New Zealand: Politics
Govt hopes Kyoto credits will cover emissions blow-out
1 Dec 2014
The Government will use international Kyoto credits received in what’s known as the KP1 true-up to cover its emissions blow-out.
Climate change health action urgent, say doctors
1 Dec 2014
The need for rapid action on climate change in New Zealand in order to protect health is clear, according to a group of climate and health experts.
Govt slammed for weak climate fund contribution
24 Nov 2014
The Government is under fire for the size of its contribution to a global fund to help developing countries to combat climate change.
Climate change too far down Labour's list
24 Nov 2014
By editor ADELIA HALLETT.- New Labour Party leader Andrew Little appears to rank climate change only slightly more importantly than does Prime Minister John Key.
New shadow minister eyes climate change priorities
24 Nov 2014
Labour's new climate change and environment spokesperson says there's never been a time when she didn't believe in climate change.
Expand climate portfolio, says Mahuta
17 Nov 2014
The Cabinet portfolios of agriculture and climate change should be given to the same person, says Labour Party leadership hopeful Nanaia Mahuta.
Our emissions plan hopeless, says renowned academic
3 Nov 2014
New Zealand has no chance of meeting its 2020 emissions reduction target under current policies, says a leading scientist involved in the latest IPCC report.
What the politicians said ...
3 Nov 2014
All three of New Zealand's major political parties say that the IPCC's latest call on climate change is important.
Climate refugees? We'll think of something ...
3 Nov 2014
New Zealand still has no plan to help climate change refugees – despite acknowledging that many Pacific Islands people might need to be relocated.
Hunt for oil anchors Govt's environment plan
28 Oct 2014
The National Party is leading off its environmental package for its new term in power with plans to encourage more oil exploration – despite the burning of fossil fuels being the single biggest cause of climate change.
Emissions register has a new look
28 Oct 2014
The Environmental Protection Authority is making the national emissions register more user-friendly.
Trans-Pacific Partnership threatens green trade deal
28 Oct 2014
The Trans-Pacific Partnership threatens a green trade deal that could ultimately do more to reduce carbon emissions than international climate agreements such as the failed Kyoto Protocol.
Chile's new tax could open carbon doors for NZ
20 Oct 2014
Chile’s new carbon tax potentially offers New Zealand an opportunity to offset some of its own agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, says economist Dr Suzi Kerr.
Rod Oram: Why I'm getting out of fossil fuels
20 Oct 2014
Business commentator Rod Oram is putting his money where his mouth is when it comes to sustainable investment.
Beehive stays silent on emissions target
13 Oct 2014
The Government remains mum on New Zealand’s 2030 emissions reduction target.
QUIET! Climate-cautious Key sends message to ministers
6 Oct 2014
The Government’s new cabinet line-up confirms its lack of interest in climate change.
Medicos inject themselves into climate debate
6 Oct 2014
Health professionals in New Zealand are joining an international call for action on climate change.
Memo John Key: Look Pacific leaders in the eye
29 Sep 2014
The Government is being challenged to invite the leaders of the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Kiribati to come and tell Parliament what they think of New Zealand’s climate change policies.
Would a climate change treaty be enough?
29 Sep 2014
Do we need a climate treaty, or could a simple political deal based on national pledges work just as well?
Study will reveal our use of water
29 Sep 2014
The nature of domestic water demand is being measured.
Scientists plead for cuts to ballooning fossil fuel emissions
22 Sep 2014
Scientists are calling for rapid cuts in the use of fossil fuels in the wake of data out today showing we have almost used up our fossil-fuel credit.
Political parties fail to get the sustainability message through
22 Sep 2014
New Zealanders’ support for a shift to a sustainable economy is growing, according to new research from Colmar Brunton.
If the PM doesn't worry about climate change, why should we?
22 Sep 2014
New Zealanders are taking their cue on climate change from the Prime Minister, says social trends researcher Jill Caldwell.
Growth and greening now go together, says Stern study
22 Sep 2014
Governments and businesses can now improve economic growth and reduce their carbon emissions together, says a major new report by a commission of global leaders.
It's simple ... either you believe, or you don't
16 Sep 2014
By editor ADELIA HALLETT.- Voters in this weekend’s general election face a simple choice when it comes to climate change – you either believe it is a real and massive problem requiring transformation of the economy, or you don’t.
Labour vows to build $100m clean-tech fund
16 Sep 2014
A Labour Government would put $100 million a year into clean-tech companies.
Beehive buys fight with business climate crusader
8 Sep 2014
The Government has locked horns with one of New Zealand’s leading business people over climate change and the new economy.
NZ needs to be in China now, says carbon trader
8 Sep 2014
New Zealand should be knocking on China’s door now if it wants to exploit huge potential from that country’s apparent determination to put a national emissions trading scheme in place in 2016, says a leading local carbon trader.
Are we doing an America's Cup on new-tech, asks investor
8 Sep 2014
New Zealand is in danger of seeing its plans to be a leader of the new technology go the same way as our last America’s Cup challenge, says clean-tech investor Nick Gerritsen.
We've got the world's lowest carbon prices
8 Sep 2014
New Zealand has the lowest carbon prices in the world, the World Bank says.
Labour vows to scrap emitters' one-for-two deal
1 Sep 2014
The one-for-two deal that halves emitters’ carbon liabilities would be scrapped by a Labour government.
NZ First backs iwi $600m carbon claim
1 Sep 2014
New Zealand First supports an iwi leaders’ bid to raise carbon prices.
Ten more years is too late, says Nobel winner
1 Sep 2014
Negotiating a global agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol at climate change talks in Paris next year is critical to the survival of society, a visiting Nobel Prize-winning scientist says.
Labour vows to act on agriculture by 2016
25 Aug 2014
There is bad news for farmers, and good and bad news for industrial emitters under Labour’s climate change policy, released yesterday.
COMMENT: Jeepers, John, you forgot the environment
25 Aug 2014
Prime Minister John Key launched National’s election campaign yesterday without mentioning the environment.
Groser agrees to talk climate with Labour, Greens
25 Aug 2014
David Parker, Russel Norman and Tim Groser will go head-to-head on climate policy next week.
Companies call for politicians to get serious about sustainability
18 Aug 2014
Companies representing a quarter of the New Zealand economy are calling on all political parties to make a long-term commitment to sustainable business.
Business needs to make climate change stand
18 Aug 2014
There is still an element of climate change scepticism in New Zealand business, says a leading policy analyst.
Experts pinpoint what emissions cost economy
18 Aug 2014
For the first time, economists have put a financial cost on the impact of greenhouse gases released by the industrialisation of developed countries.
Ranking shows we are kind to the planet
18 Aug 2014
New Zealand is the seventh-kindest country to the planet, according to a new ranking system.
The climate change world according to Piketty
18 Aug 2014
French economist widely debated Thomas Piketty and his book Capital in the Twenty-First Century are a global publishing phenomenon. But while Piketty’s writing on wealth inequality has been widely debated, far fewer people know that he has some useful things to say about climate change and public capital.
Our leaders missing as world talks climate tactics
11 Aug 2014
Xi Jinping is going, and so is Barack Obama, but John Key is staying home.
Greens have a tempting carbon tax idea
11 Aug 2014
A carbon price is still the best and fairest way to achieve emissions cuts, but as Australia and New Zealand show, it’s not easy to get it right. How could carbon pricing be improved?
Economist rubbishes Govt's $500 power cost claim
4 Aug 2014
Government claims that lifting carbon prices would cost householders $500 more a year in electricity bills have been debunked.
WORTH WATCHING: New film shows up our sorry climate change story
4 Aug 2014
New Zealand’s tortuously slow reaction to the threats of climate change has been documented.
Green economy key to change, says Labour
4 Aug 2014
Labour says it will embrace the green economy by moving away from reliance on extractive industries and primary production toward low-carbon, high-value goods and services.
Foreign foresters might sue over ETS changes
1 Aug 2014
New Zealand might face claims under free-trade agreements for losses caused as a result of changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Carbon axe will boost renewables, says Trustpower
1 Aug 2014
Electricity generator Trustpower believes the repeal of Australia's carbon tax will be great for renewable energy, which is likely to be heavily favoured under the federal government's Renewable Energy Targets scheme.
Business begins to adopt the circular economy
1 Aug 2014
The concept of the circular economy has left the realm of academic theory and entered the world of business.
Morgan makes a splash with private water report
25 Jul 2014
Philanthropist Gareth Morgan has followed through on his promise and thrown a large rock into the Government’s water-policy pool.
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.
