New Zealand: Politics
ANALYSIS: Nats' policy shop - an open back door?
15 Aug 2008
The National Party’s energy policy hits some fairly predictable expected notes – reform the Resource Management Act (RMA), make it easier for new power stations to be built, promote oil and gas exploration, get rid of unnecessary bureaucracy ... but it’s some of the finer detail (and in many cases lack of it) that makes the policy interesting.
ETS equals economic upheaval, say heavy emitters
15 Aug 2008
Heavy emitters are warning that the New Zealand economy is in for a roller-coaster ride if the emissions trading scheme comes into force.
NZ in the box seat on emissions trading, says economist
12 Aug 2008
New Zealand risks squandering the huge natural advantages it will have in a carbon economy if it delays bringing in an emissions trading scheme, warns Karo Group principal Simon Young.
NZ carbon register tests world-wide connections
8 Aug 2008
New Zealand’s fledgling carbon registry has taken part in trials to test international registry connections.
Time getting tight for Government's ETS bill
5 Aug 2008
The Government is going down to the wire on its emissions trading scheme.
BP: What it says over there - and here
1 Aug 2008
The head of BP says a cap and trade system is the best way of creating conditions to reduce emissions.
Words in the House over ETS support talks
1 Aug 2008
So how are the support talks going to get votes to pass the emissions trading bill?
BREAKING NEWS: Government calls for tough CDM regime
29 Jul 2008
New Zealand is calling for tougher rules around carbon credits and investments, saying that governments should be required to monitor and enforce minimum requirements for clean development mechanisms.
NZ ranks high among countries at least risk from climate change
29 Jul 2008
New Zealand is ranked seventh among countries at least risk from the impacts of climate change, according to a new report.
Public wants help with ETS costs, survey shows
22 Jul 2008
Overwhelming public support for help for households in coping with the costs of an emissions trading scheme could provide the impetus to get the scheme passed before the election.
In time, Australia and NZ ETS plans can work together, say governments
18 Jul 2008
Australia and New Zealand have developed different emissions trading schemes because their economies are different, but will bring the schemes together over time. That’s the message from Wellington and Canberra this week as the governments of both countries push ahead with plans for emissions trading regimes as key planks of their climate change strategies.
Tell us how to cope with ETS, Business Council urges Government
18 Jul 2008
The Government would win more political support for emissions trading scheme if it told New Zealanders how it will help them to cope with the costs of the scheme, says the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development.
Maori Party sticks to polluters-should-pay stance on ETS fuel plans
18 Jul 2008
The Maori Party is unlikely to push for an Australian-style buffer against the effects of increased fuel prices under New Zealand’s proposed emissions trading scheme.
Parker, Swan meet tomorrow to talk emissions trading
16 Jul 2008
Australia’s proposed emissions trading scheme will be top of the agenda for a meeting between New Zealand Climate Change Minister David Parker and Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan tomorrow.
REACTION: Aussie ETS no model for New Zealand, say Greens
16 Jul 2008
The Green Party says it is disappointed that Australia’s proposed emissions trading scheme will not provide a model for New Zealand.
World won't buy ETS dream, top economist tells Aussies
15 Jul 2008
Australians are being told by one of the world’s leading economists that the world will never support an emissions trading regime.
Green economy good for jobs and business, says union expert
15 Jul 2008
New Zealand can be cautiously optimistic that shifting to a green economy will be good for jobs and business, as a new report in Australia predicts up to three million new jobs will be created under a green economy.
ANALYSIS: Australian Green Paper: Will faces here go green or red?
15 Jul 2008
ANALYSIS: The Green Paper on Australia’s emissions trading scheme, being published tomorrow, could have policy and political repercussions in New Zealand.
Poll shows most of us want action on climate change
11 Jul 2008
Another poll has confirmed that most New Zealanders believe that climate change is human-induced and want to take action.
NZIER-funded polling shows coalition deal may have to deliver ETS policy
11 Jul 2008
Emissions trading is an issue of great concern to Maori and Green party voters - and the major parties might need them to form a coalition after this year's election.
NZ, Australia emissions schemes sit happily together, says Parker
11 Jul 2008
New Zealand and Australia’s emissions-trading schemes are compatible and line-up on the basics, says Climate Change Minister David Parker.
Frustrated scientists hammer home the climate change message
11 Jul 2008
New Zealand scientists have gone on the offensive over climate change, issuing a 1700-word statement setting out the evidence that the climate is changing because of human activity.
NZIER releases public poll on climate change
8 Jul 2008
New research shows there is little public support for the proposed emissions trading scheme, says the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research.
ANALYSIS: The poll result NZIER’s mystery funders won’t like
8 Jul 2008
Perhaps the most sobering result for the NZIER and its supporters in its June TNS poll on emissions trading is the party vote one.
Garnaut review releases draft report
8 Jul 2008
Australians are facing risks of damaging climate change. Without strong and early action by Australia and all major economies we are likely to face severe and costly impacts on Australia’s prosperity and enjoyment of life, according to the Garnaut Climate Change Review’s Draft Report, released on Friday.
Employers using ETS scare tactics on workers, says union
4 Jul 2008
Employers are playing on workers’ fear for their jobs as part of a campaign to undermine plans for an emissions trading scheme, says the country’s largest trade union, which will today announce its position on climate change and emissions trading.
ANALYSIS: The Labour-National negotiation that should be under way
4 Jul 2008
National and Labour are not far apart on the adjustments needed to make the emissions trading bill acceptable to both and restore multi-party support for the measure.
No horse trading on other issues in Govt - NZ First ETS negotiations
4 Jul 2008
Winston Peters has revealed his negotiating position over the emissions trading bill does not involve any other issue.
Australian managers not ready for ETS
4 Jul 2008
Australia’s emissions trading scheme will be unveiled today – and a new study shows two thirds of business people think it’s justified
Garnaut plan for Australia's ETS out this week
1 Jul 2008
Australia’s emissions trading scheme is about to be unveiled.
Get on with it, unions tell business and politicians
1 Jul 2008
Unions are climbing into the emissions trading debate, using two of their heavy-weights to send a clear message to business and political leaders that it’s time to pass the bill.
ETS bill vote talks concentrating on NZ First
1 Jul 2008
Government efforts to get the emissions trading scheme into law before the election are now focused on New Zealand First.
Questions over SOE-funding of ETS reports
1 Jul 2008
Three State-owned enterprises are in the political spotlight for funding reports being used on either side of the lobby campaign on the Government’s emissions trading scheme.
OPINION: CTU economist Peter Conway on the ETS
1 Jul 2008
Some business lobby groups are in full scale attack mode on the Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill since the National Party withdrew its support for the Bill.
Heavy emitters fire more salvoes on ETS
27 Jun 2008
The battle over the emissions trading scheme continues, with big business today launching another salvo aimed at persuading politicians to delay the scheme.
Politicians (well, some of them) talk but ETS deals still not done
27 Jun 2008
Politicians are no closer to a deal to pass the emissions trading scheme, despite weeks of negotiating.
ETS bonus: $12b and 10,000 jobs, says report by big business
24 Jun 2008
Passing the emissions trading scheme into law will generate $12.3 billion in investment and nearly 10,000 jobs in the next 10 years, but delaying it could cost 20,000 jobs – mainly in tourism and agriculture, says a report out this afternoon.
New investment, new jobs, new wages, new income
24 Jun 2008
The NZBCSB report into the economic ramifications of passing the ETS before the election says that it will:
Who did the work and who paid?
24 Jun 2008
Two of our major State-owned electricity generators paid for the Business Council for the just-released Sustainable Development report on the ETS.
New reports show multi-billion-dollar impacts of ETS
24 Jun 2008
Politicians debating whether to support the Government’s emissions trading scheme are today being hit with two major reports countering earlier claims that the scheme will cost New Zealand vast amounts of money and jobs.
Pressure builds as minor parties decide where to stand on ETS
24 Jun 2008
The emissions trading bill is top of the agenda for most minor political party caucus meetings today as pressure builds to get the scheme passed before the election.
Carbon exchange chief criticises lack of business and political courage
20 Jun 2008
The chief executive of New Zealand’s carbon trading platform is calling for more courage and leadership to make the most of emissions trading and the opportunities it offers for New Zealand to develop and protect its trade.
Little hope for RMA amendment as it returns to House
20 Jun 2008
A draft law requiring local authorities to consider the greenhouse-gas emissions of new developments as part of Resource Management Act consents is back before Parliament, but seems unlikely to have the numbers.
ETS will deliver $1 billion plus power subsidy for heavy emitters over 10 years
18 Jun 2008
Major industrial emitters are to receive well over a billion dollars in subsidies from ordinary consumers for power they buy over the next ten years.
Environment Commissioner supports amended ETS bill
18 Jun 2008
New Zealand must implement an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), says Dr Jan Wright, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. “It’s the most efficient way for New Zealand to adjust to a carbon-constrained future.”
Peters key as Clark counts ETS heads and comes up one short
17 Jun 2008
Inter-party lobbying has begun in earnest on the emissions trading scheme, with National and Labour wooing the minor parties and a planned meeting between the Greens and New Zealand First cancelled as Winston Peters takes control of his party’s position.
ETS amendments tinkering around the edges for forestry sector
17 Jun 2008
Forest owners will take little comfort from proposed amendments to the Climate Change (Emissions Tradings and Renewable Preference) Bill which were reported back from the finance and expenditure committee yesterday.
ETS back in Parliament
16 Jun 2008
The emissions trading scheme is back before Parliament, with new proposals to widen the allocation of free credits and to allow lower-emitters into the scheme.
National's full minitory report on ETS bill
16 Jun 2008
National has released its miniority report on the ETS bill.
The Bill in full
16 Jun 2008
The 328 page emissios trading bill has been reported back to Parliament.
Profound shifts in our changing energy system – new data
Today 10:46am
New Zealand’s energy system is undergoing a profound shift as falling gas production and a dry hydro year reshaped the electricity market in 2024, according to data from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Energy in New Zealand 2025.
International scientists slam NZ govt's proposed approach to methane
13 Aug 2025
New Zealand's proposed approach to methane emissions has again been attacked by international climate scientists, with a new study saying the attempt to redefine climate target-setting by livestock-exporting countries undermines the transition to a sustainable and equitable food system
Marginal drop in last year's regional emissions
Today 10:46am
Regional greenhouse gas emissions were down slightly last year, with a fall in gas supply leading to a big drop in Taranaki, but more coal burnt leading to higher emissions in Waikato, according to new figures from Stats NZ
Fund for low emissions transport winds up
31 Jul 2025
New Zealand’s Low Emission Transport Fund has officially wrapped up, ending a nine-year programme that put hundreds of millions of dollars towards accelerating the country’s shift to cleaner transport.
Certainty crucial to emissions cuts – Watts
20 Aug 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says that policy certainty is the Government’s primary lever for unlocking private capital and meeting climate targets, telling a carbon forestry conference that ETS settings are 'locked' through 2030.
Why climate strategy is now central to business success
Tue 26 Aug 2025
SPONSORED CONTENT: Ahead of next month’s Climate Change and Business Conference, New Zealand businesses are being urged to treat climate strategy not as a regulatory burden, but as a core driver of economic competitiveness.
