New Zealand: Energy
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.
How to build green - for free
2 Nov 2012
The Government is offering free advice on designing low-energy buildings.
Trustpower surges ahead with Snowtown 2
2 Nov 2012
The turning of the first sod for South Australia’s largest wind farm has signalled the start of construction for Snowtown Stage 11, a 90 turbine expansion of TrustPower’s existing Snowtown wind farm, capable of generating a further 270 megawatts of renewable power for South Australia.
Have your say on mining changes
2 Nov 2012
The Government is calling for public feedback on proposed changes to royalties and the taxation of minerals.
Denniston debate goes back to court
26 Oct 2012
A scheme to mine the Denniston Plateau will be back before the courts on Monday.
Poll shows Maori mood against mining
19 Oct 2012
Opposition to minerals exploration is stronger among Maori than it is among the general population, a poll shows.
Mining mood catches industry by surprise
12 Oct 2012
The mining industry is rethinking its communications strategy in the light of research suggesting most New Zealanders give mining qualified support.
Developing countries adopt green energy
12 Oct 2012
Investments in renewable energy continued their steady rise last year - and the developing world is taking the lead.
Emissions cut, but still at high level
28 Sep 2012
New Zealand’s emissions of greenhouse gases from the energy sector fell slightly last year, but overall, our growth remains high compared to other countries, jusat-out figures show.
CarbonScape picks up rich second prize
28 Sep 2012
New Zealand carbon-refining company CarbonScape has been pipped at the post in one of the world’s largest competitions for sustainable innovation.
RMA not all hot air, says wind chief
14 Sep 2012
The wind energy industry says that environmental groups should not lose sight of the good parts of proposed changes to the Resource Management Act.
Aquaflow wins major Asia award
14 Sep 2012
Kiwi renewable fuels company Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation won a Red Herring magazine Top 100 Asia Award in Hong Kong this week.
Europe bulbs ban leaves NZ unmoved
7 Sep 2012
Europe’s decision to cut power use by banning the sale of energy-hungry incandescent light bulbs has failed to impress the New Zealand Government.
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.
