New Zealand: Politics
Well done New Zealand, says Europe
9 Sep 2011
New Zealand has been congratulated by Europe for its emissions trading scheme.
Greens push for Pacific climate action
9 Sep 2011
New Zealand and Australia can, and must, lead on real action to respond to climate change to save the endangered Pacific Island nations, the Green Party says.
Green only way, says EU climate chief
2 Sep 2011
Our government is about to meet a politician who says that addressing climate change is core conservative politics.
Doctor fears climate treaty challenge
2 Sep 2011
A Maori public health specialist says that the Government is failing to address climate change – and that could leave the way open for a Treaty of Waitangi challenge.
Sound science the key, say academics
2 Sep 2011
Sound science should underpin sound environmental planning, policy development and management, say scientists at Waikato University's new Enviornmental Research Institute.
New Zealanders right behind sustainability
26 Aug 2011
Nearly 90 per cent of New Zealanders think sustainability - and use of the 100% Pure brand - provides the country with an important competitive advantage when trading in global markets, a new survey says.
Environment reporting: What do you think?
19 Aug 2011
The Government is calling for feedback on plans to strengthen rules around environmental reporting.
Callaghan: We need schemes, not dreams
12 Aug 2011
New Zealand does not have a clean-tech natural advantage, says one of our leading scientists.
Survey shows we fret over climate costs
12 Aug 2011
A climate change-policy lobby group says that its latest survey shows New Zealanders are worried about the cost of dealing with climate change.
Heating scheme reaches more homes
5 Aug 2011
An extra 1250 households each year will be able to access Government funding to replace their old solid fuel heaters, the Government says.
Air quality record improves
5 Aug 2011
New Zealand’s average number of air quality exceedances dropped to 3.5 in 2010 – the best level since nationwide records began in 2000, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.
Major changes unlikely, says ETS review head
1 Aug 2011
The Emissions Trading Scheme review panel is unlikely to change its recommendations substantially in light of Australia’s carbon pricing moves.
ETS review extended in wake of Aussie plan
1 Aug 2011
Climate Change Minister Nick Smith is seeking an update from the Emissions Trading Scheme review committee to take account of Australia’s recent announcements to implement a carbon price.
Business sings new tune on ETS
1 Aug 2011
The business sector is much more positive about the Emissions Trading Scheme than it was two years ago.
Beware of Australian ETS, says report
29 Jul 2011
Integration with the Australian carbon market would disadvantage New Zealand businesses, says a new report.
Auckland talks make a little progress
29 Jul 2011
International climate change negotiators made tentative progress at a meeting in Auckland this week, our International Climate Change Minister says.
One-for-two deal must stay, says coalition
29 Jul 2011
The Greenhouse Policy Coalition is warning that New Zealanders will face higher prices for fuel and electricity if the Government removes the one-for-two obligation in the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Climate deal-makers head for Auckland
22 Jul 2011
International climate change negotiators will meet in Auckland next week, it has just been announced.
Youth group makes zero-carbon stand
22 Jul 2011
A new youth-based political movement is calling for today’s carbon bills to be paid today.
ETS review findings linger with minister
15 Jul 2011
There's no word yet on when the review of the Emissions Trading Scheme will be made public.
Future leaders give their vision of NZ
15 Jul 2011
New Zealand’s future business leaders are being asked what the country could look like in 2050 if the it adopts sustainable development.
Are we keeping up, asks energy expert
15 Jul 2011
The argument by some New Zealand businesses and farmers that NZ should not be a leader in climate change mitigation is beginning to wear thin, says an expert on renewable energy.
Govt under fire over southern lignite
15 Jul 2011
The Government came under fire in Parliament this week for supporting plans for a lignite mine in Southland while talking about how the world should phase out subsidies for fossil fuels.
Group to eye benefits of green brand
8 Jul 2011
New Zealand needs to consider how it leverages off its clean green brand in global markets and how new technologies can be developed to reduce environmental impacts, Environment Minister Nick Smith and Acting Minister for Economic Development David Carter say.
COMMENT: Government misses Pure Advantage
8 Jul 2011
The launch of Pure Advantage last night is an attempt to fill a leadership vacuum.
NZ needs oceans plan, says NIWA chief
8 Jul 2011
New Zealand urgently needs a national oceans strategy to sustainably manage and use its extensive marine resources to boost the economy, says NIWA chairman Chris Mace.
ETS review team hands over report
1 Jul 2011
The Government has the Emissions Trading Scheme review panel report.
New enviro watchdog to run ETS
1 Jul 2011
The new Environmental Protection Authority kicks off today, and from January it will be responsible for administering the Emissions Trading Scheme.
WWF calls for countries to act on carbon
17 Jun 2011
Fast and scaled-up support for innovative approaches to developing a low-carbon economy is both possible and essential, says a new WWF report.
Climate fighter has a big job for NZ
10 Jun 2011
Scientist and climate change campaigner Dr James Hansen says that New Zealand could be the country he has been looking for to "stand up and tell the truth" - that our addiction to fossil fuels can be cured only by an honest, rising price on carbon.
What James Hansen told the Prime Minister ...
10 Jun 2011
Prime Minister John Key, who has been singing the praises of Solid Energy's lignite plans in Southland, has been told by top scientist James Hansen that New Zealand should not go down this path.
Taxpayers face Kyoto bill worth billions
3 Jun 2011
New Zealand taxpayers face a future Kyoto liability of up to between $1 billion and $5 billion, the Sustainability Council is warning.
Carbon tax soon, say Aussie Greens
3 Jun 2011
Australia may leapfrog New Zealand on pricing carbon, that country’s Green Party leader says.
NZ attitudes concern climate cameraman
3 Jun 2011
New Zealand businesses are not interested in climate change, despite the concern of some individual business people, says an expatriate photographer whose work is dedicated to portraying the impact of climate change.
Caygill committee might miss deadline
27 May 2011
The committee reviewing the Emissions Trading Scheme has had a small extension of time.
Government eyes fewer NZU allocations
20 May 2011
The Government expects to allocate 25 per cent fewer NZUs under the Emissions Trading Scheme next year than this year.
Budget sets aside $1.6m for ETS reviews
20 May 2011
The Government has set aside $1.6m a year until at least 2014 for reviewing the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Project to study our footprint on the world
20 May 2011
An in-depth research project will consider New Zealanders' ecological footprint.
Business on right track, says Hansen
13 May 2011
New Zealand’s business community has received a bouquet from the scientist James Hansen, the American dubbed the father of global warming.
Australia's carbon future taking shape
13 May 2011
Details of Australia’s carbon-pricing regime could be known by the end of the month.
Government backs waterways clean-up
13 May 2011
The Government is making money available to help councils and communities to clean-up nationally significant water bodies polluted by historically poor management.
Climate whistleblower to front big business
6 May 2011
The scientist who drew the world’s attention to climate change will front up to New Zealand business leaders next week.
Labour wants teeth for EPA
6 May 2011
The Labour Party is trying to give the Environment Protection Authority teeth, says Labour’s Environment spokesperson Charles Chauvel.
Don't delay agriculture, says world body
29 Apr 2011
Agriculture should come into the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme in 2015 as planned, says one of the world’s most influential organisations.
Caygill crew on target to produce report
29 Apr 2011
The panel reviewing the Emissions Trading Scheme is on target to meet its report-back deadline, its chairman says.
We need green tax reform, says Norman
29 Apr 2011
The OECD has highlighted once again the need for green tax reform to address significant vulnerabilities in our economy and protect New Zealand’s clean green brand, says Green Party co-leader Russel Norman.
ETS stays no matter what, says Groser
21 Apr 2011
New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme will continue even if there is no international climate change agreement after next year, says International Climate Change Negotiations Minister Tim Groser.
Politics not way to beat climate change
21 Apr 2011
Progress on climate change will come through “boring detail” and not political rhetoric, says International Climate Change Minister Tim Groser.
Country expects to hit Kyoto targets
21 Apr 2011
New Zealand is on target to meet its Kyoto target without having to use overseas credits to offset our emissions, latest Government figures show.
Fast, sustained phase-out of fossil fuels: best-performing countries in coal and transport sectors
Thu 10 Jul 2025
By Robert McLachlan | It’s true that climate change is getting worse – it will continue to get worse until emissions fall to near zero. But is action on phasing out fossil fuels really stalling?
Clear-sighted view to trade-offs crucial to reimagining our relationship with the land
7 Jul 2025
By Nick Swallow | COMMENT: New Zealand could see a 70% drop in the value of dairy land if we pursue our emissions targets for agriculture, according to a new report.
Mangroves' overlooked climate role
30 Jun 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | New Zealand’s mangrove forests are pulling tens of thousands of tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere each year, yet their climate benefits remain unrecognised in national emissions reporting.
How flying can be a climate solution
16 Jun 2025
By Paul Callister and Robert McLachlan - Planetary Ecology | How can aviation contribute to tackling climate change when no practicable technology-based solutions are on the horizon?
Emissions Trading Scheme needs deep reform - commissioner
Fri 11 Jul 2025
The government’s attempt to limit forestry conversions on rural land is unlikely to lead to meaningful change, according to the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.
NZ Post drops science-based climate target
Tue 8 Jul 2025
By Liz Kivi | NZ Post has dropped its science-based emissions reduction target of 42% by 2030 with no plans to replace it.
