New Zealand: Politics
Process all above board, says ETS chair Chauvel
19 May 2008
Finance and expenditure select committee chair Charles Chauvel is defending the way in which the committee has dealt with the climate change bill, and says that work is on schedule to report back to Parliament next month.
Nats could be punished, say environment groups
19 May 2008
Environment groups are warning the National Party that it could be punished at the ballot box for failing to take decisive action on climate change.
ETS will trim Kyoto bill $909 million, pushes Key further out on policy tightrope
16 May 2008
The emissions trading scheme will avoid a 15 to 50 million tonne rise in emissions between 2008 and 2012, Climate Change Issues Minister David Parker has told Parliament, in what appears to a ground preparing statement ahead of National leader John Key’s ETS policy announcement this Sunday.
Expert tells businesses: Wake up, it’s happening now
16 May 2008
New Zealand businesses that fail to act now on carbon face a real risk of losing market share, with many already feeling the financial impact of the new way of doing business, says PWC partner Julia Hoare.
Official report urges focus on sustainable policies
16 May 2008
A two-year-old Ministry of Research Science and Technology paper has been dusted off because it urges the government to adopt policies that accelerate the channeling of resources into value added food technology.
At last, Nats to tell us where they stand on the ETS
15 May 2008
National will break its silence on Sunday on where it stands on the Government’s emissions trading scheme.
Bluffing over aluminium: EU says post-2012 ETS impact may be 'negligible'
15 May 2008
While Rio Tinto talks of its Bluff aluminium smelter being put on a path to closure by the proposed emissions trading scheme, the European Union says the effects of including the sector in its scheme “may well be negligible” once a new post-Kyoto international agreement is in place.
Angry Greens ask Government: Is it us or them?
14 May 2008
The Government is in the firing line from both National and the Greens over its performance on the emissions trading scheme.
Fletcher role revealed, Government extends credit assistance further than sought
14 May 2008
The advice from Fletcher Building which helped persuade Government to make a further $1.3 billion in emission credit concessions to heavy emitters is revealed in an appendix to the interim report of the select committee considering the emissions trading bill.
Select committee probing fate of refrigeration gases in ETS
14 May 2008
The select committee considering the emissions trading bill is looking into “significant issues” including how to treat synthetic greenhouse gases.
Big landowners take centre stage at ETS hearings
14 May 2008
Some of New Zealand’s biggest land owners today will put their argument to Parliament’s finance and expenditure select committee for more flexibility under the emissions trading bill.
OPINION: It’s time to take another look at our water
14 May 2008
The Green Party has capped any discussion of fresh water exports within the Labour-led coalition, and the National Party views the topic as a kind of Son of Nuclear issue, to be kept well clear of.
Select Committee interim report on emissions trading bill
14 May 2008
The Finance and Expenditure Select Committee has issued an 18-page interim report on the Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Prefernece) bill.
Smelter submission actually supports ETS, makes special pleadings
13 May 2008
ANALYSIS. - The operator of New Zealand’s only aluminium smelter supports New Zealand’s desire to introduce an emissions trading scheme.
Little point in NZ carbon trading currency, says business group
13 May 2008
A second major business group is suggesting that New Zealand should be using international carbon instruments instead of creating its own currency.
Nats deny any ETS deal with Government
12 May 2008
National is denying reports that it is gearing up to do a deal with Labour over the emission trading scheme, and the Government isn’t commenting.
Most Kiwis believe big emitters running the climate change show
12 May 2008
Most New Zealanders think that big greenhouse-gas emitters are calling the shots on the country’s climate change policy, and a Labour-Green coalition is seen as the best combination to manage change, according to a new poll.
New poll: Kiwis like ETS delays but want heavy emitters to pay now
9 May 2008
New Zealanders approve of the Government’s billion-dollar decision to delay bringing transport into the emissions trading scheme – but think that heavy emitters should be facing the cost of their emissions now.
Government disputes $80b 'carbon tax' windfall claim
9 May 2008
The Government is disputing a suggestion by Solid Energy chief Don Elder that it could stand to make $80 billion from New Zealand’s emissions trading scheme.
ANALYSIS: Will Don Elder today spell out his dream for New Zealand?
9 May 2008
What did Don Elder hope to achieve by assuming a carbon price of $200 per tonne and almost nil-emissions reduction – to produce a result showing the Government could make a surplus of up to $80 billion from its emissions trading scheme?
EXCLUSIVE: Top Fletcher officers played key role in ETS policy switch
8 May 2008
Highly reliable sources have told Carbon News that two senior Fletcher Building executives, Jonathan Ling and Hans Buwalda, were the key players in successfully lobbying Climate Change Minister David Parker for major changes to the emissions trading scheme, announced on Tuesday.
NZX chief: Here's our big chance to impress the Americans
8 May 2008
New Zealand has a chance to build a strong relationship with the United States over greenhouse-gas emissions trading by being the first country to bring agriculture and forestry into the scheme, says NZX chief Mark Weldon.
Big players put cases to ETS select committee
8 May 2008
The select committee hearing submissions on the emissions trading bill is in for an interesting day today, with energy producers, users and lobbyists lining up to make submissions.
Government ETS moves will batter forestry Kyoto credit values
7 May 2008
Forest owners expect the value of their hard-won Kyoto carbon credits to plummet as a result of yesterday’s announced changes to the emissions trading scheme, with the likely result that few new forests will be planted.
Stock exchange chief looks to the futures
7 May 2008
NZX chief Mark Weldon says that changes to the timetable for implementation of the emissions trading scheme will move demand from a spot market to a futures market.
Non-committal Nats happy to play the waiting game
7 May 2008
National says it is carefully avoiding “running the politics” on climate change and won’t finalise its climate-change policy until at least July, when it sees Australia’s proposals.
Government allies vent their anger
7 May 2008
Government moves to delay the impact of the emissions trading scheme on big-business and motorists have earned anger from allies, with the Green Party threatening to pull its support.
Food exporters need help measuring carbon footprint
6 May 2008
The poster-guys of New Zealand’s carbon-neutral scene, Marlborough’s Grove Mill winery, say that Government support is needed if New Zealand exporters are to be ready to counteract growing Northern Hemisphere perceptions that buying our food is bad for the climate.
ETS hearings hit Auckland
6 May 2008
Hearings into the proposed emissions trading scheme move to Auckland tomorrow, with Air New Zealand, Greenpeace, Fletcher Building, the Maori Council and New Zealand Steel among those lining up to tell the politicians what they think if it.
Change in policies and pace call after Kyoto bill breaks billion dollar barrier
6 May 2008
Government is being urged to more quickly adopt emission-cutting policies, like public transport and home insulation, to help avert part of the now billion dollar Kyoto climate change bill, while National is calling for "a new direction".
Nation’s biggest newspaper comes out for Forum advice on emissions trading scheme
5 May 2008
ANALYSIS: The New Zealand Herald today came out in support for the emissions trading scheme course advocated in advice to the Government last week by the powerful Climate Change Leadership Forum.
'Enemies' unite in plea for leadership on climate change
2 May 2008
Two lobbyists usually found on opposite sides came together last night in a call for national leadership, co-operation and unity on climate change for the sake of all New Zealanders.
NZIER sets cat among political pigeons
1 May 2008
Two days after being revealed exclusively by Carbon News, the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research’s (NZIER’s) report into the costs of the Government’s planned emissions trading scheme (ETS) is sending shock-waves through Parliament.
Emissions-trading impacts on regional agenda
1 May 2008
Worried regional leaders gathering in Wellington tonight will discuss a report that predicts some far-flung regions will be hardest hit by the emissions trading scheme.
Cheaper for government to pick up greenhouse-gas tab
1 May 2008
A private research company says that it would be cheaper to have the Government paying for greenhouse-gas emissions than using an emissions trading scheme.
NZIER refuses to disclose who is paying for its ETS report
1 May 2008
The NZIER will not say who is funding its latest report on the possible impacts of the emissions trading scheme.
ETS impact ‘like a major war’ – Act leader Hide
1 May 2008
The Government’s emissions trading scheme (ETS) will have the economic impact of a major war, according to Act Party leader Rodney Hide.
Worried about the environment
1 May 2008
The quest to find solutions to climate change is being hampered by public confusion over the difference between climate change and general environmental issues, warns a social trends researcher.
NEW REPORT: 'households, road users and SMEs' carry multi-billion ETS bill
30 Apr 2008
All sectors of the economy should come into the emissions trading scheme at the same time to avoid the “huge transfer of wealth” that will be the result of the proposed scheme, says the New Zealand Sustainability Council in a report out today.
Minister reveals emissions trading scheme to cut emissions by 11%
30 Apr 2008
Climate Change Minister David Parker this morning revealed the Government expects its emissions trading scheme to cut emissions by 11% by 2012.
Tread carefully with jobs, say unions
30 Apr 2008
Unions are calling for a managed labour-market transition to carbon charging to avoid widespread job losses and pay cuts.
ETS will lead to more forests and cleaner air and water
30 Apr 2008
New Zealand’s emissions-trading and other climate-change laws will lead to more forests, better air and water quality and a slowing of damaging farming and fishing practices, but could also lead to increased pressure on the environment and some initial impacts on human health, according to new advice to the Government.
Leaked report says ETS will cost jobs, cut wages
29 Apr 2008
Wage cuts of $2.30 an hour, 22,000 lost jobs and a cost of households of up to $5000 a year are among the predictions contained in a report into the economic impact of the emissions trading scheme, Carbon News has learnt.
High-powered leadership group endorses emissions trading scheme
29 Apr 2008
A high-powered group of business and community leaders has endorsed the concept of an emissions-trading scheme in New Zealand as a way of managing and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, saying the impact on the economy will be minimal.
ANALYSIS: At last commonsense leadership on the ETS is heard above vested interest
29 Apr 2008
Did we last night see an agreed whole-of-New Zealand view emerge on the emissions trading scheme?
CarboNZero for small enterprises a hit
29 Apr 2008
Small businesses are as keen - if not keener – than large companies to go carbon neutral, if response to New Zealand’s first internationally-accredited scheme for small businesses is anything to go by.
Scientists: Stop doubting and let us all get on with it
28 Apr 2008
Scientists are going on the offensive against climate-change “denialist spin”, saying that too much time is being spent arguing about whether climate change is real when the real effort should be going into finding solutions.
ACT leader dismisses ETS legislation as ‘a rort’
24 Apr 2008
The emissions trading scheme (ETS) is just a government money-making rort, according to ACT Party leader Rodney Hide – and his party members agree.
UK expert says NZ policy "a brave experiment", warns world not moving fast enough
23 Apr 2008
One of the UK’s leading climate change commentators calls New Zealand’s decision to include agriculture and forest sinks in its emissions trading regime “a brave experiment”.
Parker: No emissions credits for new renewable power plant developers
22 Apr 2008
Climate Change Minister David Parker says those building new renewable power stations won’t be rewarded with extra carbon credits under the proposed emissions trading scheme (ETS).
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.
