2018
Ground-breaking research suggesting New Zealand’s native forests store more carbon than believed is being stepped up as the country pushes to carbon neutrality.
Minister plays it safe on agricultural emissions
13 Sep 2018
Agriculture minister Damien O’Connor steered clear of making promises to cut New Zealand’s agricultural greenhouse gas emissions when he spoke on an international stage yesterday.
GE ryegrass could slash emissions, Govt hears
12 Sep 2018
Feeding animals a genetically engineered high-energy ryegrass could cut greenhouse gas emissions from New Zealand farms by more than 20 per cent, the Government has been told.
Gluckman report backs cuts to methane emissions
11 Sep 2018
A third investigation says New Zealand must make drastic cuts to methane emissions.
Farmers' cost claims wrong, says commission
7 Sep 2018
Claims by the farming sector that cutting agricultural greenhouse gas emissions will cost farmers $230,000 a year by 2050 are wrong, the Productivity Commission says.
Parties begin climate commission talks
7 Sep 2018
Cross-party discussion has started on establishing a climate commission to oversee the decarbonisation of the economy.
Foresters happy, farmers wary of carbon path
5 Sep 2018
Recommendations for what is being called the biggest land-use change in New Zealand’s history are pleasing foresters but not farmers.
PRODCOM 1: Innovation key to our carbon future
4 Sep 2018
Carbon prices of $200 a tonne, the end of fossil-fuels and agriculture subject to carbon pricing are on the cards if the Government picks up a new report.
PRODCOM 2: Market needs special treatment
4 Sep 2018
The carbon market should be managed by a special authority, the Productivity Commission says.
PRODCOM 3: Farmers deserve emissions subsidy
4 Sep 2018
Farmers should be paying for greenhouse gas emissions – albeit at a subsidised rate, the Productivity Commission says.
PRODCOM 4: Farewell to fossil fuels
4 Sep 2018
Fossil fuels should be consigned to history, the Productivity Commission says.
PRODCOM 5: Where we got it wrong
4 Sep 2018
What went wrong with New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme? The Productivity Commission spells it out in a report released today.
Methane needs special approach, says expert
3 Sep 2018
Methane should be treated differently from other greenhouse gases when it comes to cutting emissions, says the man who did the calculations for the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s latest report.
New PCE report backs mission to cut methane
31 Aug 2018
New research released by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment confirms that New Zealand’s methane emissions must be cut.
We must cut methane emissions, officials tell Shaw
30 Aug 2018
Methane emissions – including those from agriculture - will have to be cut if the Paris Agreement is to be met, officials have told climate minister James Shaw.
Govt redirects energy innovation funding to solar on schools
Today 12:15pm
By Liz Kivi | Schools will save money, have greater energy security, and reduce carbon emissions through a $30 million Government initiative to put solar panels on up to 500 schools across New Zealand, say Energy Minister Simeon Brown and Education Minister Erica Stanford.
Greens condemn planned coal mine next to protected wetland
4 May 2026
By Liz Kivi | The Green Party says a new plan for a coal mine and fertiliser plant next to an internationally significant wetland is “ecological vandalism and climate denial.”
Carbon removal plans falling billions of tonnes short, experts warn
Today 12:15pm
By Shannon Morris-Williams | New Zealand needs to look beyond forestry and rapidly expand other forms of carbon removal to help meet global climate goals, according to a major international report.
Rotorua extends diesel bus contract after NZTA declines extra funding
25 May 2026
By Mathew Nash, Local Democracy Reporter | Rotorua is stuck with its diesel-powered public buses after a funding snag played a part in setting back plans for zero-emission buses by years.
Govt ramps up war on wilding pines with $79m boost
25 May 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Government is ramping up efforts to contain the spread of wilding pines with a $79 million funding boost aimed at protecting farmland, biodiversity hotspots, tourism landscapes and water catchments across New Zealand.
Govt’s LNG plan puts trade deals at risk, lawyers warn
26 May 2026
By Liz Kivi | Lawyers for Climate Action are warning that the government’s plans for an LNG import terminal and to subsidise gas fields are in breach of New Zealand’s free trade agreements with the UK and the EU.
