New Zealand: Agriculture
Drought lines up corn for a fall
16 May 2014
Maize yields are on the increase in the United States − but so is the crop’s sensitivity to drought. Scientists calculate that, as things stand, crops could lose 15 per cent of their yield within 50 years.
You could bill the beef, scientists tell Brazil
16 May 2014
Scientists have come up with a new prescription to address the Amazon rainforest’s health problems: reduce deforestation more efficiently by taxing freerange beef.
Food crops might lose their bite, says report
9 May 2014
Food crops might become less nutritious as climate change kicks in, new research has found.
Farmers earn environment awards
24 Apr 2014
The Ballance Farm Environment Awards have finished another successful year, with supreme winners from 10 regions recognised for their outstanding contribution to agricultural sustainability.
Agriculture gas emissions on the rise, warns UN
17 Apr 2014
Agriculture greenhouse emissions have nearly doubled over the past 50 years and may increase by another 30 per cent by 2050, according to new estimates from the UN Food and Agricultural Organization.
More CO2 could limit plants' protein output
17 Apr 2014
As global temperatures rise, more than one third of the land surface might become more arid.
Maori agribusiness gets $2m boost
17 Apr 2014
Five Mâori agribusiness projects worth more than $2.1 million have been approved by the Government.
Academic gets funds for drought studies
11 Apr 2014
A Waikato University doctoral student has won a scholarship to investigate the on-going inpacts of drought on dry-land farming.
Heat extremes put major crops at risk, say scientists
28 Mar 2014
By TIM RADFORD.- Rampant climate change driven by ever-rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere poses a serious threat to world food supply, according to a new study in Environmental Research Letters.
California goes nuts for water
28 Mar 2014
WHILE recent rainfall has brought welcome relief to California, the amount of precipitation has not been nearly enough to put an end to what is its worst drought on record. The state’s $45 billion agricultural sector has been particularly hard hit, writes KIERAN COOKE.
Water is the key in a hungry world
21 Mar 2014
Tomorrow is World Water Day. Foodtank president DANIELLE NIERENBERG says that farmers around the world should be looking to colleagues who have come up with innovative ways of using each drop more efficiently.
Burger chain goes free-range
21 Mar 2014
Home-grown burger chain Burger Fuel says it will use only free-range chicken in its New Zealand outlets.
Canberra outlines new farm opportunities
21 Mar 2014
The Australian Government says it is making it easier for farmers and landholders to be able to participate in the Emissions Reduction Fund by storing carbon in their soil, improving farm productivity and contributing to action on climate change.
Public wary of DOC's new business role
14 Mar 2014
Getting into bed with business could affect the Department of Conservation’s ability to protect New Zealand’s fresh water, the public fears.
Farmers remain free of emissions obligations
14 Mar 2014
The Government is all but ruling out making agriculture responsible for its greenhouse gas emissions next year.
Now you can check it out before you buy ... by phone
14 Mar 2014
A new product certification system lets consumers check over their phones the environmental and social sustainability of New Zealand food products.
Eight ways to better manage our livestock
14 Mar 2014
By TIM RADFORD.- British and international scientists have proposed eight strategies to make cattle and sheep-farming more sustainable, to make both the animals and people who depend on them healthier, and to reduce the strain on the planet.
Morgan going to public with water campaign
28 Feb 2014
Businessman, economist and philanthropist Gareth Morgan is planning a public campaign over the state of New Zealand’s fresh water.
Taxpaper faces $500,000 bill for lake clean-up
28 Feb 2014
Cleaning up polluted Lake Horowhenua will cost taxpayers more than half a million dollars.
Energy-wise dairy farmers could save millions
28 Feb 2014
Dairy farmers could collectively save $42 million through electricity efficiency measures in the dairy shed, says the Government's energy efficiency agency.
British farmers keen on Kiwi scientist's no-tillage methods
14 Feb 2014
New Zealand soil scientist and no-till drill manufacturer Dr John Baker says his ideas are being picked up in Britain.
New water moves not enough, says commissioner
7 Feb 2014
Current proposals for freshwater management are not adequate for protecting water quality to even current levels in New Zealand, says Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Dr Jan Wright.
Dilmah founder bankrolls 'green' tea to save the planet
7 Feb 2014
The man who urges Kiwis to “do try it”, Dilmah Tea founder Merrill J. Fernando, has another message, and this one is about caring for the planet.
Drought message is clear, says climate study
24 Jan 2014
The drought that plagued large areas of the country last year was the worst on record, signalling New Zealand's climate is changing.
Study doubts value of land abatements
24 Jan 2014
The full abatement potential of Australia’s land sector is unlikely to be realised under existing policies, says carbon advisory firm RepuTex.
Tiny sensors will allow bees to tell us their troubles
24 Jan 2014
Thousands of honey bees in Australia are being fitted with sensors as part of a world-first research programme to monitor the insects and their environment using a technique known as 'swarm sensing'.
Farmers put weight behind water storage
24 Jan 2014
Farmers say climate change means water storage is more important than ever.
Don't burn crop rubble, says scholar
20 Dec 2013
A visiting scholar is questioning the Foundation for Arable Research's recommendation to burn crop residue.
Mix rice straw with wool and you get ... Mibu
6 Dec 2013
A new sustainable wool and rice straw blended upholstery fabric developed by a Wellington company goes into commercial production next year with the potential to create significant demand for New Zealand crossbred wool.
Local bodies need no-till, says scientist
22 Nov 2013
New Zealand local authorities are missing something when they prepare their environmental policies, a no-till advocate says.
Smartrafts ... smart way to treat waterways
15 Nov 2013
A local company turned to nature to develop a water-treatment system that costs nothing to run, uses no energy and works continuously with minimal maintenance.
Palm oil group agrees on new rules
15 Nov 2013
Three palm oil companies have signed a charter with environmental groups on responsible palm oil production.
Winemakers serious about sustainability
1 Nov 2013
Sustainability is the new normal in the wine industry, if entries in this year's Air New Zealand Wine Awards are anything to go by.
How new food forest courses will add to our larder
1 Nov 2013
Many more food forests are likely to spring up around New Zealand as a new tertiary qualification shows how to produce food in ways which mimic forest ecosystems.
NZ turns away Australian carbon units
18 Oct 2013
More than two million Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) issued under that country’s Carbon Farming Initiative will not be eligible for surrender in New Zealand.
Would you like cadmium with that?
18 Oct 2013
Scientists are working on a cadmium-free potato as part of a response to growing alarm over the accumulation of the toxic heavy metal in New Zealand soils.
Pressure grows to act on Maui's dolphin
4 Oct 2013
New Zealand is under increasing international pressure to take action over the near-extinction of Maui's dolphin.
High Court throws out One Plan appeals
27 Sep 2013
The High Court has backed the legality of the ground-breaking Horizons Regional Council One Plan.
Scientist gets $2m for dairy research
20 Sep 2013
University of Waikato Earth Scientist Professor Peter Kamp has been awarded $2.07 million funding to continue research into energy efficiency in the dairy sector.
Interest in eels pleases green watchdog
23 Aug 2013
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment says she is pleased with the Government’s response to date on threats to the endangered longfin eel.
Apiarists beg Government to bee serious
2 Aug 2013
Apiarists want the Government to take the $5 billion role of bees seriously.
GE scientists deliver clear message to NZ
19 Jul 2013
Evidence presented by international scientists at a conference in China is a warning for New Zealand to keep GE out of the food system, and to focus on understanding the cultural values driving demand for New Zealand food overseas, campaigners say.
Nation is green-obsessed, says farming chief
5 Jul 2013
New Zealand is obsessed with its clean, green image and our bureaucrats have an “unhealthy obsession” with nitrates, says Federated Farmers dairying boss Willy Leferink.
It's not all about profit, says farm report
5 Jul 2013
Maximising agricultural output from land could cost us money, a study out today shows.
Pollution puzzle: We're using more water than we've got
28 Jun 2013
Water extraction levels from some New Zealand rivers now exceed the amount of water in those rivers, a freshwater biologist is warning.
Farming in ETS is madness, says Groser
14 Jun 2013
Bringing agriculture into the Emissions Trading Scheme would be "environmental and economic madness”, says Climate Change Minister Tim Groser.
Farmers slam fracking opposition
7 Jun 2013
Environmental and health concerns over the practice of spreading fracking fluids on pasture are being described as scare-mongering by Federated Farmers.
Solar power access gets easier for farmers
7 Jun 2013
Farmers are getting easier access to solar energy, potentially helping them to save thousands each year on their power bills.
Farmers elect green president
7 Jun 2013
Federated Farmers says it has elected an environmentally aware farmer as its new Golden Bay president.
'Atrocious' and 'bizarre': experts slam Act Party's climate policy
Wed 3 Sep 2025
By Liz Kivi | The Act Party is promising to challenge New Zealand’s Paris Agreement climate target, while the coalition Government’s other minor partner, NZ First, also says it wants to reevaluate the country’s commitment to the international treaty.
Meridian reports worst earnings in a decade
Wed 3 Sep 2025
Meridian Energy has posted its weakest result in 10 years, with earnings hit by a combination of droughts, low wind and declining gas supply.
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
Air NZ declares surprisingly low SAF prices
Wed 3 Sep 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | Air New Zealand is able to source sustainable aviation fuel at between 1.5 and 2.5 times the price of conventional fossil fuels used for flying, all sourced from the US.
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.
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.
