New Zealand: Politics
So long Shane Jones, a man who got the message
24 Apr 2014
Shane Jones’ legacy to the Labour Party – and potentially New Zealand - is a policy designed to release the environmental and social potential of forestry, as well as boost economic returns.
Scientists question Ruataniwha hearing advice
17 Apr 2014
Serious questions raised in Parliament about the independence of scientific advice in consent hearings from Government scientists are justified, says a key witness in the Ruataniwha dam hearing.
National driving climate change, say Greens
17 Apr 2014
New Zealand's latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory submitted to the UN confirms National’s policies are driving climate change, the Green Party says.
We’re on the right track, says Groser
17 Apr 2014
The latest climate crisis report from the United Nations emphasises the need for a truly global agreement in 2015 to ensure efforts to cut greenhouse gases are effective, says Minister for Climate Change Issues Tim Groser
Politicians leading us on a path to catastrophe, warns former PM
11 Apr 2014
Politicians too afraid of losing votes to talk about climate change are sentencing humanity to catastrophe, says former Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer.
Our emissions up ... thanks to cars and cows
11 Apr 2014
New Zealanders’ love affair with cars and cows has pushed our greenhouse gas emissions up by 25 per cent.
ETS officials talking to Korea and Thailand
4 Apr 2014
NEW ZEALAND is working on ways to link with emerging carbon markets in Korea and Thailand.
Profit comes before environment, says Act leader
4 Apr 2014
NEW Act Party leader Jamie Whyte says that businesses have no obligation to the environment.
Planners to put 100% Pure under the microscope
28 Mar 2014
CRITICAL issues which threaten New Zealand's 100% Pure positioning will be addressed by planners at a conference in Queenstown next week.
Carbon price breach of rights, says Maori leader
21 Mar 2014
Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia has weighed into the row over low carbon prices, describing the loss of value of credits given to Maori in Treaty of Waitangi settlements as a breach of human rights.
Australian Senate throws out carbon tax bill
21 Mar 2014
The Australian Government’s bill to scrap that country’s carbon tax has been thrown out of the Senate, prompting speculation that a double dissolution could be looming.
Key talks environment in China
21 Mar 2014
The Prime Minister has been talking about the environment with his Chinese counterpart.
We're keen on renewables, says Bridges
21 Mar 2014
Energy Minister Simon Bridges says the Government is just as excited about renewables as it is about oil and gas.
Climate scientists 3, economists 0
21 Mar 2014
Hold up the trophy. Open the champagne. Climate scientists have easily won the game. According to a recent study, when it comes to the accuracy of forecasts and projections, the climate side is much better at the game than the economists’ team, says KIEREN COOKE.
Our cities need attention, say planners
21 Mar 2014
More collaboration is needed to deal with the country’s burgeoning urban growth issues, says a new report by the New Zealand Planning Institute.
Cunliffe's vision shows green economy blindspot
14 Mar 2014
Labour leader David Cunliffe has just given a speech on the future of New Zealand’s economy - without mentioning clean technology and the green economy.
Beehive still silent on demand to lift carbon prices
14 Mar 2014
There’s still no word from the Government on whether it will boost carbon prices to avoid a $600 million Treaty of Waitangi claim.
Key downgrades New York climate talks
14 Mar 2014
Holding the general election on September 20 could mean New Zealand doesn’t have a leader in place to attend the United Nations’ Climate Summit in New York.
Should climate deniers be brought to book?
14 Mar 2014
Is misinformation about the climate criminally negligent, asks Rochester Institute of Technology Assistant Professor of Philosophy, LAWRENCE TORCELLO.
Nats push green achievements
14 Mar 2014
National is preparing to strut its environmental stuff this weekend, as its Bluegreens Forum gathers in Kaikoura.
Beehive stays silent on NZUs auctions
7 Mar 2014
The Government still won’t confirm that it will not auction NZUs.
Is Beehive about to act on low carbon prices?
28 Feb 2014
The Government might be getting ready to finally take action on dismal domestic carbon prices.
New ETS move aims to make clear origin of NZUs
28 Feb 2014
From April buyers will know whether the NZUs they are buying come from carbon sequestration or are free units given to emitters by taxpayers.
Why Australia needs to increase emissions targets
28 Feb 2014
The Climate Change Authority’s new report on emission reduction targets makes a compelling argument for Australia to go much further in cutting greenhouse gas emissions, writes CLIVE HAMILTON, Vice-Chancellor's Chair, Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics, Charles Sturt University.
Credibility key selling point for green economy
28 Feb 2014
The idea of the “green economy goes in and out of fashion, not least because it is rarely defined and frequently misunderstood, writes PAUL EKINS, Professor of Resource and Environmental Policy, University College, London.
Big emitters cash in on free carbon credits
21 Feb 2014
A loophole allowing heavy industrial emitters to coin it at the expense of taxpayers by selling free carbon credits is likely to be closed under a Labour-Greens government.
Angry Maori take carbon case to UN
21 Feb 2014
Frustrated Maori will take their carbon price grievances to the United Nations next week.
Iwi ultimatum earns support of political parties
21 Feb 2014
Iwi threatening to take a claim to the Waitangi Tribunal over carbon prices have the support of at least two major political parties.
Maori ultimatum leaves Government unmoved
14 Feb 2014
The Government appears to be ignoring an ultimatum from Maori to fix carbon prices or face the consequences.
Angry Maori table $600,000 carbon ultimatum
7 Feb 2014
Maori say they will lodge a $600 million Treaty of Waitangi claim if the Government doesn’t move fast to shore up carbon prices.
Earth Law move perfect for us, says academic
7 Feb 2014
New Zealand is well-positioned to move into an emerging international Earth-centred legal regime because of Maori culture, an environmental law lecturer says.
Hang on, isn't carbon-happy China just making stuff for us?
7 Feb 2014
Is it fair that China is blamed for the carbon dioxide emissions it generates to manufacture products destined for the West? asks Glen West, of the Center for International Climate and Environment Research.
Academic eyes ways to hold back flood waters
7 Feb 2014
Floods are becoming harder to manage by trying to hold water back behind flood defences, so it’s time to look at how to defend against them at the building and community level.
It's the forestry effect, explains Groser
31 Jan 2014
The Government is blaming a projected greenhouse gas emissions increase on forestry cycles.
Think or swim ... that's our climate change choice
31 Jan 2014
Making people think about the impact climate change could have on their homes makes them more likely to take action to prevent it, researchers say.
Time for a green revolution, says Norman
31 Jan 2014
The Green Party is invoking the legacies of Seddon, Savage and Kirk in a bid to pitch the green economy as the next big thing for New Zealand.
Climate paralysis risks our reputation, say Greens
24 Jan 2014
New Zealand’s continuing failure to do our share on climate change puts our clean green image at risk, the Green Party says.
The war on science: Why we should be very afraid
24 Jan 2014
Climate scientist Dr JIM SALINGER on why we should be very worried by attempts to discredit data showing New Zealand's climate is warming:
Pulp politics bring tension to Tasmania
24 Jan 2014
KATE CROWLEY, Associate Professor of Public and Environmental Policy at the University of Tasmania, examines the tension between the economy and the environment in the state's politics:
Post-recession, we're becoming a nation of greener Kiwis
20 Dec 2013
New Zealanders coming out of recession have quite different attitudes to sustainability than they had going in, says a social trend researcher.
Govt sitting on millions worth of Kyoto units
13 Dec 2013
The Government is sitting on millions of Kyoto units which could reduce the cost of the country's carbon liability.
Govt releases climate change commitment report
13 Dec 2013
The Government has just released the Sixth National Communication on Climate Change report.
Restrictions on CERs and ERUs
6 Dec 2013
The use of international Kyoto credits in the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme is to be restricted.
Beehive seems set to block cheap foreign credits
6 Dec 2013
The Government today is expected to announce moves to restrict the flow of cheap foreign carbon credits into New Zealand.
Country on countdown to pricing environment
6 Dec 2013
A decision will be made early next year on whether New Zealand will put a price on its natural capital.
NZ none the wiser after rejecting refugee’s case
29 Nov 2013
New Zealand has dealt with what is claimed to be the world’s first climate change refugee by throwing his case out of court and earmarking him and his family for deportation.
What Tim Groser told the world at Warsaw
22 Nov 2013
Climate Change Minister Tim Groser has put New Zealand’s emissions-reduction credentials to the COP19 gathering in Warsaw.
Abbott fund has high price, says analyst
22 Nov 2013
Australia’s Emissions Reduction Fund is likely to cost its government $A20 a tonne, and possibly $40 a tonne, an analyst says.
Melbourne expo might give us some answers
22 Nov 2013
Businesses looking for a steer on how Australia’s Emissions Reduction Fund scheme will work could find it at the Carbon Expo Australasia next month.
New-look Christchurch wins accolades at Warsaw
22 Nov 2013
The Christchurch rebuild has been recognised internationally as the best current example of urban regeneration.
NZ hydrogen regulation to catch up with the world
18 Dec 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | The government has announced a regulatory reset for New Zealand’s emerging clean tech hydrogen sector.
State-owned farmer drives profit growth with emissions reductions
19 Dec 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | Government-owned Landcorp, trading as Pāmu, is one-third of the way to meeting its 2031 emissions reduction targets, with five years left to run to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30.3% against 2021 emissions.
Transport dominates NZ’s rising consumer emissions
10 Dec 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Transport pollution was the biggest contributor to an increase in New Zealand’s consumption-based emissions in 2023, with emissions from household travel up 12%, and consumption-based emissions totalling 58.3 million tonnes – up 1.6% from the previous year.
NZ could become ‘dumping ground’ for dirty vehicles: Commissioner
16 Dec 2025
By Liz Kivi | Simon Upton, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, has warned the Government that its changes to the clean car standard could turn the country into a dumping ground for high emitting cars, making future emissions budgets harder to achieve.
Uncertainty eroding confidence in forestry sector
5 Dec 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Warnings are mounting that tree planting is set to plunge to “very close to zero”, as new Ministry for Primary Industries data shows ETS registration applications falling sharply as confidence in forestry declines.
Investors must support positive climate-tech
28 Nov 2025
OPINION: We need better leadership than the current ‘climate opportunism’ that is rife in the Beehive, and we need to back a marketplace that will make it happen, writes Rob Campbell.
