Carbon News
  • Members
    • Login
      Forgot Password?
    • Not a member? Subscribe
    • Forgot Password
      Back to Login
    • Not a member? Subscribe
  • Home
  • New Zealand
    • Politics
    • Energy
    • Agriculture
    • Carbon emissions
    • Transport
    • Forestry
    • Business
  • Markets
    • Analysis
    • NZ carbon price
  • International
    • Australia
    • United States
    • China
    • Europe
    • United Kingdom
    • Canada
    • Asia
    • Pacific
    • Antarctic/Arctic
    • Africa
    • South America
    • United Nations
  • News Direct
    • Media releases
    • Climate calendar
  • About Carbon News
    • Contact us
    • Advertising
    • Subscribe
    • Service
    • Policies

New Zealand: Agriculture

International scientists slam NZ govt's proposed approach to methane

13 Aug 2025

New Zealand's proposed approach to methane emissions has again been attacked by international climate scientists, with a new study saying the attempt to redefine climate target-setting by livestock-exporting countries undermines the transition to a sustainable and equitable food system

Climate change policy growing concern for farming sector

4 Aug 2025

By Shannon Morris-Williams | While farmer confidence has hit an eight-year high, concerns about climate change policy and the Emissions Trading Scheme are growing in New Zealand’s rural sector, according to Federated Farmers.

Centre for Sustainable Finance factchecks 'misleading' claims

25 Jul 2025

By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Centre for Sustainable Finance has hit back at Federated Farmers' complaints about a proposed framework for 'green' finance, saying the farmers' claims are misleading and misrepresent the aim of the framework.

ComCom throws out farmers' banking cartel complaint

23 Jul 2025

By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Commerce Commission has thrown out a Federated Farmers complaint accusing New Zealand’s biggest banks of colluding to impose climate conditions on loans.

Forestry can be a big plus for sheep and beef farmers – but there are caveats

22 Jul 2025

By Keith Woodford | OPINION: These are good times for sheep and beef farmers with record product prices for meat, which is precisely why now is the time for sheep and beef farmers to be looking again at farm forestry.

More in New Zealand: Agriculture
Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ... 14 1 of 14 Next

Expert rejects farmers call to ditch green investment framework

17 Jul 2025

By Shannon Morris-Williams | Scrapping a proposed 'green' finance taxonomy before work on it is even finished would risk New Zealand being left behind in the transition to more sustainable systems, according to an expert.

Farmers slam proposed guidelines for sustainable finance

16 Jul 2025

By Liz Kivi | Federated Farmers is calling on the government to scrap its proposed framework for ‘green’ finance, saying it is ideologically driven, unworkable, and risks harming rural communities.

Govt announces $600k package for flood-affected farmers in Nelson Tasman

16 Jul 2025

The government has announced a $600,000 support package for flood-affected farmers in the Nelson Tasman Region, a move Federated Farmers says is a lifeline.

Clear-sighted view to trade-offs crucial to reimagining our relationship with the land

7 Jul 2025

By Nick Swallow | COMMENT: New Zealand could see a 70% drop in the value of dairy land if we pursue our emissions targets for agriculture, according to a new report.

Climate change and energy minister Simon Watts announcing the solar package at Fieldays

Flurry of govt announcements at Fieldays

12 Jun 2025

The government has come up with a solar energy package for farms, a new grass-fed certification scheme for meat and dairy, and a supplier agreement for carpets in new state homes - all part of the annual flurry of politicians’ Fieldays announcements.

Climate change minister Simon Watts

Watts coy about meeting environmental groups over methane target

9 Jun 2025

By Liz Kivi | Climate change minister Simon Watts won’t say whether he’ll meet NGOs to discuss New Zealand’s approach to methane emissions, with five environmental organisations joining forces to ask for a meeting to warn the government off weakening methane targets.

Controversy around NZ’s methane target hits international press

3 Jun 2025

By Liz Kivi | New Zealand’s approach to methane targets has hit international media, with climate scientists from multiple countries penning an open letter warning Prime Minister Christopher Luxon not to weaken methane targets.

Federated Farmers Meat and Wool chair and national board member, Toby Williams

Fed Farmers ‘ready to go into battle’ over methane target

21 May 2025

Federated Farmers say they will never accept a 24% methane reduction target, and they are prepared to go into battle with the government over the issue.

Climate change minister Simon Watts (right) at Fieldays 2024

Climate-denying farming groups attack govt’s methane strategy

16 May 2025

A trio of farming groups is claiming that a survey shows 95% of farmers have rejected the government’s methane strategy.

Fonterra linked to illegal deforestation, claims Greenpeace

5 Mar 2025

Dairy giant Fonterra's supply chain is linked with illegal deforestation, according to Greenpeace Aotearoa, after New Zealand's major importers of palm kernel have been found to be illegally operating palm plantations in Indonesia.

Fonterra announces more cash for low-emission farmers

19 Feb 2025

Dairy co-operative Fonterra is introducing higher payments for farms that reduce on-farm emissions.

Swedish company gets $4 million to help curb NZ livestock emissions

13 Feb 2025

Industry-government partnership AgriZeroNZ is investing about NZD $4.2 million in Agteria Biotech, a Swedish company aiming to slash global methane emissions from cattle.

Govt releases controversial methane review

5 Dec 2024

The Government “will carefully consider” the findings of an independent review on New Zealand’s biogenic methane science and targets, it announced yesterday.

Govt sponsors new methane testing facility

4 Dec 2024

A new feed conversion efficiency and methane testing facility is looking to fill a gap in New Zealand methane research.

Low emission meat products 'simply greenwashing'

3 Dec 2024

A new meat product using bobby calves, that its producer claims will address ethical and environmental concerns in the New Zealand dairy sector, is being labelled "industry greenwashing".

Controversy around methane review heats up

28 Nov 2024

The government’s proposal to align methane targets with ‘no additional warming’ is self-serving, unfair to developing nations, and could ultimately harm New Zealand’s reputation and free trade agreements, according to a new report.

Exports risk multi-billion dollar hit if GMO rules deregulated

26 Nov 2024

New Zealand’s primary sector exports could drop by $10 billion to $20 billion a year if the government goes ahead with plans to change genetic modification rules, according to a new report.

Govt passes bill to keep farming emissions out of ETS

25 Nov 2024

The government quietly passed a bill to remove agricultural emissions from New Zealand's Emissions Trading Scheme on Friday, making no official statement announcing the law change.

Govt accused of kicking can down the road on ag emissions

12 Nov 2024

The Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Scheme Agricultural Obligations) Amendment Bill completed its second reading in Parliament with Opposition parties saying it was a step backwards.

Seaweed can reduce emissions from cattle by 95% - new study

24 Oct 2024

A new study has found that using whole Asparagopsis seaweed as a cattle feed additive is significantly more effective at reducing methane emissions than using the plant’s primary active compound on its own.

Farmers need to get creative to reduce environmental impacts: Young Farmer finalist

4 Oct 2024

By Jon Rawlinson | A three-time winner of the Northern FMG Young Farmer of the Year competition is building a business around helping future farmers prepare for environmental challenges.

Nestlé questions NZ dairy farmers’ carbon claims

22 Aug 2024

By Liz Kivi | Nestlé’s chief dairy buyer has challenged claims that New Zealand’s dairy farms have the lowest global carbon footprint.

UN-backed organisation approves Fonterra’s climate targets

19 Aug 2024

By Jon Rawlinson | The world’s top corporate climate-target verifier, the London-based Science Based Targets initiative, has approved Fonterra’s emissions reductions targets.

European organisation accuses Fonterra of derailing climate action

19 Jul 2024

A European organisation has accused big dairy and meat companies, including New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra, of “distracting, delaying and derailing” action on climate change.

What does Denmark’s carbon tax mean for NZ?

17 Jul 2024

By Nick Swallow | COMMENT: A few weeks back Denmark announced a proposal to introduce a tax on agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

Govt’s regulatory breather doesn’t change pressure on farm emissions

9 Jul 2024

As the Government moves away from pricing farm emissions and looks to reduce methane targets, farmers are coming under increasing pressure from their customers to reduce all emissions.

More carrot, less stick for ag sector emissions reductions?

1 Jul 2024

The Bank of New Zealand is the latest big business to become a shareholder of a public-private joint venture to reduce emissions from agriculture.

Climate announcements coming to Fieldays?

11 Jun 2024

Farmers and the wider agricultural sector gathering at Fieldays this week make the event a likely venue for rolling out environment and climate change policy.

Additional $18 million to reduce agricultural emissions

10 Apr 2024

The government and businesses are committing an additional $18 million to a public-private joint venture to reduce agricultural emissions.

Govt review of methane targets controversial with experts

8 Apr 2024

The government’s plan for an independent review of agricultural methane targets consistent with no additional warming represents “dangerous thinking” according to an expert.

Fonterra launches new carbon tool

6 Mar 2024

In a move it says is an industry first, Fonterra has launched a tool to help customers access the emissions profile of individual products.

Agri-focused board game for NCEA students

20 Dec 2023

A new board game for NCEA students is aimed at attracting young farmers to the industry.

Fonterra announces 30% on-farm emissions reduction target

10 Nov 2023

Fonterra has announced it is targeting a 30% intensity reduction in on-farm emissions by 2030 from a 2018 baseline.

$10 million “sheep of the future” could emit less methane

21 Sep 2023

The government is putting $10.5 million towards breeding the “sheep of the future,” which will create fewer methane emissions as well as coping with hotter temperatures as summers heat up.

Farmers call for methane review based on flawed report, says expert

19 Sep 2023

The agriculture sector is calling for a review of New Zealand’s methane targets, citing a report suggesting Kiwi farmers are being asked to do more than their fair share in terms of reductions.

Govt and agribusiness invest $4 million in US tech hoping to cut cow methane

13 Sep 2023

A joint venture of major New Zealand agribusiness companies and the government has invested $4.1 million in a US start-up aiming to develop feed supplements to reduce methane emissions from cows.

Farmers welcome EPA approval of first methane inhibitor in New Zealand

11 Aug 2023

The Environmental Protection Authority has approved a feed additive that could reduce methane emissions from livestock by 30%.

Govt gives Fonterra $90 million as part of $790 million spend to cut coal

20 Jul 2023

The government is giving Fonterra $90 million as part of a $790 million investment to cut coal use at six of its dairy factories.

Scientists call on govt to develop climate-friendly national food strategy

13 Jul 2023

The directors of six National Science Challenges are joining calls to the government to develop a national food strategy for New Zealand - one that will help reduce emissions as well as increase resilience to the climate crisis.

He Waka Eke Noa all talk no action: NZIEF

13 Jun 2022

The NZ Institute of Forestry has declared last week’s He Waka Eke Noa emissions pricing proposal all talk and no action.

HWEN proposes burp levy with proceeds recycled to agricultural research

8 Jun 2022

He Waka Eke Noa, the Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership, is proposing a farm-level split gas levy as its preferred alternative to pricing agriculture emissions through the Emissions Trading Scheme.

Switching to plant-based cheese can reduce carbon emissions by 50% compared to the dairy version

1 Jun 2022

A life cycle evaluation used to determine environmental impacts, including indicators for climate impact and land use, has revealed that ordinary cheese is a major cause of carbon emissions.

Livestock methane emissions tackled by Western Australian company with 'inorganic bioactives'

17 May 2022

A Western Australian company claims to have produced bioactives in a laboratory that could reduce livestock methane emissions by up to 95%.

Is there room for fruit trees in carbon capture programmes?

9 Feb 2022

Climate change concerns from buyers and regulators are pushing agricultural commodity groups in new directions. Some have even started to participate in carbon-capture incentive programs such as carbon markets. But is there room for tree fruit in these programmes?

Aussie biodiversity market a step closer

19 Nov 2021

Plans to pay farmers for the biodiversity benefits they deliver have progressed today with the Australian Government kicking off the legislation process.

Politics
More Politics >

ETS a ‘broken paradigm’ undercutting biodiversity efforts

25 Aug 2025

By Shannon Morris-Williams | Pure Advantage is calling on the government to reform the Emissions Trading Scheme, with a new policy briefing saying that New Zealand’s offset-heavy approach is a “broken paradigm” undermining biodiversity and shifting risk to communities.

Energy
More Energy >
Transpower chair Michele Embling

Transpower on track to meet core emissions targets

Mon 1 Sep 2025

By Shannon Morris-Williams | Transpower’s total greenhouse gas footprint increased year-on-year due to higher emissions from its value chain, but the company says that making sure infrastructure is in place to enable the country's energy transition is the biggest contribution it can make to reducing emissions.

Carbon emissions
More Carbon emissions >

Marginal drop in last year's regional emissions

27 Aug 2025

Regional greenhouse gas emissions were down slightly last year, with a fall in gas supply leading to a big drop in Taranaki, but more coal burnt leading to higher emissions in Waikato, according to new figures from Stats NZ

Transport
More Transport >

Fund for low emissions transport winds up

31 Jul 2025

New Zealand’s Low Emission Transport Fund has officially wrapped up, ending a nine-year programme that put hundreds of millions of dollars towards accelerating the country’s shift to cleaner transport.

Forestry
More Forestry >
Minister of Climate Change Simon Watts

Certainty crucial to emissions cuts – Watts

20 Aug 2025

By Shannon Morris-Williams | Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says that policy certainty is the Government’s primary lever for unlocking private capital and meeting climate targets, telling a carbon forestry conference that ETS settings are 'locked' through 2030.

Business
More Business >

Climate-friendly investment still lagging in NZ

Tue 2 Sep 2025

While local financial firms have made recent strides in climate governance and emissions reporting, New Zealand’s institutional investors are still missing in action when it comes to backing clean technologies and climate solutions, according to a new report.

More in New Zealand: Agriculture
Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ... 14 1 of 14 Next
Carbon News

Subscriptions, Advertising & General

[email protected]

Editorial

[email protected]

We welcome comments, news tips and suggestions - please also use this address to submit all media releases for News Direct).

Useful Links
Home About Carbon News Contact us Advertising Subscribe Service Policies
New Zealand
Politics Energy Agriculture Carbon emissions Transport Forestry Business
International
Australia United States China Europe United Kingdom Canada Asia Pacific Antarctic/Arctic Africa South America United Nations
Home
Markets
Analysis NZ carbon price
News Direct
Media releases Climate calendar

© 2008-2025 Carbon News. All Rights Reserved. • Your IP Address: 216.73.216.185 • User account: Sign In

Please wait...
Audit log: