New Zealand: Politics
New party pushes green business
4 Nov 2011
New Zealand has a new political party based on green business
Temper economic growth, says scientist
28 Oct 2011
One of the world’s leading climate scientists is in New Zealand talking about an end to economic growth.
Scientists call for emissions audits
28 Oct 2011
Leading international climate scientists meeting in Wellington are calling for audits of countries’ greenhouse gas emissions.
Industrial gas submissions close soon
28 Oct 2011
Submissions on whether industrial gas CERs should be banned from the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme close on Monday.
Offshore mining ... what do you think?
21 Oct 2011
The Environmental Defence Society has released a comprehensive analysis of the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Bill and wants your views.
Somehow, we've got a carbon surplus
14 Oct 2011
New Zealand has a carbon surplus – on paper, anyway.
Gas credits ban might catch some emitters
7 Oct 2011
Some emitters are likely to be caught holding carbon credits that cannot be used in the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme.
Change a challenge, says pioneer professor
7 Oct 2011
An eminent New Zealand geologist who played an instrumental part in proving the theory of plate tectonics says that getting the public to accept climate change is harder.
Eco question: What price our environment?
7 Oct 2011
A British environmentalist who started the first eco-tourism business in the Galapagos Islands says that New Zealand needs to follow the British example and put some dollar values on intrinsic worth of the environment.
Greens demand subsidy answers
30 Sep 2011
The Government is being accused of subsidising the fossil fuel industry while at the same time campaigning internationally for an end to fossil fuel-industry subsidies.
Business wants green growth answers
23 Sep 2011
Some of New Zealand’s top business leaders will put a ruler over politicians’ election plans for green growth.
Green jobs galore, promises Norman
23 Sep 2011
The Green Party has launched a policy it says will create 100,000 new green jobs through business incentives and government leadership.
Green group's hands tied, says watchdog
23 Sep 2011
The Government’s Green Growth Advisory Group has not been given the scope it needs to do its job properly, says Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Dr Jan Wright.
That's it ... till after the election
16 Sep 2011
The Emissions Trading Scheme has been kicked for touch until after the election.
Carbon progress ... early start, late arrival
16 Sep 2011
How does New Zealand’s transition to a price on carbon compared to that proposed for Australia?
ETS review: We've been heard, say farmers
16 Sep 2011
Federated Farmers sees many of the key points for which it has advocated reflected in the Emissions Trading Scheme review panel’s report.
ETS review: Messages mixed, says Labour
16 Sep 2011
The Government continues to have two messages on whether it will include agriculture in its Emissions Trading Scheme, says Labour's Climate Change spokesperson, Brendon Burns.
ETS review: Weak scheme gets weaker
16 Sep 2011
The review of the Emissions Trading Scheme proposes to increase subsidies to climate polluters at the cost of the New Zealand taxpayer and the climate, the Green Party says.
ETS review: Act stands for abolition
16 Sep 2011
The Government should "drop the pretence" and scrap the Emissions Trading Scheme, the Act Party says.
ETS review: Where are emissions reductions?
16 Sep 2011
With each change to the Emissions Trading Scheme, the subsidy regime is expanded and the taxpayer picks up more of the tab, while there is minimal impact on gross emissions, the Sustainability Council says.
ETS review: Slow is best for business
16 Sep 2011
Slowing down the implementation of New Zealand’s emissions trading scheme would be a good move, says BusinessNZ.
ETS review: Farm costs worry Fonterra
16 Sep 2011
Fonterra is committed to emissions reductions and will continue to work within the business and on-farm to see them achieved.
ETS review: Check facts, Government told
16 Sep 2011
The Emissions Trading Scheme review report is unjustifiably optimistic on the global climate change response, and the Government is urged to get its own facts before reaching any decisions, Straterra says.
ETS review: Costs will increase, says coalition
16 Sep 2011
The recommendations of the ETS review panel would increase the cost of the scheme to consumers and businesses after next year and are not supported by public opinion, according to the sponsors of an annual survey of climate change opinion.
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.
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.
