New Zealand: Politics
ETS in place by December, says Smith
31 Jul 2009
The Government aims to have an amended emissions trading scheme in place by December.
Government misreading public mood for free ride for agriculture?
24 Jul 2009
There appears to be little public tolerance for a freer ride for agriculture under New Zealand's ETS, despite a Ministerial claim to the contrary.
Unique online consulation confirms multi-party deal desire
24 Jul 2009
The Government's unique online consultation on New Zealand's emissions target took 70 minutes and six seconds.
Power companies in by 2011, expert picks
17 Jul 2009
The Government is likely to push the entry of the stationary energy sector into the emissions trading scheme out to 2011 and industrial processes to the following year.
ETS review body eyes Government line
17 Jul 2009
The emissions trading scheme review committee is keeping quiet about when it will release its findings - but is aligning with the Government behind the scenes.
Maori Party might support Nats' ETS changes
14 Jul 2009
The Maori Party will today ask iwi leaders whether it should support the National Government’s changes to the emissions trading scheme – potentially giving it the majority it needs in Parliament.
Maori want more reasearch on emissions impact
14 Jul 2009
Iwi leaders meeting the Government in Ngaruawahia this morning are expected to call for more research and analysis on the likely impact on Maori of the Government’s 2020 emissions reduction target.
Reluctant farmers ready to set reduction target
14 Jul 2009
Federated Farmers will set its policy on New Zealand’s 2020 emissions reduction target later this week - but the federation is still holding out for the emissions trading scheme to be scrapped.
Good progress on emission target consultation
10 Jul 2009
The Minister says he's pleased with public involvement in the setting of a 2020 emissions reduction target, business says its meeting was postive...and Lucy Lawless says the session she went to was a blast.
ANALYSIS: And in the red corner ...
10 Jul 2009
New Zealand is in the middle of a powerful, if somewhat veiled, vice when it comes to the emissions trading scheme.
It's a passion, says young climate ambassador
10 Jul 2009
One of five young New Zealanders who will represent this country at the Children’s Climate Forum in Copenhagen in December might yet be lured away from a promising medical career to pursue climate change campaigning.
Big guns open up on 2020 emissions target
7 Jul 2009
Tension is building over the Government’s call for public input on New Zealand’s 2020 emissions reduction target.
ETS review body sets meeting date
7 Jul 2009
The emissions trading scheme review committee will next be meeting on July 15.
NZ climate deniers wed US counterpart
7 Jul 2009
New Zealand’s premier climate change denier site has linked up with its United States counterpart.
Split targets on agenda of Nats-Labour ETS talks
3 Jul 2009
Splitting New Zealand’s domestic emissions reduction target is on the table in talks between Labour and National for an emissions trading scheme deal.
Government won't talk about stationary energy
3 Jul 2009
The Government will not say when stationary energy and industrial processes will enter the emissions trading scheme.
ETS committee sifts through last reports
3 Jul 2009
The emissions trading scheme review committee met yesterday and will meet regularly through the month as it works towards presenting its findings and recommendations to Parliament.
Greens push split-emissions cuts targets
30 Jun 2009
The prospect is emerging of New Zealand setting separate reduction targets for carbon and methane.
Energy sector wants firm emissions targets now
30 Jun 2009
The renewables sector is waiting to see whether the Government intends to present firm policy or a proposed strategy when it begins a series of public meetings in nine cities around the country next Monday to discuss New Zealand’s 2020 emissions target.
Farmers deserve reward, not tax, says scientist
30 Jun 2009
Farmers should be compensated for their work in tending the eco system instead of being taxed for climate change, says Professor Robert Watson, chief scientific adviser for Britain’s department of environment, food, and rural affairs.
Industry counts cost of government's ETS delay
26 Jun 2009
Government moves to postpone the entry of the heavy industrial emitters into the emissions trading scheme will cost forest owners money and delay the establishment of a carbon market in New Zealand.
Labour: Government had enough time
26 Jun 2009
The Labour Party is rejecting Government claims that there was never enough time to bring the stationary energy and industrial processes sector into the emissions trading scheme.
Parties stay quiet on ETS cooperation deal
26 Jun 2009
The Government and the Labour Party are refusing to comment on progress for an emissions trading scheme deal.
Greens fear impact of Ukraine connection
23 Jun 2009
Green Party climate change spokesperson Jeanette Fitzisimons is calling for tough and transparent rules on the type of international carbon credits admitted to the New Zealand emissions trading scheme in the wake of reports that a huge number of Ukrainian units are coming our way.
ETS review body on hold for key report
23 Jun 2009
The emissions trading scheme review committee will not be meeting to discuss ETS issues this week.
Top UK scientist here to see NZ toes the line
23 Jun 2009
The appearance at a public seminar in New Zealand of a top British government scientist this week underlines the importance that the British authorities are placing on whipping New Zealand into line on emissions trading.
Groser seeks progress on climate agreement
23 Jun 2009
Trade Minister Tim Groser says he’ll be using a series of international meetings to push for an economically efficient climate change agreement.
In the House ...
23 Jun 2009
On Thursday, the Government asked – and answered – questions about the emissions trading scheme.
Actor joins Greenpeace to document Pacific climate impacts
23 Jun 2009
Kiwi actress Keisha Castle-Hughes left for the Cook Islands yesterday to sail with Greenpeace and document climate impacts in the Pacific.
Climate lobby wants longer ETS review
23 Jun 2009
The New Zealand Climate Change Coalition wants the Government to extend the time frame for the select committee reviewing emissions trading, and to "clarify its real intentions on this issue."
Dunne: ETS report might be July or August ... or later
19 Jun 2009
The emissions trading scheme review committee might not release its report until as late as August.
Greens get in on the act with ETS talks
19 Jun 2009
The Green Party and National have had preliminary talks about supporting a Labour-National agreement on the emissions trading scheme.
Report doesn't do us justice, says forest chief
19 Jun 2009
The regulatory impact analysis of the emissions trading scheme does not do justice to forestry as a low-cost mitigation option for other sectors, says Forest Owners’ Association chief executive David Rhodes.
Brussels tries to charm NZ into action on ETS
19 Jun 2009
A European Union charm offensive exerted on Australia over the past month is partly dedicated to ensuring that the Rudd government passes its delayed emissions trading scheme legislation in sympathy with Europe’s own policies.
Publisher pushes NZ climate connection
16 Jun 2009
Wealthy British publisher Colonel Derek Smail is using his New Zealand Inspired publication to boost UK-NZ climate cooperation.
Carbon certifiers tense as competition grows
9 Jun 2009
Competition in the carbon-neutral certification business is hotting up, with pioneer CarboNZero saying that newcomer Green Carbon fails to meet the criteria clients should use when choosing a greenhouse-gas certifier.
We need an environment watchdog, says society
5 Jun 2009
An environmental protection authority would give New Zealand more rigorous, science-based decisions on projects of national significance, says the Environmental Defence Society.
Govt delays setting emissions target again, says Greenpeace
2 Jun 2009
With only five months to go until the crucial UN climate talks in Copenhagen, the New Zealand Government has announced another delay in setting an emissions reduction target, says Greenpeace.
Budget fund boost for ETS another sign it will stay
29 May 2009
A massive Budget boost in funding for the emissions trading scheme is being seen as a sign that the ETS is here to stay.
Climate change outburst embarrasses Act
29 May 2009
The Act Party is distancing itself from a statement made in its name yesterday in which National Party MPs were told they would “introduce an emissions trading scheme at their peril."
Act must back ETS, says forest owner
29 May 2009
The Act Party must embrace the emissions trading scheme, says Malborough forest owner and ex-Act supporter Michael Cambridge.
$470 million NZ Units spend in the next year
29 May 2009
The Government is providing to boost spending on allocating New Zealand Units from $22 million to more than $470 million in the next financial year.
Business amoral on climate change, says Morgan
26 May 2009
New Zealand cannot rely on business to take a moral position on climate change because it is motivated by optimising profit, says economist Gareth Morgan.
Academic slams our lack of climate research
26 May 2009
New Zealand needs to invest in economic analysis if it is to keep up with climate change research being done offshore, says one of our leading climate scientists.
Business group's climate change voice remains hushed
26 May 2009
The Stephen Tindall–led Climate Change Leadership Forum’s bid to keep working seems to have sunk like a stone.
Our ETS already up and running, says law firm
26 May 2009
A publicly issued backgrounder on the emissions trading scheme by a top-tier law firm is being taken by some to represent a semi-official policy statement to the effect that the ETS is long past the point of no return.
Smith delivers significant pro-ETS policy steer
22 May 2009
National still prefers an emissions trading scheme and has hinted at ways in which the scheme can be ‘harmonised’ with Australia’s.
New book, new challenge to climate change
22 May 2009
A book to be launched in Wellington at the end of the month is expected to challenge conventional wisdom about the applied politics of climate change.
GREENS 1: New Deal creates 42,000 jobs
15 May 2009
At least 42,000 jobs could be created under a Green New Deal proposal just released by the Greens.
GREENS 2: 6000 state houses, planting waterways
15 May 2009
The Green Party’s Green Stimulus Package involves building 6000 new state houses, fencing off and planting rural waterways, initiatives to improve the energy efficiency of homes, schools and businesses, waste reduction schemes, and improved public transport.
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.
