New Zealand: Politics
ETS bill has October deadline
24 Aug 2012
The Government expects to have its changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme through the select committee and back into Parliament by October 17.
Most believe green is good for jobs
24 Aug 2012
Environmental protection is seen to promote economic growth and jobs, a new survey shows.
It's about balance, says science chief
24 Aug 2012
Balancing environmental issues with resource use and economic growth is the biggest issue New Zealand faces, our top scientist says.
Let's all be like Taranaki, says Joyce
24 Aug 2012
The Government is continuing its pressure on local authorities to give environmental consents to mining and big dairying operations.
Most Kiwis back a green revolution
17 Aug 2012
New Zealanders are willing to put their hands in their pockets to encourage clean industries and technologies.
People want more action on climate change
10 Aug 2012
New Zealanders want the Government and business to do more about climate change – but most of all we want other countries to do something.
Survey shows more New Zealanders go cool on climate change issues
3 Aug 2012
The number of New Zealanders who think climate change is an urgent and immediate problem has slumped, according to a new poll.
Academic diagnoses climate change fatigue
3 Aug 2012
A dramatic fall in the number of people who think climate change is an urgent problem is not surprising, given the current economic and political environment in New Zealand, says an environmental sociologist.
Business execs taking it seriously
3 Aug 2012
Business managers and executives are among the New Zealanders most concerned about climate change.
ETS impact report out today
3 Aug 2012
Latest figures on the impact of the Emissions Trading Scheme will be out today.
Dick Smith jolts Murdoch media
27 Jul 2012
Australian businessman Dick Smith has gone on the attack against what he says is bias in the Rupert Murdoch-owned media over climate change.
Greens: Why NZ was a failure at Rio
20 Jul 2012
New Zealand has failed to live up to the commitments to sustainable development it made 20 years ago at the Rio Earth Summit, the Green Party says.
Papers show support for credits cut
13 Jul 2012
Most people making submissions on changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme supported Government plans to restrict the use of international carbon credits in New Zealand, Cabinet papers show.
Minister's maths way out, says council
13 Jul 2012
The latest round of changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme will cost taxpayers $328.4 million to 2016, Climate Change Minister Tim Groser has told Cabinet.
Huntly key to free credit allocations
13 Jul 2012
Trade-exposed emitters might find themselves entitled to more free credits if changes to the electricity allocation factor go ahead.
Major ETS change looks like payoff to Act
6 Jul 2012
Politics might be behind a Government decision not to impose restrictions on the importation of international carbon credits into the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Labour vows to protect carbon price
6 Jul 2012
Labour says it will push for measures to protect the domestic carbon price.
ETS overhaul begins to take shape
29 Jun 2012
The Government’s final plan for an overhaul of the Emissions Trading Scheme is likely to be made public in the next two weeks.
Minister claims oceans victory at Rio
22 Jun 2012
Environment Minister Amy Adams says the key goals on oceans pushed by New Zealand at the Rio+20 conference in Brazil have been included for discussion in the summit's outcome document.
Greens probe fossil-fuel subsidies
22 Jun 2012
The Government is being accused of undermining its own policy to cut fossil-fuel subsidies, by encouraging oil exploration and giving free carbon credits to internationally exposed emitters.
Joyce slams businessmen's report
15 Jun 2012
Economic Development Minister Stephen Joyce says the Pure Advantage business group is just looking for subsidies for businesses it likes.
Travel leaders call for sustainability
15 Jun 2012
Travel and tourism leaders are calling for a new enlightened framework for sustainable tourism in a ground-breaking collection of essays compiled by academics at Melbourne’s Victoria University academics.
ETS cash cow has lost its moo
25 May 2012
The Emissions Trading Scheme has turned from a cash cow into a financial liability in a few short months.
Forget Australia, says business lobby
25 May 2012
New Zealand should assume its Emissions Trading Scheme will not be linked with Australia’s, says BusinessNZ.
Last-minute submissions flood ministry
18 May 2012
The Ministry for the Environment has been swamped with last-minute submissions on changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme.
NZ wants new deal for carbon markets
11 May 2012
Negotiations for a new framework for international carbon markets will be a priority for the New Zealand delegation at international climate change talks in Bonn next week.
China will show the way, says think-tank
11 May 2012
The current dominant economies – including the United States – will stagnate over the next 40 years, while China will be a success story because of its ability to respond to changing conditions, the latest Club of Rome report says.
Time running out for ETS submissions
11 May 2012
If you haven’t yet made your submission on the latest round of changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme you’re nearly out of time.
NZ eyes regional common carbon market
27 Apr 2012
New Zealand is maintaining a “watching brief” on developments in Asia that Australia believes could lead to a common carbon market.
Govt stands back from new-world calls
27 Apr 2012
New Zealand supports global action on environmental issues, but might stop short of supporting an overhaul of world governance systems at the upcoming Rio+20 conference, officials say.
ETS consultation rolls to a stop
27 Apr 2012
Regional consultation meetings and hui on proposed changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme are over.
Prices force rethink on carbon books
20 Apr 2012
The Government is reworking its books in the wake of the carbon price collapse.
Labour backs calls for a new world
13 Apr 2012
Labour’s deputy leader says he supports calls for a major overhaul of the world’s economic, social and environmental management systems.
Why we must have an emissions target
13 Apr 2012
New Zealand will have to adopt an emissions target before it can introduce a cap-and-auction system.
We can't go on like this, says think tank
13 Apr 2012
Over the past 50 years, the world's middle and upper classes have more than doubled their consumption levels, and an additional 1 to 2 billion people globally aspire to join the consumer class, the Worldwatch Institute says in its latest report.
Greens predict urban sprawl, congestion
13 Apr 2012
The Productivity Commission's main recommendations for affordable housing will create sprawling, congested, and less productive cities, Green Party co-leader Russel Norman says
Government airs ETS changes
11 Apr 2012
The Government has just released proposals to amend the Emissions Trading Scheme in the wake of last year's Caygill Review.
Govt wants hold on international credits
11 Apr 2012
The Government intends restricting the number of international carbon credits New Zealand emitters can use to meet their obligations, it has been revealed today.
Worried scientists push for global action
30 Mar 2012
Thousands of scientists meeting in London are calling for radical economic and social reorganisation on a global scale to avert an environmental crisis.
Greenhouse group shuts doors
30 Mar 2012
The Greenhouse Policy Coalition will be no more from tomorrow.
Our focus wrong, says think-tank head
23 Mar 2012
Departing New Zealand Institute chief executive Rick Boven says that New Zealand is failing to grasp the full implications of the environmental crisis.
Shearer pushes green economy vision
16 Mar 2012
Opposition leader David Shearer said he wanted a green economy, but didn’t say how he’d achieve it. Prime Minister John Key didn’t mention it at all.
Govt will slow ETS
9 Mar 2012
The electricity, industrial and transport sectors will continue to be sheltered from the full force of the Emissions Trading Scheme.
We're late, but no worries, says Smith
9 Mar 2012
New Zealand might have missed the deadline for submissions on increasing international emissions reduction levels, but Climate Change Minister Nick Smith says it’s not a problem.
NZ will target fossil fuels at Rio
9 Mar 2012
New Zealand will use the Rio+20 Summit to push for reform of fossil fuel subsidies.
Green economy only way for Shearer
10 Feb 2012
Lining up economic policy and environment policy is the biggest environmental issue facing New Zealand, says Labour leader David Shearer.
Labour likes ETS ... if it works
10 Feb 2012
New Labour leader David Shearer says that he is committed to the Emissions Trading Scheme – if it works.
We need new water system, says academic
10 Feb 2012
A Waikato University academic says that New Zealand needs to rethink its water allocation system or risk stifling economic and cultural development.
Govt might block overseas credits
3 Feb 2012
The number of international carbon credits coming into New Zealand could be cut.
Bill to ban new coal mines fails at first reading
Fri 24 Oct 2025
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
Fri 24 Oct 2025
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.
