New Zealand: Politics
NZ on right road with ETS, says negotiator
21 May 2010
Political developments in the United States and elsewhere back the New Zealand Government’s decision to press ahead with the Emissions Trading Scheme, says Climate Change Negotiations Minister Tim Groser.
Minister's credit allocation powers remain on hold
14 May 2010
The Government says it has not considered using ministerial discretion on the allocation of free carbon credits to big emitters of greenhouse gases.
Business group wants right to use hot-air AAUs
14 May 2010
Business lobbyists are pushing for the right to use foreign AAUs (assigned amount units) to offset their New Zealand carbon liabilities.
Business lobby gives up on ETS demands
30 Apr 2010
New Zealand’s biggest business lobby group appears to have conceded defeat in its campaign to delay provisions of the emissions trading scheme.
Markit chief slams Kiwis' lack of carbon nous
23 Apr 2010
New Zealand risks missing the chance to reap the rewards of the emerging clean-tech economy because its leaders are fixated on the negatives, warns the head of the world's leading environmental exchange.
EXCLUSIVE: Business lobby eyes big role in ETS review
16 Apr 2010
Business New Zealand is telling members that it has the chance to influence the make-up of the panel that will review the emissions trading scheme next year.
What the emitters and minister are writing to each other
16 Apr 2010
Carbon News has the correspondence between the Climate Change Issues Minister and large emiters on the future of the emissions trading scheme.
Drought and slump trim our gas emissions
16 Apr 2010
Drought and the economic recession together pushed New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions down in 2008.
Govt stays silent over future of ETS
1 Apr 2010
The Government appears to have gone to ground over rumours it is considering postponing the entry of heavy emitters into the emissions trading scheme.
Kiwis sticking to green values, despite recession
1 Apr 2010
Politicians ignore New Zealanders' concerns about the environment at their peril, says the Business Council for Sustainable Development.
ETS first step will push inflation, says bank
12 Mar 2010
The entry of the first wave of emitters into the emissions trading scheme will push up inflation, the Reserve Bank predicts.
Government (slowly) gets green-tech message
5 Mar 2010
The idea of a public/private taskforce to develop a New Zealand clean-tech strategy seems set to go before Cabinet.
Clean-tech: One day we won't give it a thought
5 Mar 2010
Clean technology will become so commonplace that we will no longer talk about it, says the head of an economic thinktank.
Beehive still working through carbon free list
5 Mar 2010
The Government is still working out just which industrial activities will qualify for free carbon credits under the emissions trading scheme.
Others dither, but NZ certain about ETS
26 Feb 2010
The Government says it is committed to pressing ahead with the emissions trading scheme, despite uncertainty over whether two of our major trading partners will adopt cap-and-trade schemes.
Key carbon credits submissions close today
12 Feb 2010
Submissions on the way in which free carbon credits will be shared out close today.
Clean-tech pressure group selling its message
12 Feb 2010
A campaign by a group of leading businesspeople to push New Zealand toward a clean-tech economy is gathering steam.
New Zealand scientist helps develop new climate scenarios
12 Feb 2010
A proposal for the next generation of climate scenarios for projecting future change features in this week's Nature magazine.
Does the IPCC need fixing?
12 Feb 2010
New Zealand climate scientist give their views on the call for reforms of the IPCC.
NZ ready to commit to Copenhagen Accord
5 Feb 2010
New Zealand is to submit its 2020 emissions reduction target to the Copenhagen Accord.
No submissions as allocations deadline looms
29 Jan 2010
No submissions have been made on the crucial regulations governing the allocation of free carbon credits to trade-exposed industries.
Blame weak ETS on big business, says Fitzsimons
29 Jan 2010
New Zealand business has effectively prevented the country taking real action on climate change, says the country’s leading Green politician.
Government goes quiet on clean-tech action plea
22 Jan 2010
A group of leading business people pushing for leadership on clean-tech development says Government reaction has been luke-warm.
Treasury gave thumbs down to ETS intensity-based scheme
18 Dec 2009
Treasury told the Government not to adopt an intensity-based scheme for the allocation of free carbon credits to heavy emitters.
Countries suspicious of verification checks
18 Dec 2009
The verification of carbon reduction is emerging as a sticking point between the United States and China.
NZ does quick ETS rules patch-up after Aussie collapse
4 Dec 2009
The collapse of Australia’s proposed emissions trading scheme leaves New Zealand without a set of rules for the allocation of free credits to trade-exposed heavy emitters.
Businesses to have say in allocation rules
27 Nov 2009
New Zealand businesses will have a chance to influence the way in which free credits to trade-exposed companies are issued.
ETS: Shark swallows the Maori minnow
27 Nov 2009
There is a famous story in Te Ao Mâori. It is about a kahawai, not unlike the Mâori Party, and the great white shark. The great white shark said to the kahawai
Maori win ETS voice ... and trip to Copenhagen
23 Nov 2009
The Government has done a deal with the Maori Party over the emissions trading scheme that will see iwi consulted over the rules for the allocation of free carbon credits in agriculture and fishing, and taking a seat at the Copenhagen climate change talks.
Opposition gets ready to mount counter-offensive
23 Nov 2009
A carbon price cap of $100, transparency over heavy emitters making donations to political parties, and bringing agriculture into the ETS in 2013 as originally planned are among counter proposals the Labour Party will put up against the National-Maori Party deal to change the scheme.
Smith: Agreement enables progress on climate change
23 Nov 2009
The Government has secured the support of the Maori Party to enable New Zealand to implement an affordable and workable emissions trading scheme next year, Minister for Climate Change Issues Nick Smith says.
Labour: A 'quick and dirty deal'
23 Nov 2009
Today's "quick and dirty deal" with the Maori Party lumps taxpayers with a $110 billion bill allowing big polluters to continue polluting, Labour Leader Phil Goff said today.
Greens: Deal will cost everyone
23 Nov 2009
Legitimate Treaty settlement concerns are not a good reason for Maori to support flawed legislation that will cost both Maori and Pakeha dearly, the Green Party said today.
Multi-party backing for admin bill to develop emissions trading market
23 Nov 2009
Parliament has adopted a Commerce Select Committee report’ recommending changes to law which will allow the country’s new emissions trading market to develop.
ETS changes mean tomorrow's NZers will pay 84 per cent of Kyoto costs, says council
23 Nov 2009
The Sustainability Council is sticking by its claim that amendments to the emissions trading scheme will mean that tomorrow’s New Zealanders will have to pay for today’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Maori quiet on ETS small print till Monday
20 Nov 2009
Details of a deal between the Maori Party and the Government for support for changes to the emissions trading scheme could be revealed on Monday.
IN THE HOUSE: Maori Party ETS deal
20 Nov 2009
Parliament yesterday discussed the potential impacts of the emissions trading scheme on Maori.
Time for a cup of tea, says veteran Nat
20 Nov 2009
A life-long National Party member is criticising the Government’s “headlong rush” into changes to the emissions trading scheme.
Next steps will depend on Maori Party bottom line
16 Nov 2009
ANALYSIS. – The backroom deal with the Maori Party will determine if changes to ETS law get through Parliament.
Oops! Treasury sums wrong by $50 billion
16 Nov 2009
Treasury underestimated by $50 billion the cost of proposed changes to the way in which the government hands out free carbon credits.
ETS debate might still be a week away
16 Nov 2009
Parliament might not debate changes to the emissions trading scheme until next week.
Dejected dairy giant plans next ETS move
16 Nov 2009
Dairy giant Fonterra is considering its next move after a parliamentary select committee failed to prevent measures that will exclude the co-operative’s processing from receiving free carbon credits.
Goff slams Government's billions blunder
16 Nov 2009
The shambolic process around the Government’s proposed Emissions Trading Scheme has been exposed by a $50 billion blunder by National, Labour Leader Phil Goff said today.
Harmonisation not the way, says expert
16 Nov 2009
An international expert on emissions trading says that detailed harmonisation of the New Zealand scheme with that of Australia is not necessary or desirable.
Greens: ETS something worth swearing about
16 Nov 2009
Revelations that Climate Change Minister Nick Smith's proposed changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme are going to cost taxpayers an extra $105 billion is something really worth swearing about, Dr Russel Norman, Green Party Co-Leader, said today.
National foolish in slavishly following Australia, says Chauvel
16 Nov 2009
The Australian Government's decision to exclude agriculture from its emissions trading scheme is further evidence of the folly of National's headlong rush to harmonise with Australia in this area, Labour's climate change spokesperson Charles Chauvel says.
Aussie farmers out of ETS ‘faster than a rat up a drainpipe’
16 Nov 2009
As predicted by Federated Farmers two weeks ago, Australia’s Federal Government yesterday opted to permanently exclude farmers from its emissions trading scheme.
Error sends cost of ETS changes skyrocketing
13 Nov 2009
The cost of changes to the emissions trading scheme might be up to three times as high as the Government has said.
Vote deadlocked as ETS bill returns to House
13 Nov 2009
A deadlocked select committee is expected to report back to Parliament today on the Government’s planned changes to the emissions trading scheme.
Divided Maori Party likely to toe the line on ETS
13 Nov 2009
The Maori Party is deeply divided over changes to the emissions trading scheme – but is unlikely to split its vote on the issue.
Govt redirects energy innovation funding to solar on schools
Today 12:15pm
By Liz Kivi | Schools will save money, have greater energy security, and reduce carbon emissions through a $30 million Government initiative to put solar panels on up to 500 schools across New Zealand, say Energy Minister Simeon Brown and Education Minister Erica Stanford.
Greens condemn planned coal mine next to protected wetland
4 May 2026
By Liz Kivi | The Green Party says a new plan for a coal mine and fertiliser plant next to an internationally significant wetland is “ecological vandalism and climate denial.”
Carbon removal plans falling billions of tonnes short, experts warn
Today 12:15pm
By Shannon Morris-Williams | New Zealand needs to look beyond forestry and rapidly expand other forms of carbon removal to help meet global climate goals, according to a major international report.
Rotorua extends diesel bus contract after NZTA declines extra funding
25 May 2026
By Mathew Nash, Local Democracy Reporter | Rotorua is stuck with its diesel-powered public buses after a funding snag played a part in setting back plans for zero-emission buses by years.
Govt ramps up war on wilding pines with $79m boost
25 May 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Government is ramping up efforts to contain the spread of wilding pines with a $79 million funding boost aimed at protecting farmland, biodiversity hotspots, tourism landscapes and water catchments across New Zealand.
Govt’s LNG plan puts trade deals at risk, lawyers warn
26 May 2026
By Liz Kivi | Lawyers for Climate Action are warning that the government’s plans for an LNG import terminal and to subsidise gas fields are in breach of New Zealand’s free trade agreements with the UK and the EU.
