New Zealand: Transport
Nat's transport plan a fantasy, say Greens
20 Jun 2014
National's transport budget for the next decade is a fantasy plan that pretends climate change doesn’t exist and locks New Zealanders into their cars for the next 50 years, the Green Party says.
Scientists find simple way to produce biofuel
13 Jun 2014
Scientists in the United States claim they have developed a simple, one-step process that turns plant tissue into biofuel.
Our new planes cut carbon, says Air NZ
6 Jun 2014
Air New Zealand says its new aeroplanes will help it to cut carbon emissions.
Wellington mayor gets hands-on with China's electric buses
6 Jun 2014
Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown has taken the wheel of an electric bus.
Climate change? She'll be right, says Shell
30 May 2014
Shell, the world’s largest oil company, believes that governments will not damage its business by taking rapid action on climate change, and says all its oil reserves will be needed and sold at a profit.
Look, ma, no hands ... Google car could be a threat, says GM
30 May 2014
Google dropped its driverless car on the motor world this week and the concept immediately won praise from a leading industry executive.
Be very wary of oil, report urges big investors
9 May 2014
Investors are being urged to warn oil companies that they are risking trillions of dollars in exploiting oil fields that will probably never be profitable − and to consider selling their shares if the companies fail to listen to them.
It's time to put non-edible biomass to work
2 May 2014
Bioenergy and biofuels have an important role to play in lowering the use of carbon-intensive fossil fuels – a point underscored by the IPCC report which confirmed the need for further research to improve such technology. By ADAM LEE, Professor of Sustainable Chemistry, and KAREN WILSON, Professor of Catalysis and Research Director, of Aston University, Birmingham.
On yer bike ... Copenhagen shows the way for European cities
17 Apr 2014
More than 76,600 people could become employed by green transportation businesses, and 10,000 lives would be saved, if major European cities adopted Copenhagen's bicycle sharing system, says a new report.
How sail is catching up with the fossil-fuel ships
11 Apr 2014
Ship transport is energy efficient, but it is also a significant source of emissions because of the globalised world huge transportation needs. In large measure, these vessels are powered with high-sulphur fossil fuels.
Tyres can save fuel, says consumer watchdog
11 Apr 2014
Choosing tyres which grip well but are also fuel efficient can save money and reduce carbon emissions, says Consumer NZ.
Airlines wrestle with demands of climate change
11 Apr 2014
By LYNETTE DRAY.- Although aviation emissions contribute only 3 to 5 per cent of the total impact on the planet’s climate, this is steadily growing and is a surprisingly intractable problem to solve.
Z Energy goes it alone with $21 million biodiesel plant to supply local market
4 Apr 2014
A commercial-scale biodiesel project nearly stymied by the withdrawal of Government support is to go ahead.
Tax credits deal fuels LanzaTech move to Illinois
4 Apr 2014
NEW ZEALAND clean-tech company LanzaTech has been lured to Illinois with more than $US1 million worth of tax credits.
Biofuels not a lasting solution, warns report
4 Apr 2014
By DOUGLAS CRAWFORD-BROWN.- Biofuels alone are unsustainable, but can still help to combat climate change.
Europe puts off decision on aviation emissions
4 Apr 2014
EUROPE has postponed action to regulate international aviation emissions.
Z Energy on fuels project sideline
28 Mar 2014
ONE OF THE companies involved in a $13.5 million project investigating the viability of turning wood waste into biofuel says it is not involved in the NXT Fuels project.
Brm, brm ...move over, brick, there's a streamliner coming through
28 Mar 2014
By KIERAN COOKE.- The European Parliament has voted in favour of changing the design of goods lorries throughout the EU - from their present brick shape to a more streamlined-looking vehicle.
Foreign airlines should pay, say Europe lawmakers
21 Mar 2014
Flights to and from Europe should not be exempted from Europe’s emissions trading scheme, the Environment and Public Health Committee of the European Parliament says.
Europe must get serious about cutting back oil
7 Mar 2014
By ALEX KIRBY, London.- Europe has the technology and the raw material to make a big cut in the amount of oil its transport uses, researchers say - but it will fail to reap the benefits on offer unless the European Union comes up with more radical policies.
Costly, toxic and slow to charge? Busting electric car myths
21 Feb 2014
By THOMAS BRAUNL. Cars are the second most expensive investment after the family home, a status symbol and, in some cases — just visit a major motor show — a love affair.
Why the big boys are serious about carbon pricing
7 Feb 2014
Several of the largest international oil companies, along with other major companies, are taking the prospect of international carbon pricing seriously, writes BARRY NAUGHTON.
Court throws out Taranaki drilling challenge
20 Dec 2013
The High Court has dismissed Greenpeace's challenge to the EPA's decision over Anadarko's oil exploration in the Taranaki Basin.
Airways opens green routes
20 Dec 2013
Seven "green" aviation routes have been introduced across Asia Pacific.
Diesel additive has new outlet
20 Dec 2013
A second truck stop is to sell Z Energy’s low-emissions diesel additive.
NXT biofuels project excites retail chain
6 Dec 2013
The NXT Fuels biofuels refinery project could be a breakthrough for the industry, says fuel retailer Gull New Zealand.
Motoring club takes prize for energy efficiency
29 Nov 2013
An motoring organisation has earned national recognition for leading the way with energy-efficient buildings and cutting carbon emissions in Australia.
Brownlee talking brainy transport systems
22 Nov 2013
New Zealand is moving to intelligent transport.
Toyota finds green is good for business
25 Oct 2013
Toyota dealers throughout New Zealand say business has increased since they went green and cut electricity consumption by more than a million kilowatts.
US biodiesel set to pass billion-gallon mark
18 Oct 2013
The United States biodiesel industry is on pace to produce more than the 1.28 billion gallons set under the Renewable Fuels Standard for this year.
Where's the Kiwi vision, asks IPCC author
11 Oct 2013
New Zealand could substantially cut greenhouse emissions from transport but lacks the vision to do so.
Expert dismisses Wellington rail plan
11 Oct 2013
Wellington’s Public Transport Spine Study is not backed by science and should be dismissed, says an international expert in sustainability.
Waikato students set to tackle Outback in e-car
20 Sep 2013
A group of University of Waikato mechanical engineering students have unveiled their masterpiece – an electric car they will race 3000km from Darwin to Adelaide over six days next month.
Production of biodiesel falls
30 Aug 2013
Production of biodiesel fell after the Government scrapped the Biodiesel Grant Scheme last year.
Expert slams our motorway madness
30 Aug 2013
New Zealand is one of the last countries in the world still building motorways as the solution to urban congestion, a visiting expert says.
Biofuel brokers welcome Beehive backing
2 Aug 2013
The bioenergy industry is welcoming Government support of a wood-waste-to-biofuel pilot.
Air NZ loses place on clean-green list
12 Jul 2013
Air New Zealand is not the most environmentally friendly airline flying Australasian skies.
Service stations to boast 'bintainers'
5 Jul 2013
BP and Coca-Cola Amatil New Zealand have joined forces with the Love NZ brand to bring forecourt recycling to the South Island.
Air NZ to refuse shark-fin freight
28 Jun 2013
Air New Zealand has bowed to pressure and will no longer freight shark fins.
Bombs rule the road as Kiwis steer clear of greener cars
28 Jun 2013
New Zealanders can’t afford to upgrade to low-emissions cars, a vehicle industry commentator says.
Toyota heads off the green-car pack
21 Jun 2013
Car makers are dominating global green-branding efforts.
Air NZ in Paris to show off new green aircraft
21 Jun 2013
Air New Zealand's new Airbus A320s will each produce 250 tonnes less of carbon-equivalent emissions a year than the airline's current planes do.
More motorways absurd idea, say Greens
24 May 2013
The revenue from increased petrol taxes should be spent on public transport, the Green Party says.
More motorways great idea, says National
24 May 2013
Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee says that building more roads is good for the environment.
Biodiesel NZ good buy, says new owner
15 Mar 2013
Christchurch shipping executive Andrew Stark does not agree with political claims that Biodiesel NZ is a bad investment.
NZ 'solution' wrong, says researcher
15 Mar 2013
New Zealand’s “solution” to Tokelau’s shipping problems will commit the islands to a future dependent on fossil fuels, says a researcher who believes the Pacific could be serviced by ships using renewable energy.
Airport sets high energy cut goals
1 Mar 2013
Auckland Airport wants to cut energy use by 20 per cent per passenger by 2020.
Memo Phil: Sydney loves the Leaf
15 Feb 2013
They might be too expensive for former Energy Minister Phil Heatley, but Sydney’s Lord Mayor is embracing them.
Companies link to build fuel demo plant
15 Feb 2013
Development of a large-scale wood-to-biofuel plant in New Zealand came a step closer this week with the announcement that Z Energy and Norske Skog want to build a demonstration plant.
Former employees buy biofuels maker
15 Feb 2013
Solid Energy’s biofuels production company has been sold to two of its former employees.
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.
