New Zealand: Transport
UN seen as likely choice for airline pollution cuts
13 May 2016
A carbon market run by the United Nations is emerging as the most probable supplier of the emissions credits necessary to curb greenhouse gas pollution from the world's airline industry, according to a group that develops ways to verify carbon reductions.
China and US set for airline emissions clash
12 May 2016
China and the US are set for a fight over the split of responsibilities for cutting airline emissions at a UN meet starting today.
Japan has more charge points than petrol stations
11 May 2016
Japan has more electric car charging stops than petrol stations, according to a recent survey by Nissan.
GM and Lyft to test self-driving electric taxis
9 May 2016
General Motors and Lyft within a year will begin testing a fleet of self-driving electric taxis on public roads, a move central to the companies’ joint efforts to challenge Silicon Valley giants in the battle to reshape the auto industry.
Long road ahead for EVs, says energy expert
6 May 2016
The Government’s plan to get 64,000 electric cars on the road by 2021 will cut New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions by just 0.01 per cent.
We've made owning e-cars easier, claims minister
6 May 2016
Transport Minister Simon Bridges says his electric-vehicle policy will remove barriers that have prevented businesses and households switching to electric vehicles.
E-CARS: Tracey's got one, so has Jenny; Julie Anne doesn't bother with a car at all
6 May 2016
Politicians are fond of talking up electric vehicles, but not many of them are putting their money where their mouths are.
Courier giant ushers in aviation biofuels drive
5 May 2016
The world’s largest express transportation company, FedEx, is pioneering the use of sustainable aviation fuels through a new partnership which will see millions of gallons of biofuel produced from waste wood biomass.
At last, Government to reveal plan for electric cars
4 May 2016
The Government will unveil its electric vehicle policy tomorrow.
... and this is what the country expects to see
4 May 2016
Higher carbon prices and clear government policy are two of the measures needed to get New Zealanders to switch to electric cars, the Royal Society says.
Ontario acts to allay car fears over climate plan
3 May 2016
The Ontario government has moved to reassure the auto sector that it considers the industry crucial to the province’s economy amid a controversy stirred up by a draft action plan on climate change and comments critical of auto companies and executives by Environment Minister Glen Murray.
VW and Shell try to block Europe's drive for electric cars
2 May 2016
VW and Shell have united to try to block Europe’s push for electric cars and more efficient cars, saying biofuels should be at heart of efforts to green the industry instead.
Crewless ships could trim trade’s carbon footprint
2 May 2016
Crewless ships would use up to 15 per cent less fuel, engineers estimate, and could be running by the end of the decade
Germany plans $1.4bn boost for e-cars
29 Apr 2016
The German Government has reached a deal with automakers to jointly spend $1.4 billion on incentives to boost sluggish electric-car sales.
Biodiesel worse than fossil fuels, warn greens
27 Apr 2016
Using biodiesel in transport will increase polluting emissions by 4 per cent, the same as putting an extra 12 million cars on the road in 2020, EU green campaigners have said.
UK diesel car emissions five times over limit
27 Apr 2016
Claims by the UK Government that it is “leading the push” for greater emissions testing in diesel cars have been branded as “misleading”, after a government investigation revealed that some vehicles are still producing up to 12 times the EU maximum limit.
Volvo sets target of a million e-cars sold by 2025
26 Apr 2016
Volvo Cars, the premium car maker, has announced that it aims to sell a total of up to one million electrified cars by 2025.
Shipping leaders back faster emissions cuts
26 Apr 2016
The global shipping fleet should be cutting its fuel use 20 per cent a decade, according to a coalition of 15 business leaders.
NZ Bus going electric will save the capital's trolleys
21 Apr 2016
New Zealand’s largest bus company is going electric in a move that will save Wellington’s beloved trolley buses – albeit without the overhead wires.
Europe’s biggest carmakers are in for a rough ride
21 Apr 2016
Between Dutch plans to ban sales of petrol cars from 2025 and the rapid rise of car-sharing, the automotive industry faces some big challenges.
Netherlands eyes petrol and diesel ban by 2025
20 Apr 2016
Dutch politicians have voted through a motion calling on the country to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars starting in 2025.
Aviation talks face headwinds on rich-poor compromise
20 Apr 2016
A deal to slash aviation emissions later this year risks being blown off course unless it overcomes major differences between wealthy and developing countries.
Global electric car sales on the rise
19 Apr 2016
After four years of steady growth, US plug-in electric car sales were essentially flat last year. However, in other parts of the world, it was a different story.
Christchurch gets first fast-charging station
6 Apr 2016
Christchurch has its first rapid-charging station for electric vehicles.
The case for a carbon tax on airline flight tickets
6 Apr 2016
After years of delay, the international aviation industry is inching its way toward bringing its greenhouse emissions under some form of regulation.
Air NZ emissions move wins global support
5 Apr 2016
Air New Zealand’s move to offset greenhouse gas emissions from its aircraft by supporting the restoration of native forests is picking up international momentum.
Mighty River snaps up latest from Tesla
4 Apr 2016
Mighty River Power is adding the new Tesla Model 3 to its fleet of electric vehicles.
It wouldn't take much for e-cars to ease our emissions
30 Mar 2016
Replacing just 10 per cent of the cars in New Zealand with electric vehicles would cut the country’s greenhouse gas emissions by a million tonnes a year.
Capital plugs in to fast-charge e-car stations
29 Mar 2016
Wellington has its first high-speed electric car charging stations.
Black-out Bridges keeps us in the dark on e-cars
23 Mar 2016
Transport Minister Simon Bridges is refusing to release advice officials have given him on encouraging New Zealanders to switch to electric vehicles.
NZ needs standard e-car charging, says Volvo
16 Mar 2016
Volvo says calls for standardisation of charging infrastructure might help to grow the number of electric vehicles on New Zealand roads.
Air NZ's looking at biofuels again ... but will they work?
15 Mar 2016
Air New Zealand is investigating biofuels again – but an international expert says it is unlikely to do much to cut the greenhouse gas emissions.
Electric car sales worldwide are powering ahead
10 Mar 2016
Improved technology and falling costs are moving electric car sales into the fast lane as manufacturers are now able to achieve significant economies of scale.
Greens lament lost e-car opportunities
9 Mar 2016
Government inaction contributed to the disappearance of the cheapest new electric cars from the New Zealand market, the Green Party says.
Aviation losing emissions battle, say academics
8 Mar 2016
Climate-damaging emissions from aviation will continue to rise despite the best efforts of the airline industry to make air travel sustainable, a new study co-authored by a University of Otago researcher suggests.
Government on verge of e-car action
3 Mar 2016
The Government is about to announce a policy on electric cars - and it might include support for setting up a national system for charging the cars.
Vector adds to Auckland chargers
1 Mar 2016
Vector will open another electric vehicle charger in Auckland tomorrow.
Will self-driving cars make the world a better place?
29 Feb 2016
By ZIA WADUD.- I started learning to drive only three years ago and – inevitably – failed my first test. Naturally, I was disappointed: but then it occurred to me that I could avoid the whole issue, if only I could get my hands on a driverless car.
2040 will see electric-car sales in the millions, says report
26 Feb 2016
A quarter of the vehicles on the road in 2040 will be electric, forecasters say in a new report.
Vector increases charging points at Auckland e-car station
23 Feb 2016
Vector says its Auckland city electric vehicle charging stations are getting busy.
New aviation rules will just delay the heavy lifting
15 Feb 2016
There appeared to be some rare good news this week for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from aircraft.
Are electric vehicles really the best option?
18 Jan 2016
Jaguar Land Rover has become the latest car manufacturer to announce its entry into the world’s first fully electric racing series – the FIA Formula E World Championship.
Breakthrough ushers in era of guilt-free gas
30 Nov 2015
The UK government is giving no sign that it intends to replace fossil fuels with renewables, so the only way to avoid the carbon emissions from burning natural gas and oil is the widespread use of carbon capture and storage technology to extract CO₂ from the exhaust gases.
Greens show green light to electric vehicles
9 Nov 2015
A Green Party government would give tax breaks to companies using electric vehicles and giving staff public transport passes to get to and from work.
Lexus launches hydrogen 'bomb'
2 Nov 2015
Lexus’ hydrogen-powered LF-FC sedan has been unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show.
Cities are the key, says Auckland mayor
27 Oct 2015
Cities will lead the drive on climate change, says Auckland Mayor Len Brown.
Quality emissions key to airline offsets
27 Oct 2015
International aviation could meet climate commitments using only high-quality emission reductions, a new report shows.
Dutch team wins solar challenge ... again
27 Oct 2015
Dutch team Nuon Solar celebrated victory in a nail-biting race to the finish line at this year's Bridgestone World Solar Challenge from Darwin to Adelaide.
Electric trucks are getting a plug
19 Oct 2015
Electric trucks are on the agenda for a transport industry conference this week.
Air NZ backs global carbon market call
12 Oct 2015
Air New Zealand appears to support a global carbon market for the aviation industry.
Lawyers complain to ombudsman over Govt failure to release LNG modelling
Wed 1 Apr 2026
By Liz Kivi | Lawyers for Climate Action has made a formal complaint to the Ombudsman over the Government’s failure to release information about its controversial decision to build a LNG import terminal.
Watts’s last stand: Simeon Brown takes energy portfolio
Thu 2 Apr 2026
By Pattrick Smellie | Energy Minister Simon Watts has lost the portfolio to Cabinet fixer Simeon Brown in a reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon this morning.
Fonterra admits ‘100% grass-fed’ claim breached law in greenwashing row
Thu 2 Apr 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Fonterra has admitted its “100% New Zealand grass-fed” claims on Anchor butter were misleading and breached the law, settling a case brought by Greenpeace Aotearoa over packaging used between December 2023 and April 2025.
Annual emissions fell to lowest in 15 years in Sept 2025
5 Feb 2026
By Pattrick Smellie | New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions fell to their lowest annual total in the year to September 2025 since records began 2010, according to Statistics New Zealand data published this morning.
Wellington planting nears one million trees
Mon 30 Mar 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Greater Wellington’s parks restoration programme will hit one million native trees this year, with the first dams to rewet peat wetlands in Queen Elizabeth Park now completed after a years-long effort to bring these ecosystems – and their carbon sequestering superpowers – back to life.
Businesses look for ways to cut costs in response to oil shock
Wed 1 Apr 2026
New Zealand’s small and medium-sized businesses are looking for ways to ease the pressure as global tensions see rising fossil fuel prices and diminishing supply, with decision-makers mulling measures including work-from-home polices and transport or logistics changes.
