New Zealand: Energy
Major powerco sets pace for fall in emissions
31 Jan 2014
New Zealand's greenhouse-gas emissions from energy have fallen on the back of a massive cut from our single largest emitter.
All power to Scottish tides, say engineers
31 Jan 2014
Renewable tidal energy sufficient to power about half of Scotland could be harnessed from a single stretch of water off the north coast of the country, engineers say.
Database updates how we use energy
24 Jan 2014
An updated picture of how New Zealanders use energy is now available, showing where and how energy is used and a snapshot of how energy use is changing.
So, if the carbon tax isn't working, what is?
24 Jan 2014
Melbourne Energy Institute director MIKE SANDIFORD asks the Abbott Government to explain:
China tops wind turbine installations
24 Jan 2014
China will remain the leading global consumer of wind turbine rotor blades over the coming years, a new international report says.
Fuels emissions levels show increase
20 Dec 2013
New Zealand's emissions from liquid fuels rose over the September quarter, latest figures show.
Sydney set to paint the town ... green
13 Dec 2013
Green thumbs across Sydney are being encouraged to reach for the sky under the City of Sydney’s new green roofs and walls policy.
Govt has way to aid clean-tech pioneers, says Labour
6 Dec 2013
The Government could use its buying power to support New Zealand’s clean-tech pioneers, the Labour Party says.
Wind industry wants gas turned down
6 Dec 2013
The wind energy industry is calling for New Zealand’s baseload gas-fired generation to be retired to converted to peaker plants.
Stationary fuel cell market set to boom
6 Dec 2013
The stationary fuel cell market is forecast to show massive growth, climbing from $390m in 2012 to $7.52 billion by 2020, a new report shows.
Future bright for small-wind power, says study
29 Nov 2013
The small-wind power market is expected to increase massively, from $609m in 2012 to $3 billion by 2020, says a new report.
Australia to ease environment path for drillers
29 Nov 2013
The Australian Government has made progress on establishing a one-stop-shop environmental approval process for offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage activities with the release of two draft reports for public comment.
NZI Centre wins top sustainability rating
29 Nov 2013
Auckland’s NZI Centre has been awarded a five-star ‘market leading’ base building Certified Rating for energy use under NABERSNZTM, the office building energy rating scheme.
EXCLUSIVE: Biofuels pioneer wants to go into production with refinery in NZ
22 Nov 2013
A New Zealand second generation-biofuels company is in the market for funding to build a refinery.
More and more Aussie offices going green
22 Nov 2013
Australia's CitySwitch Green Office programme has topped two million square metres.
How Australia deals with carbon and electricity
22 Nov 2013
Westpac's head of electricity trading, CONNELL BURKE, explains the links between carbon and electricity in the Australian market:
CCS will be big, say energy leaders
15 Nov 2013
Carbon capture and storage will be a major part of plans to combat climate change, say the world’s energy and environment ministers.
WANTED: Projects that are changing our lives
15 Nov 2013
The hunt is on for projects that are changing for the better the way New Zealanders use energy.
New carbon capture projects get go-ahead
8 Nov 2013
Five new carbon capture and storage projects have been approved.
NZ gas fireplace wins accolades
8 Nov 2013
A New Zealand-designed gas fireplace has been recognised as the most efficient in Europe.
Energy leaders to talk carbon capture
1 Nov 2013
Advances in carbon capture and storage technologies will be on the agenda at a high-powered meeting of the world's energy ministers and business leaders next week.
Why Sydney wants to bend the power rules
25 Oct 2013
The City of Sydney is pushing for new rules to make low-carbon trigeneration affordable.
Solar revolution carries huge financial pain
18 Oct 2013
An imminent revolution in the use of solar energy poses a huge financial risk to the Government and energy companies, an industry pioneer says.
Big users keen on cutting energy costs
18 Oct 2013
Big energy users are looking for ways to reduce energy use and costs, Statistics New Zealand says.
Lightbulbs get the recycling treatment ... but not here
18 Oct 2013
Sydney has launched a city-wide lightbulb recycling system – but there are no plans to do the same for the millions of bulbs that come into New Zealand each year.
Hydro power heads for growth period
18 Oct 2013
The world's hydropower installed capacity is expected to rise by 3.5 per cent by 2020, a new report says.
Obama's coal power call tougher than ours
11 Oct 2013
Emissions controls on new thermal power plants in the United States would not be met by most New Zealand plants.
Greens vow to bring power to the people
11 Oct 2013
The Green Party says it would implement policies promoting small-scale distributed energy generation, such making it more affordable for families to install solar panels on roofs.
Nuclear energy left behind, says report
11 Oct 2013
Nuclear power is the only mainstream energy technology that does not show significant growth, the Worldwatch Institute says.
Obama's strategy guru joins LanzaTech
4 Oct 2013
Digital communications strategist and Obama 2012 campaign manager Jim Messina is applying his talents to New Zealand-born LanzaTech.
We're thinking solar, say power people
4 Oct 2013
On and off-grid solar capacity in New Zealand has grown 370 per cent over the past two years, the Sustainable Electricity Association says.
Home-energy firm wins UK accolade
4 Oct 2013
A Wellington-based home-energy efficient company has been recognised as part of the fastest-growing business in Britain.
True carbon price bioenergy aid, says expert
27 Sep 2013
A realistic carbon price and support from large companies would help to propel bioenergy from a good idea to reality, says one of our leading experts.
100% Pure? We're ranked at a lowly 36
27 Sep 2013
“100% Pure” New Zealand ranks at just 36th in the world when it comes to environmental sustainability, according to a new international energy report.
Business better, gas emissions worse
27 Sep 2013
New Zealand’s strengthening economy is showing in our carbon emissions.
Power rental market expects the best
20 Sep 2013
Emissions regulations could have an impact on the booming global power rental market, a new report says
Smart Sydney landlords save millions
20 Sep 2013
Sydney's major commercial office landlords are saving more than $25 million a year on their electricity bills, thanks to more energy-efficient buildings.
Waterfront building becomes a star
13 Sep 2013
One of New Zealand’s leading sustainable buildings has achieved a market-leading NABERSNZ rating for energy performance.
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.
Green building council calls for clean energy policies
18 May 2026
The New Zealand Green Building Council has released its 2026 election manifesto calling for policies to reduce energy waste in buildings, lower household and business energy costs, and improve New Zealand’s energy security.
Greens condemn planned coal mine next to protected wetland
4 May 2026
By Liz Kivi | The Green Party says a new plan for a coal mine and fertiliser plant next to an internationally significant wetland is “ecological vandalism and climate denial.”
Climate pollution static but NZ still on track for first emissions budget, says MfE
17 Apr 2026
By Liz Kivi | New Zealand is still on track to meet its first emissions budget, according to the Ministry for the Environment, despite the pace of emissions reductions slowing to a standstill.
NZ at risk of falling behind on EV transition
Fri 22 May 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | An EV lobby group is warning that New Zealand is at a crossroads on transport electrification, with inconsistent policy settings and lagging charging infrastructure slowing uptake, while global adoption accelerates and fuel price shocks renew interest in electric vehicles.
Govt presses ahead with forestry rule changes despite opposition
14 May 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Government is pushing ahead with changes to commercial forestry rules despite most submitters opposing the proposals, with critics warning the reforms will weaken councils’ ability to manage erosion and forestry slash risks in vulnerable regions such as Tairāwhiti.
Victorian Hydrogen announces Southland urea fertiliser project using coal
22 Apr 2026
By Liz Kivi | Australian-based Victorian Hydrogen has announced it is developing a new 1.5 million-tonne-a-year urea fertiliser operation in Southland, which it will apply for under fast-track legislation.
