New Zealand: Politics
KPMG: Tax consequences of being “green”
22 Apr 2008
When a famous frog sang, “it’s not easy being green …” he could have been referring to the consequences of being green for New Zealand businesses. As far as the IRD is concerned, it’s not going to get any easier.
NZIER foreshadows grim ETS study in pre committee publicity flurry
18 Apr 2008
The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research has publicly revealed its plan to produce a study at the ETS bill select committee hearings - and foreshadows it wants an alternative policy.
Smith: Government should be ‘up front’ over ETS costs and impacts, criticises 20 day media ban
17 Apr 2008
Opposition climate change spokesperson Nick Smith is urging the Government to come clean and tell the public exactly what advice it has about how much money the Government will make from the auctioning of permits under the proposed emissions trading scheme.
Ministerial press secretaries impose up to 20 day information ban on Carbon News
17 Apr 2008
Two Ministerial press secretaries have said they will restrict the flow of information to Carbon News.
The questions we have asked Minister Parker
17 Apr 2008
Here are the questions Carbon News has asked Climate Change Minister David Parker.
State landlords must go green
17 Apr 2008
Go Green or flag away your state tenants. The massive over-building of state office accommodation in Wellington is designed to ensure that public servants from 2010 onward will toil only in green buildings.
EU officials investigate competitiveness issues arising from ETS plan
17 Apr 2008
European Union (EU) officials from the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP) in the past few days have initiated a program to identify which energy-intensive industries might need protection as a result of the EU's recently proposed tougher greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions controls.
EU will leave ETS breathing room for foreign airlines
17 Apr 2008
Europe will leave breathing room for non-European carriers if their homeland adopts an emissions trading scheme (ETS).
EXCLUSIVE: Treasury responds on ETS windfall, but defers to select committeee
16 Apr 2008
The Treasury reckons it’s easy as anything to work out how much the Government will make in windfall revenues selling carbon credits, but it still shrinks from putting a figure on it.
Government working on eco claim system, Mallard may look at new accord on packaging
16 Apr 2008
Environment Minister Trevor says the government is on a system to verify eco-claims being made on all goods and services.
Business Council: waste levy will will pass, start work on reducing waste
16 Apr 2008
Businesses would be wise to start looking at how to reduce waste to landfill, given waste and emissions charges likely to be levied here.
FINALLY IT IS OUT: Emissions trading windfall estimate now tops $21b
15 Apr 2008
Further evidence of massive revenues - as much as $21.4 billion - accruing to the Government from trading carbon permits after 2013 emerged at the select committee hearing into the Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill in Auckland yesterday.
Auckland airport: $30 per tonne will mean $68 under ETS plan
15 Apr 2008
Auckland Airport Limited says it will effectively face an emissions price of $60 a tonne, instead of $30, if it stays out of the emissions trading scheme.
Clark: Jury out on opponents' support for ETS, climate change policies
14 Apr 2008
In her speech to the Labour Congress at the weekend, Prime Minister Helen Clark defended her Government’s research and development funding, aimed at the pastoral and food sectors - and laid down a challenge to her political opponents to back the ETS legislation now before Parliament.
National scents votes in $700m R and D "pork barrel"
14 Apr 2008
Opposition leader John Key is surprised the amount of traction he is getting from his outright condemnation of the government’s $700 million research announced for agriculture.
"Philips" technique to be repeated in encouraging low-emission cars?
14 Apr 2008
Urged on by the Greens, the government is becoming daily more intent on twisting the arms of the car importers to get alternately-propelled car production off the test benches and into car showrooms.
EXCLUSIVE: $18b windfall for NZ government from ETS
11 Apr 2008
CARBON NEWS INQUIRY - The New Zealand Government’s coffers will be boosted by $18b in windfall revenues from sales of carbon credits between 2013 and 2024, according to privileged information obtained by Carbon News.
ETS will hit steel mill profits by $60m a year - $1 billion investment deferred
11 Apr 2008
MPs have been told a $1 billion decision to invest in New Zealand’s Glenbrook steel mill depends on the shape of the final emissions trading legislation, and the new regime might also lead to the mill’s closure.
So just how does a country go 'carbon neutral'?
10 Apr 2008
The New Zealand Government says it aspires to be carbon neutral but has yet to say exactly how and by when.
Major puzzle for Kiwi ETS pioneers: who pays who what (twice)
10 Apr 2008
Some New Zealand businesses are facing a potential tangle over how to avoid double counting their emissions as a result of the country’s world-first move to include all greenhouse gases in all sectors.
PWC expert: Exporters to feel bite of any EU shipping emissions move
9 Apr 2008
The likely inclusion of shipping in the European Union (EU) emissions trading scheme (ETS) looks set to hit New Zealand exporters in the pocket – and international airline passengers could be next to shell out for their carbon footprint.
No government plans for carbon import tariff – yet
9 Apr 2008
The Government has given an equivocal “No” to the possibility of imposing tariffs on imports from countries that don’t put a price on their greenhouse gas emissions.
The scrap is still on over who gets new $10m a year waste tax revenue
8 Apr 2008
The Waste Minimisation Bill, in the name of Green MP Nandor Tanczos, has been reported back from select committee with unanimous support. It will usher in a new tax raising $30 million a year, if passed
All but ACT voters back 10 year ban on new thermal generation
7 Apr 2008
New polling due out this morning shows 58% of New Zealanders back the Government’s proposed ban on building new baseload thermal power plants during the next 10 years.
UK Trade Minister: tariffs threat could gain momentum if market doesn’t work
7 Apr 2008
Britain’s Trade and Investment Minister, Lord Digby Jones, has told business executives in Auckland that if the market has not got carbon priced right by 2012, the calls to impose border taxes on goods from countries not paying for emissions could gain momentum.
Emissions specialist: manadatry rules needed on emissions calculations
7 Apr 2008
New Zealand’s emissions compliance processes need to be re-examined to see whether they are globally compatible, according to PriceWaterhouseCoopers’ emissions specialist consultant Julia Hoare.
Simple standard will deliver net bio-fuel gains - Fitzsimons
4 Apr 2008
A single sustainability standard written into the emissions trading scheme (ETS) legislation would ensure bio-fuels sourced from overseas represented a net benefit to the environment, Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said.
Parliamentary Commissioner: Biofuel Bill should not proceed
4 Apr 2008
The Biofuel Bill currently before Parliament should not proceed in its current form, says Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Dr Jan Wright.
ETS bill submissions online
4 Apr 2008
The Parliamentary Servicee now has copies of all publicly available submissions on the Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill available online here
Roundtable: Proceed With Great Care: Emissions Trading
4 Apr 2008
Proceed With Great Care: Emissions Trading Proposal Has Costly, Risky, Far-reaching Consequences
Carbon tariff’s ‘counter to NZ’s interests’- Smith
3 Apr 2008
Using tariffs to protect New Zealand businesses from unfair competition by countries that don’t put a price on carbon “runs counter to New Zealand’s broader interests in freeing up trade,” National Party climate change spokesperson Nick Smith told Carbon News last night.
Speculation on MPs’ climate scepticism ‘disgraceful’
3 Apr 2008
It was “disgraceful” that Television New Zealand (TVNZ) should lead a news bulletin on “speculation” that senior National Party MPs Lockwood Smith and Maurice Williamson were climate change sceptics, the party’s climate change spokesperson, Nick Smith, told Carbon News last night.
Greens will vote to ban nuclear credits trading - admit 'laundering' likely
3 Apr 2008
A continued ban on the trading of nuclear emissions credits will have the full support of the co-leader of the Green Party, Jeanette Fitzsimons, even though she admits they will be "eventually laundered" through successive trades.
BILL HEARINGS - NZ ETS "toughest and potentially most expensive" in the world:
3 Apr 2008
New Zealand’s proposed emissions trading scheme is the toughest and potentially most expensive in the world, according to the Greenhouse Policy Coalition.
A slippery sort of "come out of the closet day" of climate change politics
3 Apr 2008
While the select committee opened up its hearings on the climate change bill at Parliament yesterday, senior Ministers launched a fusillade of statements questioning National’s position on climate change, including trying to get some “slippery” mud to stick to John Key.
Report: Carbon tariffs on China could drive industry back to US
3 Apr 2008
Imposing carbon tariffs on China could drive some manufacturers back to North America, according to a new CIBC Coming Home.
GHGPC: Emissions Trading - at what cost?
3 Apr 2008
In a presentation to the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee hearing submissions on the Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill, the Greenhouse Policy coalition, representing the energy intensive sector, had the following to say.
Business NZ: problem with trading scheme design
3 Apr 2008
Business has a problem - not with an emissions trading scheme, but with the design of the one currently proposed for New Zealand.
No emissions trading revenue windfall for NZ
2 Apr 2008
Unlike Australia, there will be no multi-billion-dollar windfall to the New Zealand Government from selling carbon credits.
Parker: Full trans-Tasman ETS harmonisation only one option
2 Apr 2008
EXCLUSIVE - New Zealand does not need to integrate its emissions trading scheme (ETS) with Australia’s for it to work efficiently, Climate Change Minister David Parker told Carbon News yesterday.
Treasury report suggests thermal ban will increases costs
2 Apr 2008
The New Zealand Business Roundtable has released a 15 February 2008 Treasury Report , discovered under the Official Information Act, which it and other business groups say shows the proposed ban on new baseload thermal power will impose uncessary costs.
Who's first up at ETS and thermal power ban bill hearings today
2 Apr 2008
Hearings into the Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill begin today before the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee.
Latest Round Of UN Climate Talks to push Bali Roadmap to next stage
1 Apr 2008
Five days of United Nations-sponsored climate change talks, drawing 1,000 participants in Bangkok, Thailand, will try pushing forward the so-called “Bali Roadmap”.
Air miles, buy-local campaigns “insidious, sinister”
31 Mar 2008
Air miles and buy-local campaigns are “insidious, even sinister” trade protectionist barriers set up under cover of the battle against climate change, former World Trade Organisation (WTO) director-general Mike Moore told Carbon News.
CARBON NEWS SERIES: Avoiding the major quality gap in emission certification
27 Mar 2008
Carbon News has revealed some companies run the risk of paying well for emissions measurement and certification – and falling short of developing world standards. They could also get stung in ETS emission audits.
Call for emissions revenue to fund tax cuts
27 Mar 2008
Australia’s Opposition treasury spokesman last night urged the Kevin Rudd Labor Government to devolve the money it raises from carbon credits onto the states so they can eradicate a raft of inefficient taxes.
NSW weighs flogging the family silver
27 Mar 2008
A furore over whether New South Wales (NSW) should privatise its mostly coal-fired electricity generation capacity has erupted in the wake of Kevin Rudd’s federal Labor government announcing it will introduce an emissions trading scheme (ETS) in 2010.
Greenpeace turns spotlight on farmers
27 Mar 2008
Greenpeace is demanding New Zealand farmers be brought into the pending New Zealand emissions trading scheme earlier than the scheduled 2013.
NZ emissions trading regulations - what's in store
27 Mar 2008
Officials are working on a range of regulations to implement New Zealand's emissions trading system.
The 'official' report on economic impacts of NZ's ETS
27 Mar 2008
As report after report emerges from business-group funded studies on the likely impacts of New Zealand's emissions trading scheme, Carbon news provides a full copy of the Infometric's impact report, commissioned by Treasury's Emissions Trading Group .
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.
