New Zealand: Politics
How Shaw intends to massively change our lives
30 Jan 2018
Climate minister James Shaw has outlined economic changes on the scale of those brought in by Michael Joseph Savage in 1935 and Roger Douglas in 1984.
Doughnut economics? What Shaw's on about
30 Jan 2018
When British economist Kate Raworth wanted to show where she saw economics going, she picked up a pencil and drew two circles, one inside the other.
Climate change is the country's biggest worry
26 Jan 2018
Two-thirds of New Zealanders rank climate change as the single biggest issue the world faces, new research suggests.
We'll do better than emissions target, says Shaw
25 Jan 2018
The new government will not officially increase the country's 2020 emissions reduction target.
Shaw puts ETS on ice until end of next year
23 Jan 2018
Any further changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme – including getting rid of free credits to heavy emitters and changing forestry rules – will not be made until the end of next year, the Government says.
Revealed: the cost of climate change
15 Dec 2017
Lack of government leadership means New Zealand business, society, infrastructure and the land itself are exposed to billions of dollars worth of potential damage from the impacts of climate change, the Government has been told.
Are we getting it right, questions emissions expert
14 Dec 2017
New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions from farming could have fallen by 20 per cent on 1990 levels if the efficiency gains of the past 25 years hadn’t been used to boost production.
This time, climate officials hope for a bit more action
13 Dec 2017
In late 2015, officials gave new climate minister Paula Bennett as list of five things they thought should be done over the next two years.
Climate commission will look at farm emissions
12 Dec 2017
Climate minister James Shaw says the new climate commission will play a role in dealing with agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.
NZ has 'reckless' plan for global carbon-trading
11 Dec 2017
New Zealand's approach to negotiating carbon-trading relationships with other countries is drawing fire.
Ardern and Shaw to miss big day out in Paris
11 Dec 2017
Neither Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern nor climate minister James Shaw will be at the One Planet Summit Day in Paris tomorrow.
HUSH-HUSH: Officials want lid on global-market talk
8 Dec 2017
Officials are working on getting New Zealand access to international carbon markets when they develop – but they don’t want their activities made public.
The trick is reading farmers' minds, says scientist
6 Dec 2017
Understanding why farmers are not taking advantage of ways to make more money while cutting greenhouse gas emissions is critical to getting New Zealand’s emissions down, says a leading scientist.
It's time to act on our oceans, say scientists
5 Dec 2017
New Zealand needs to start planning now for the impacts climate change will have on its oceans and fisheries, scientists say.
SHAW THING: Business needs to get into gear
4 Dec 2017
New climate minister James Shaw has a clear message for business: get your house in order because New Zealand is decarbonising ... fast.
C'mon Kiwis, says economist, show the world how
1 Dec 2017
New Zealand is being challenged to show the world how to decarbonise without tanking.
Climate commission might have carbon price role
30 Nov 2017
The climate commission – one of the Government’s promises for its first 100 days in office – is likely to play a role in setting carbon prices, the new climate minister says.
Force firms to report carbon, say energy leaders
28 Nov 2017
The Government is being told to make carbon reporting mandatory for publicly listed companies and to hold public-sector executives responsible for carbon performance.
Two global reports slam NZ's poor climate record
23 Nov 2017
New climate minister James Shaw might have wowed the world with his rhetoric at international climate talks last week, but it’s on the policies of his predecessor that New Zealand is still being judged.
Te Kuha coal mine first test for new minister
22 Nov 2017
Deciding whether to let a new opencast coal mine go ahead on the West Coast will be the first real test of the new government’s conservation policy, says an anti-coal mining lobby group.
Shaw might clear our name over dodgy credits
14 Nov 2017
New Zealand might yet come good on the issue of dodgy carbon credits.
Carbon pricing essential, says Energy Minister
10 Nov 2017
The new energy minister expects carbon to be priced into all energy projects.
Get behind Zero Carbon Act, Morgan tells Nats
8 Nov 2017
The National Party should offer cross-party support for the Zero Carbon Act, providing the country with stable climate-change policy, says Gareth Morgan’s The Opportunities Party.
Previous govt wrong about 2050 emissions - court
3 Nov 2017
The Government should have reassessed New Zealand’s emissions-reduction target after the International Panel on Climate Change released its new report, the High Court says.
Nats choose new spokespeople
3 Nov 2017
MPs from the pan-Parliamentary Globe group have taken over responsibility for climate change and the environment in the National Party caucus.
How Bennett toyed with cross-party climate move
1 Nov 2017
Former climate minister Paula Bennett sought advice on forming a cross-party agreement on climate change.
Shaw vows better climate deal for Pacific
1 Nov 2017
The new government says it will pull climate policy into line with Pacific aspirations.
Emissions failure will hurt NZ farmers, warns Fonterra
31 Oct 2017
A global failure to cut greenhouse gas emissions will see New Zealand farmers face demands for major production cuts, the world’s largest milk-processor is warning.
Get ETS working, say superfund guardians
30 Oct 2017
New Zealand cannot afford an Emissions Trading Scheme that doesn’t work, say the guardians of the $36.4 billion New Zealand Superannuation Fund - and that means bringing the agricultural sector into the scheme.
Shaw set to brief officials on plans for ETS
27 Oct 2017
New climate minister James Shaw next week will detail to officials his plans for the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Food ruined by drought could feed more than 80m a day
27 Oct 2017
The food destroyed by droughts would be enough to feed a country with a population the size of Germany’s every day for a year, says the World Bank.
WISE WORDS: It's not all about economic growth
26 Oct 2017
The Productivity Commission is being told not to let economic growth rule its investigation into cutting New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Changing climate will put our health at risk
26 Oct 2017
Scientists are warning that climate change will harm New Zealanders’ health.
Farming's ETS emissions bill no more than 5%
25 Oct 2017
The agricultural sector will be held responsible for no more than 5 per cent of its greenhouse gas emissions – and that’s if the new Government brings it into the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Carbon price set to break through $19 mark
24 Oct 2017
Carbon looks set to break the $19 barrier today as the market adjusts to a new government with more ambition to address climate change.
Labour in power sees carbon prices on the rise
20 Oct 2017
Carbon prices are rising on the back of the new government, hitting their highest level in a year within an hour of the market opening today.
New leaders have serious climate job to do
19 Oct 2017
Whichever political party forms a government this afternoon has a critical job preparing New Zealand for the impacts of climate change and in getting the country’s emissions under control.
Emissions register ready to take on water trading
18 Oct 2017
New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Register is ready to trade in other “environmental commodities” such as water.
Foreign credits bad call, warns ex-climate envoy
16 Oct 2017
Spending up to $20 billion on buying foreign carbon credits will be a “severe imposition” on the economy and will delay New Zealand’s decarbonisation, warns our former climate ambassador.
Officials vow to step up work on climate change
13 Oct 2017
New Zealand might not have an elected government just now, but officials are promising to step up on climate change.
MEMO MPs: The country needs a climate commission
12 Oct 2017
Politicians negotiating to form a new government have again been told that action on climate change is a priority for business and society.
NZ all talk on farm emissions, says UK climate chief
12 Oct 2017
New Zealand is not playing the leading role in research into reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture that it says it is, says the head of the United Kingdom’s Climate Committee.
Why National should lead on climate commission
11 Oct 2017
The National Party should support a climate commission, says a former Conservative British Cabinet minister.
Westpac backs climate commission and budget
11 Oct 2017
Westpac supports New Zealand adopting a United Kingdom-style climate commission and budget setting.
FIRE FACT: Heat goes on the East Coast
10 Oct 2017
A large swathe of the East Coast will be at risk of fire for at least half of the year by the end of the century, a conference in Auckland has heard.
NZ cuts climate aid to Pacific, says report
6 Oct 2017
New Zealand is being accused of cutting climate finance to the Pacific.
Why we need a carbon price of $100 ... or more
5 Oct 2017
Carbon prices of $100 a tonne - and possibly as high as $225 – are being foreshadowed in a new report.
WATCHDOG WARNS: Act now or face 'great risk'
5 Oct 2017
New Zealand will be stuck with high-emitting technologies if it doesn’t move to cut emissions soon, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment is warning.
Plant pines on public land, says Bluegreens chief
4 Oct 2017
The head of the National Party’s Bluegreens policy advisory group says pine trees should be planted on Department of Conservation land to offset New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Dairy group backs big climate change targets
3 Oct 2017
A dairy industry group supports carbon budgeting and the concept of a climate commission, and says New Zealand should be carbon neutral.
Bill to ban new coal mines fails at first reading
Today 11:00am
By Shannon Morris-Williams | A bid to outlaw new coal mines was defeated at its first hurdle in Parliament this week, after a heated debate pitting climate imperatives against energy security and affordability.
Council buys dairy farm to help clean up Lake Rotorua
Tue 21 Oct 2025
Bay of Plenty Regional Council has bought a 266-hectare dairy farm in the Lake Rotorua catchment and plans to retire it from production to reduce nitrogen entering the lake.
Emissions down slightly - Stats NZ
Today 11:00am
By Liz Kivi | Greenhouse gas emissions fell 1.5% in the June 2025 quarter, although the decline seems to reflect the economy continuing to contract rather than Aoteoroa inching towards decarbonisation goals.
NZ’s government wants tourism to drive economic growth – but how will it deal with aviation emissions?
Wed 22 Oct 2025
By Robert McLachlan, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University | Following a brief dip during the COVID pandemic, aviation is back in a growth phase.
Emails show forestry lobby fought Gisborne crackdown as slash clean-up drags on
26 Sep 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Sustainable land use advocates are accusing Eastland Wood Council of stonewalling efforts to tighten forestry rules, after correspondence between the group and the local council was released under the Official Information Act.
Govt to ease climate reporting thresholds, water down liability
Wed 22 Oct 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | The rollback of climate change reporting requirements has produced a wave of relief in corporate New Zealand as managed investment funds and listed companies with annual revenue under $1 billion are exempted.
