New Zealand: Energy
Renewables yes, but thermal power will win
13 Sep 2013
Thermal power will continue to be the dominant source of power for the foreseeable future, despite growth in renewables, a new report says.
Warehouse switches off energy-hungry bulbs
13 Sep 2013
The Warehouse will no longer sell energy-hungry incandescent light bulbs.
Greens criticise good-news minerals report
6 Sep 2013
A new Government report will promote investment in, and better policies on minerals in New Zealand, Straterra says.
Businessmen join the stars in oil protest
6 Sep 2013
Business leaders Phillip Mills and Nick Gerritsen are among a list of A-list New Zealanders opposing the Government’s plans for deep-sea oil drilling and its crackdown on protesting at sea.
Labour thermal power bid fails
6 Sep 2013
A bid by Labour MP Moana Mackey to bring back the ban on new thermal electricity generation has fallen at the first hurdle.
Solar installation rates trend down
6 Sep 2013
Solar module installations enjoyed a significant increase from approximately 1.4 GW in 2006 to 29 GW in 2011, but the industry has started to move away from the initial spur, according to research and consulting firm GlobalData.
Renewable energy generation drops
30 Aug 2013
The percentage of electricity generated in New Zealand from renewable sources fell last year.
We're switching on to energy-saving bulbs
30 Aug 2013
New Zealanders are buying more energy-efficient light bulbs.
Geothermal projects win new funding
30 Aug 2013
GNS Science has won government funding for two geothermal energy projects that will help to make geothermal energy developments more efficient and more attractive to investors.
Contact decision disappoints wind energy body
23 Aug 2013
The New Zealand Wind Energy Association is disappointed that Contact Energy has decided to exit the Hauâuru mâ raki wind generation development on the Waikato coast.
Official support gives boost to renewable energy
23 Aug 2013
Powered by policy support from their governments, India and Australia will increase their share of renewable energy projects in the near future, while China will remain the largest market in the Asia-Pacific region, says research and consultancy firm GlobalData.
Bathurst can dig up Denniston, rules court
9 Aug 2013
The Environment Court has given Bathurst Resources approval to mine coal on the Denniston Plateau.
Council centre gets high energy rating
9 Aug 2013
Auckland Council’s Graham Street Service Centre has been awarded 3.5 stars for energy use under NabersNZ, the new office building energy measurement and rating scheme.
Treasury cashes in on energy rating
26 Jul 2013
Treasury is embracing efficiency of a different kind – energy.
Human waste helps to mend mine sites
26 Jul 2013
A project using human waste to restore mining sites has won the inaugural Ministerial West Coast Environmental Award.
Gas emissions from oil on the rise
19 Jul 2013
New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions from oil are climbing
Labour seeks help for fossil fuel action
12 Jul 2013
Labour is looking for cross-party support for its attempt to bring back a ban on new fossil fuel electricity generation in New Zealand.
Genesis gets nod for biggest windfarm
5 Jul 2013
New Zealand’s largest windfarm has been given the go-ahead – but it’s unlikely to be built for a while.
Dunne decider on thermal power future
14 Jun 2013
Beleaguered MP Peter Dunne could be called on to cast the deciding vote over whether new thermal electricity generation is banned or not.
Industry sees bioenergy as key to jobs
14 Jun 2013
Legislation supporting bioenergy production of electricity will provide employment and economic growth in rural areas, says the Bioenergy Association.
Carbon price cancels out CCS potential
7 Jun 2013
A potentially lucrative industry in the underground storage of carbon dioxide is being stymied by almost negligible carbon prices.
WWF accuses NZ of hypocrisy
7 Jun 2013
The New Zealand government is subsidising the oil and gas industry to the tune of $46 million annually, an investment at odds with its claims on the world stage to be ‘spearheading’ efforts to reform fossil fuel subsidies, says global conservation organisation WWF.
Look to NZ geothermal power, US hears
24 May 2013
America is falling behind New Zealand and Iceland in developing geothermal energy, researchers say.
Todd takes control of tidal power project
17 May 2013
Todd Energy has taken control of the company behind plans for a tidal energy plant on the Kaipara Harbour.
Pot party pushes hemp for houses
17 May 2013
Cannabis should be legalised for the sake of the environment, says the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party.
Power switch will cut emissions, says solar chief
3 May 2013
Exposing domestic electricity consumers to the spot market would lead to substantial cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, the Solar Energy Association says.
Don’t deafen our dolphins, marine scientists urge
26 Apr 2013
The world’s largest marine science professional body says New Zealand should stop seismic testing in the habitat of the critically endangered Maui’s dolphin.
World wind power on a roll
19 Apr 2013
Wind power surged to a new record in 2012, with the United States emerging as the dominant player.
Hurunui wind farm gets green light
19 Apr 2013
Meridian Energy’s $200 million Hurunui wind farm is to go ahead.
Museum aims high to cut emissions
5 Apr 2013
Auckland Museum aims to cut carbon emissions by 31 per cent in two years - a move expected to save it hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
EXCLUSIVE: Upstream paddle for next SOE floats
28 Mar 2013
The Mighty River Power share float will attract at least 228,000 personal investors – but at this stage Genesis and Meridian might struggle to get more than half that.
NZ firms win solar fresh water contracts
28 Mar 2013
Two New Zealand companies are taking fresh water to the Pacific.
Drought costs power company $2m
28 Mar 2013
The North Island drought will cut King Country Energy's income by about $2 million, as the company is forced to buy electricity on the spot market.
Renewable energy share on the rise
28 Mar 2013
Initiatives aimed at cutting carbon emissions and establishing long-term energy security will see renewable energy claim a 36 per cent share of global cumulative installed capacity by the end of the decade, says the latest report from business intelligence firm GBI Research.
Power plant gas emissions show rise
22 Mar 2013
New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation last year were up more than 20 per cent on the previous year.
Wind energy firm laps up UK tariff deal
22 Mar 2013
New Zealand's Windflow Technology says it has just installed its first exported wind turbine on the windy island of Westray in the Orkney Islands off the far northern tip of Scotland.
Islands eye switch to renewable energy
22 Mar 2013
Most of New Zealand’s Pacific neighbours should move closer to achieving 50 per cent of their electricity from renewable means as a result of the two-day Pacific Energy Summit to behosted in Auckland jointly by New Zealand and the European Union next week, the Government says.
Meat exporter targets energy savings
15 Feb 2013
One of New Zealand’s biggest meat exporters is set to build its international brand through a range of energy management and efficiency measures.
Clean energy tops agenda at talkfest
8 Feb 2013
New Zealand should stop resting on its hydro-electricity-generation laurels and start making real steps towards a clean energy future, says the organiser of next week’s Energy Conference in Wellington.
Companies in court over cost of ETS
8 Feb 2013
By PATTRICK SMELLIE. South Island mining company OceanaGold Corp is refusing to pay for diesel it bought from Z Energy, which charged for the fuel based on a higher cost of the Emissions Trading Scheme than the New Zealand-owned company actually pays.
New wind generator does it on the ground
1 Feb 2013
A new wind-energy company will change the way that people look at windpower, say the company's directors.
Power plant gas emissions drop
14 Dec 2012
The emissions intensity of electricity generation in New Zealand has dropped.
Meat producer eyes millions in energy savings
14 Dec 2012
One of New Zealand’s largest exporters is set to save more than $2 million a year and enhance its global reputation as a sustainable producer through a company-wide energy management programme.
Power company grows home generators
7 Dec 2012
Meridian Energy says it has captured the growing home-generation market in New Zealand.
Get smart with power, says PowerSmart chief
30 Nov 2012
New Zealand could switch to solar energy generation more quickly if the industry was on a level playing field with traditional generation, says one of the founders of a company just named the sustainable small business of the year.
Insulation scheme hot news, say Greens
30 Nov 2012
The Warm Up New Zealand Heat Smart home insulation scheme is a success story that shows how government can work with community groups and local businesses to create green jobs, improve the lives of New Zealanders, and reduce our impact on the environment, says Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei.
Fracking report due next week
23 Nov 2012
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s report on fracking will be released on Tuesday.
Textile companies slash energy costs
9 Nov 2012
Ten New Zealand textile companies have cut energy costs by an average 17 per cent this year.
Wind turbine pioneer finds overseas market
2 Nov 2012
New Zealand wind turbine developer Windflow Technology has exported its first turbine.
Gene tech reforms face political split
Thu 23 Oct 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams |The Government’s Gene Technology Bill continues to divide Parliament, after the Health Select Committee released its long-awaited report last week outlining key recommendations and lingering concerns.
Council buys dairy farm to help clean up Lake Rotorua
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.
Climate reporting rollback raises risk of 'flying blind', experts warn
Today 11:30am
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Government plans to drastically narrow mandatory climate disclosures may reduce compliance costs in the short term – but critics say it will leave New Zealand with major blind spots in tracking climate risk.
