New Zealand: Politics
Go online and have your say on the ETS
2 Oct 2009
Parliament is calling for submissions on changes to the emissions trading scheme – and for the first time they can be made online.
Labour grizzles as ETS changes go through House
23 Sep 2009
National’s changes to the emissions trading scheme moved a step closer yesterday amid threats that a Labour Government would throw them out again.
Back our bill, pleads 'proud' climate minister
23 Sep 2009
Climate Change Issues Minister Nick Smith says that National has delivered on its election promise to amend the emissions trading scheme.
Emissions action can create millions of jobs, says report
23 Sep 2009
The new report shows how action to cut CO2 emissions can increase both GDP and employment in all major economies.
IN THE HOUSE: First reading, Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill, September 24, 2009
23 Sep 2009
Climate Change Issues Minister Nick Smith: Mr Speaker, I move that the Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill now be read a first time.
No-deals Nats would have gone for a carbon tax
18 Sep 2009
The Government was apparently prepared to scrap the emissions trading scheme in favour of a carbon tax if it couldn’t get the support it needed to amend the current scheme.
Doors might shut on public opinion of ETS deal
18 Sep 2009
The public might not get a say on the deal between the National and Maori parties to change the emissions trading scheme.
Labour releases ETS breakdown papers
18 Sep 2009
The Labour Party has released more documents from the failed negotiations for a National-Labour deal on the emissions trading scheme.
IN THE HOUSE: Deal with Maori under scrutiny
18 Sep 2009
Questions over the deal between the National and Maori parties have dominated environmental debates in Parliament this week.
Shock of ETS announcement destroys prospect of policy certainty
14 Sep 2009
While the Prime Minister John Key still wants to do a deal with Labour on the ETS the prospect seems highly unlikely.
Farmers could have gained millions in secret deal proposed by Labour
14 Sep 2009
A draft ETS deal sent to the National party by Labour Monday morning reveals the Opposition proposed a special deal for agriculture which could have paid farmers millions before 2013.
EXCLUSIVE - The "Dear Lucy" deal e-mail from Labour to National
14 Sep 2009
Carbon News has an e-mail sent Monday morning from Labour's climate change negotiator to Minister Nick Smith.
Press conference audio: Maori will now approve any Labour suggested changes
14 Sep 2009
Climate Change Issues Minister Nick Smith has been "left playing defense" over the Labour negotiations, according to audio of today's media conference.
What the Government says will happen
14 Sep 2009
The Government has issued Q and A documents on its proposed changes to the ETS.
Confident Labour sits in ETS driving seat
11 Sep 2009
Talks over the future of the emissions trading scheme are on again, with Labour sending strong signals that it feels in the driving seat.
Personal trading not for us, say Greens
11 Sep 2009
A personal carbon trading regime being proposed for Britain is unlikely to work here, says Green Party climate change spokesperson Jeanette Fitzsimons.
EXCLUSIVE: Here's a way out of ETS impasse
4 Sep 2009
The impasse between National and Labour over the emissions trading scheme could be broken by a compromise over the contentious issue of an intensity-based scheme.
Why not create our own market, asks carbon trader
4 Sep 2009
New Zealand should stop talking about a carbon market and get on and create one, says a leading carbon trader.
All sectors, all gases the way to go, says ETS report
31 Aug 2009
Climate change is probably true and an all-sectors, all-gases emissions trading scheme is the best option for New Zealand, says the committee set up to review the scheme.
National's best ETS bet is deal with Labour
31 Aug 2009
The Labour Party is looking like the Government’s most likely emissions trading scheme partner.
Report lists 34 ways to shape our carbon future
31 Aug 2009
The Emissions Trading Scheme Review Committee has made 34 recommendations about New Zealand’s response to climate change and the shape of the emissions trading scheme.
Dunne: A middle road through complex issues
31 Aug 2009
The Emissions Trading Scheme Select Committee review has demonstrated strong support for such a scheme and gives the Government the platform it needs to develop its position for the upcoming Copenhagen climate change conference, committee chairman Peter Dunne said today.
Business: Review leaves huge issues up in the air
31 Aug 2009
The report of the select committee which reviewed the emissions trading scheme is a disappointment which still leaves the country with no broad cross-party agreement on climate change policy to provide investment certainty.
National: We'll continue talks with all parties
31 Aug 2009
Minister for Climate Change Issues Nick Smith today welcomed the report of the Emissions Trading Scheme Review Committee.
Labour: Big chance for a meaningful ETS
31 Aug 2009
The Labour Party has used today’s report back of the ETS Committee to repeat its call for a broad-based scheme with integrity to be agreed by Parliament.
Farmers: Report is a loaded gun at our heads
31 Aug 2009
Farmers are reacting angrily to news that a parliamentary select committee thinks that agriculture should be part of the emissions trading scheme.
Read the full ETS review report here ...
31 Aug 2009
The emissions trading scheme review is a 132-page report that took seven months to put together.
EXCLUSIVE: Business says no to carbon trade hobbles
28 Aug 2009
New Zealand business leaders and decision makers want free trade in carbon units and oppose a price cap, a new survey shows.
Speculation rife as ETS report faces new delay
28 Aug 2009
The report of the emissions trading scheme review select committee is now unlikely to be released before Monday.
Row as Parker demands House sees ETS report
28 Aug 2009
There was heated debate at Parliament yesterday over claims the ETS review select committee’s report should have been immediately presented to the House under standing orders.
Smith cautious on methane in ETS, bi-party deal
28 Aug 2009
The Government has a cautious view of bringing ruminant animal emissions into an emission trading scheme, says Climate Change Issues Minister Nick Smith.
ETS review body to report next week
21 Aug 2009
The select committee reviewing the emissions trading scheme will release its long-awaited report next week.
ETS deal hangs on Key's response to Goff
21 Aug 2009
National is having significant difficulty delivering the “broad-based political support” sought for an amended ETS by its Climate Change Issues Minister.
Smith hopes ETS will please everyone
21 Aug 2009
The Minister for Climate Changes Issues has told business leaders he hopes for a settled emissions trading scheme attracting broad political sign up.
Agriculture bogs down bipartisan ETS deal
14 Aug 2009
Talks between National and Labour over a bipartisan agreement on an emissions trading scheme are thought to be breaking down over agriculture.
Business warns extra assistance to emitters could equal another round of tax cuts
14 Aug 2009
Adjusting assistance to large emitters in New Zealand to Australia's proposed levels could cost the equivalent of another round of tax cuts.
Groser and Greenpeace at odds on Bonn reception
14 Aug 2009
New Zealand’s 2020 emissions reduction target is higher than many countries anticipated, says Associate Climate Change Issues Minister Tim Groser.
NZ sets 10-20% emissions target ... with big ifs
10 Aug 2009
New Zealand heads into climate change talks in Bonn tonight with a 2020 emissions reduction target of between 10 and 20 per cent below 1990 levels – providing the rest of the world comes to the party.
ANALYSIS: Now it comes down to the ETS deal for agriculture
10 Aug 2009
The Government has pretty cunningly positioned itself in its first emissions reduction target offering.
We'll have to do more, say academics
10 Aug 2009
New Zealand will need to cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 20 per cent by 2020 to avoid damaging climate change, says a public policy expert.
Where NZ stands in the world of emissions cuts
10 Aug 2009
How does New Zealand’s 2020 emissions reduction target compare to that of other countries?
BUSINESS LEADERS: Target will have to rise later
10 Aug 2009
The Government’s opening offer to reduce New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions by 10 per cent to 20 per cent by 2020 will need to be improved during coming international negotiations, says the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development.
BUSINESS NZ: Emissions target sensible
10 Aug 2009
Business New Zealand is welcoming the Government's 2020 emissions reduction target of between 10 and 20 per cent on 1990 levels.
GREENS: Target weakens New Zealand’s prospects
10 Aug 2009
Prime Minister John Key is running from responsibility with a weak 2020 emissions target, the Green Party says in a media release.
GREENPEACE: Target will not go down well with world
10 Aug 2009
The Government cannot expect its emission reduction target range to go down well internationally, says Greenpeace.
OXFAM: Target shows NZ does not care
10 Aug 2009
The announcement today of the Government's proposed emissions reduction target is tantamount to telling millions of vulnerable people around the world that New Zealand does not care enough about their fate to make the cuts that are needed, says Oxfam.
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE SOCIETY: A day of shame
10 Aug 2009
The Environmental Defence Society has described the government's emissions target of 10 to 20 per cent reduction by 2020 as "underwhelming and incomprehensible."
Pacific nations call for drastic carbon cuts
7 Aug 2009
The Government is under pressure over a call from Pacific Islands countries to drastically cut carbon emissions by 2020.
ETS unsettled as NZ packs for Bonn talks
7 Aug 2009
The future of New Zealand’s emissions trading scheme remains up in the air as the Government heads to the Bonn climate change talks.
Emissions target to be set next week
31 Jul 2009
Public consultation on New Zealand’s 2020 emissions target ends today.
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.
