New Zealand: Energy
Lakes refill but concerns remain about next winter
15 Oct 2024
Lake Pūkaki returned to its long-term average storage level for the first time since May.
Channel looks at multi-million dollar biorefinery at Marsden Point
8 Oct 2024
Channel Infrastructure is exploring a groundbreaking opportunity to transform its Marsden Point facility into a biorefinery, showcasing the potential of its real estate.
Govt fossil fuel plan will increase costs and emissions and won’t help energy security: Hood
2 Oct 2024
The government’s plan to restart oil and gas exploration won’t improve New Zealand’s near-term energy security challenges, and signals a long-term direction for the energy system with higher costs, less security, and higher greenhouse gas emissions, according to an expert.
Restarting oil and gas exploration risks free trade agreements: official advice
1 Oct 2024
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade advice to the government says that restarting offshore oil and gas exploration is likely to breach the Free Trade Agreement between New Zealand and the European Union.
Energy rationing proposal shot down by MfE
30 Sep 2024
By Shannon Williams | Tradable energy quotas must be in place before New Zealand has a fuel shortage crisis, Degrowth Aotearoa told a select committee.
Govt allows only five days for submissions on repeal of oil and gas ban
27 Sep 2024
By Liz Kivi | The government is allowing only five days for the public to make submissions on legislation to restart oil and gas exploration.
Oil and gas industry slows energy transition as focus shifts back to fossil fuels, says GlobalData
24 Sep 2024
The oil and gas industry has pursued energy transition avenues to decarbonise, however heightened energy security fears amid the Ukraine war have brought back the focus on fossil fuels.
Canadian company looking at Taranaki oil and gas
23 Sep 2024
Canadian energy company Monumental Energy is exploring oil and gas opportunities in the Taranaki region this week in partnership with New Zealand Energy Corp.
Manawa deal: a red rag to a bull
18 Sep 2024
Contact’s proposal to takeover Manawa may make commercial sense, but it is like waving a red rag at a bull when it comes to the politics of the move.
Emissions down overall, despite higher electricity emissions
16 Sep 2024
By Robert McLachlan | Although emissions from electricity have increased, according to the latest data, use of oil, coal, and gas has dropped off compared to the previous quarter.
Solar picking up pace
13 Sep 2024
The solar rush continues to pick up pace with Lodestone Energy starting construction on its fourth North Island utility-scale solar farm near Whitianga.
Rain, demand and prices fall
10 Sep 2024
After more than a month of elevated wholesale electricity prices, heavy rain, access to gas and more wind combined to drive spot prices down to virtually zero dollars in the last week or so.
Offshore renewables plan ignores risks: environmentalists
9 Sep 2024
The government’s plan for offshore renewables ignores environmental risks, according to the Environmental Defence Society.
Offshore electricity generation policy to speed up consents
6 Sep 2024
The Government reiterated the next steps of its ‘Electrifying New Zealand’ policy when it announced its response to the energy shortage. However, it also released details on how the offshore electricity generation regime would work.
Risks and rewards of LNG imports
4 Sep 2024
The move to import liquefied natural gas (LNG), mainly to power electricity generation, has had a mixed reaction among the major players.
Could we use hydro resources to ‘plug the gaps’ in NZ's electricity system?
29 Aug 2024
By Ian Mason | The recent spike in wholesale electricity prices due to a combination of fossil (natural) gas shortages and low hydro lake levels has prompted considerable discussion about ways to avoid this happening in the future.
Greenpeace slams plans for LNG import terminal
27 Aug 2024
Greenpeace has slammed the government’s plans for an LNG fossil gas import terminal.
Gentailers report mixed results amid pricing concerns
27 Aug 2024
Three of the four gentailers reported mixed results last week amid serious concerns about current wholesale electricity prices and long-term pricing.
NZ and UK set to partner on offshore wind
26 Aug 2024
Favourable winds may see New Zealand collaborating with the UK on renewable offshore power generation.
Gas deal done
20 Aug 2024
Methanex took one for the team and a hefty pay check when it closed down operations to sell a large amount of gas for Contact and Genesis.
Electricity Authority looks for answers at ‘tricky stage’ in energy transition
15 Aug 2024
The Electricity Authority says this week it will consider more possible regulatory interventions and release more data on wholesale electricity price volatility.
What can govt do about electricity sector's 'perfect storm'?
13 Aug 2024
As shortages of gas and water drive wholesale electricity prices to never seen before levels, the question is what, if any, interventions politicians might make.
Hope or hype? NZ needs to be realistic about the clean energy potential of green hydrogen
5 Aug 2024
By Ian Mason and Robert McLachlan | The recent failure of a deal to deliver hydrogen-powered trucks to New Zealand, and the removal of a NZ$100 million government rebate scheme for green hydrogen users in the 2024 budget, make a transition to the much-lauded energy technology increasingly less certain.
Meridian plans to ramp up new generation
8 Jul 2024
Meridian’s first investor day in three years was mainly an update on how it saw the sector and its business after the Tiwai Point smelter deal was finalised.
Govt restoring legal requirement to promote mining
13 Jun 2024
The government’s proposed reform of the Crown Minerals Act goes further than just repealing the 2018 ban on new petroleum exploration outside onshore Taranaki.
Climate activists force conference to move online
10 Jun 2024
A planned blockade by climate activists has forced organisers to cancel in-person elements of the Energy Resources Taranaki Forum, scheduled to take place on June 12.
Tiwai deal could lead to multi-billion dollar govt carbon pollution subsidy
5 Jun 2024
Rio Tinto could get close to a million free carbon credits each year under its new electricity supply deal for Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter - a government subsidy that could amount to a possible $2 billion during the 20 year life of the deal, according to campaigners.
Rain brings relief to hydro lakes
24 Apr 2024
Recent heavy rain over the southern hydro lakes has given much needed relief as the major electricity companies reported on their performance to date.
NZ needs to electrify faster - gentailers
9 Apr 2024
MPs have agreed with concerns that if New Zealand does move faster to electrify the economy there will be consequences - including the cost of not meeting greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.
Offshore wind could create 10,000 jobs and add nearly $50b to GDP - study
20 Mar 2024
Developing an offshore wind energy industry will play a critical role in helping Aotearoa meet rising demand for clean energy as well as net zero commitments, according to a new study released today.
It’s now cheaper for Kiwis to go fully electric
18 Mar 2024
New Zealand is one of the first places in the world where electric appliances and vehicles are now more affordable than their fossil fuel equivalents, according to a new report.
Commerce Commission approves Transpower grid investment
5 Mar 2024
The Commerce Commission has approved Transpower’s proposed $392.9 million investment in the national grid, and is satisfied that the identified need to strengthen the electricity transmission system over the next decade is in the long term interests of Kiwi consumers.
Tiwai Point’s future still in question
4 Mar 2024
For those waiting for news about an agreement on Tiwai Point aluminium smelter's electricity supply, there were very few smoke signals from the major companies' half-year earning results.
Lodestone opens first North Island solar farm
1 Mar 2024
Lodestone Energy has flicked the switch on at its first solar farm in Kaitaia, and announced a further $55m capital raise to continue its solar farm expansion.
Genesis reflects on bad spell and the future
28 Feb 2024
Genesis Energy says it will decide by the end of the year about whether it is possible to use biomass at the Huntly power station.
Genesis plans $1.1 billion spend on renewables - while still relying on fossil fuels
4 Dec 2023
Genesis Energy has unveiled its plans to find a way forward using profits from the Kupe field to refresh Huntly as a lynchpin in the electricity network as it pushes towards 100% renewables.
Energy regulators must consider climate - Transpower
15 Nov 2023
The energy sector’s regulators need to be given explicit requirements to include climate change as part of their regulatory considerations, says Transpower.
Commerce Commission should expect backlash from lines companies
9 Nov 2023
There is likely to be a strong backlash from the regulated lines companies at the Commerce Commission’s initial views on their revenue path from 2025 to 2030.
Energy companies team up on windfarm ventures
27 Oct 2023
Manawa Energy is teaming up with Pioneer Energy on plans for a new 300 MW wind farm in South Otago, expected to cost $750m to $900m. And Meridian Energy and NZ Windfarms have agreed to a 50-50 joint venture to repower and extend the Te Rere Hau wind farm in Tararua.
Fossil fuels drag down Genesis Energy share price
24 Oct 2023
Genesis Energy told shareholders that its involvement with fossil fuels was a drag on its share price, but the market was slowly realising the role gas had in backing up renewable electricity for a long time to come.
Meridian looks at offshore wind - warns about ETS
17 Oct 2023
Meridian Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding with European-based Parkwind to explore offshore potential focused principally on the Taranaki coast and is still optimistic about getting its hydrogen project over the line.
National's offshore wind policy
16 Oct 2023
National has pledged to introduce an offshore wind regime that largely builds on work underway in the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, but with a few nuances.
Generators worry about thermal transition
11 Oct 2023
A number of major generators have taken issue with the Electricity Authority’s view that the risks around the thermal generation transition and managing dry years are low.
Outgoing EECA boss on energy efficiency policy
25 Sep 2023
Despite the rapid expansion of the Government’s retrofitting housing for energy efficiency, there is still easily five years of work at the current pace to make a serious dent in improving New Zealand’s housing stock, says the outgoing head of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority Andrew Caseley.
Green investment fund leads $170 million capital raise for solar
21 Sep 2023
New Zealand Green Investment Finance (NZGIF) has led a $170 million capital raise attracting international investors to launch its solar finance programme.
Renewable electricity at record high
15 Sep 2023
Renewable electricity generation was at 91% for the June 2023 quarter - up 10% on the previous June.
Commerce Commission issues 'please explain' to fuel companies over pricing
12 Sep 2023
The Commerce Commission is seeking an explanation from the major fuel companies about anomalies in retail fuel pricing over the first year of monitoring under the new Fuel Industry Act regulatory regime.
Channel Infrastructure’s profit increases, looks to a future in jet fuel
8 Sep 2023
Channel Infrastructure reported increased profit and forecast higher dividends as it released its results for the six months ended 30 June 2023.
NZ Oil and Gas reports higher production
5 Sep 2023
New Zealand Oil & Gas reported a $19.1 million net profit after tax for the year to June 30, down from the previous year’s $25.7m, reflecting spending associated with increasing oil and gas production.
Solar promises slowly rise
28 Aug 2023
After much talk and numerous announcements and re-announcements, it appears some grid-scale solar farms are finally nearing completion and others crawling closer to starting.
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
Tue 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.
Govt to ease climate reporting thresholds, water down liability
Wed 22 Oct 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | The rollback of climate change reporting requirements has produced a wave of relief in corporate New Zealand as managed investment funds and listed companies with annual revenue under $1 billion are exempted.
