New Zealand: All stories
Commission urges Govt action on climate risks
Today 11:45am
By Liz Kivi | Climate change currently poses major risks to our water infrastructure with “significant gaps” in readiness to manage risks and increasing hazards, according to the Climate Change Commission.
Energy system debate to headline Electrify Queenstown
Today 11:45am
A major political debate on the future of New Zealand’s energy system will take centre stage at Electrify Queenstown 2026, as policymakers and industry figures gather to map the country’s path toward electrification.
Climate change driving rising stroke risk, experts warn
Today 11:45am
Climate change is increasing the risk of stroke and related deaths, with extreme heat and other environmental factors posing growing threats to brain health, says Professor Anna Ranta of the University of Otago.
Methanexit: writing on the wall for NZ’s biggest gas user
Wed 6 May 2026
By Liz Kivi | New Zealand’s biggest fossil gas user, Methanex, is expected to stop production by the end of this year, with the company confirming its Motunui methanol operation won’t survive Māui gas field’s closure.
Ōmokoroa trial to test smarter power use
Wed 6 May 2026
Powerco and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority are launching a trial in Ōmokoroa, Bay of Plenty, to test how shifting electricity use away from peak times could ease pressure on the network and reduce costs.
Cross-sector wānanga focuses on coordinated climate action
Wed 6 May 2026
Representatives from iwi, business, government and community organisations have gathered in Tāmaki Makaurau for a cross-sector wānanga aimed at aligning efforts and accelerating action on climate change.
Drop in ETS forestry registrations
Tue 5 May 2026
By Liz Kivi | ETS forestry registrations have dropped off this year, with the new mandatory emissions return period, new land-use rules, and carbon price volatility all meaning participants aren’t rushing to register forestry in the emissions trading scheme.
Tairāwhiti deserves better than weakened forestry rules
Tue 5 May 2026
OPINION: The government's proposed amendments to forestry standards, released yesterday, ignore the hard lessons learned in our region and ignore the voices that have fought hardest to protect it, writes Manu Caddie.
ISSB consults on sustainability standards
Tue 5 May 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The International Sustainability Standards Board has released proposed changes to key industry standards, with potential implications for New Zealand’s agriculture and energy sectors.
Brown's LNG rethink proves short-lived
Tue 5 May 2026
Energy Minister Simeon Brown's suggestion that the Iran conflict had "changed everything" about New Zealand's approach to LNG imports appears to have been a brief departure rather than a shift in direction.
Greens condemn planned coal mine next to protected wetland
Mon 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.”
NZ First moves to revive container return scheme
Mon 4 May 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | NZ First is aiming to launch a national container return scheme, which could recycle over a billion wasted containers each year, reviving a policy shelved by the previous Labour-led Government in 2023.
Māui closure notice narrows the buffer
Mon 4 May 2026
OMV New Zealand's notification that the Māui gas field will cease production by the end of 2026 has brought forward risks the industry had expected to emerge more gradually.
Fonterra ‘spins’ greenwashing research for favourable press
Fri 1 May 2026
By Liz Kivi | Dairy co-operative Fonterra has managed to ‘spin’ international research intended to highlight greenwashing, instead using it to generate unwarranted positive press, according to researchers behind the recent study into ag industry greenwashing.
Branching out to see the wood for the trees on climate
Fri 1 May 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Climate Trunk aims to make sense of climate and the energy transition by showing how climate science, impacts, energy, economics, politics and net zero fit together in one coherent framework.
Paddocks to power: The rise of small-scale solar farms
Fri 1 May 2026
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter | A new, small-scale solar farm has been lit in North Canterbury.
Media round-up
Fri 1 May 2026
In our round-up of climate coverage in local media: The environmental cost of cruise ships isn't worth the economic benefit, according to an expert; a Kiwi joins an all-female voyage to tackle plastics in the Pacific; and Greenpeace's Russel Norman said what about oil?
Planned coal mine borders internationally significant wetland
30 Apr 2026
By Liz Kivi | Victorian Hydrogen, the company behind plans for a huge coal-to-urea project, has applied for a permit to explore for coal next to an internationally significant wetland in a sensitive catchment in Southland.
Govt missing tricks to save fuel in crisis
30 Apr 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Government is being urged to shift its response to the fuel crisis away from short-term relief and towards measures that reduce demand, with public health experts warning it is missing an opportunity to boost energy security and lower household costs.
Energy uncertainty holding back investment – report
30 Apr 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Uncertainty around energy costs and supply is delaying investment decisions for New Zealand businesses, with new research showing firms would ramp up spending on growth, workforce capability and electrification if conditions were more stable.
AI maps disappearing urban canopy to guide smarter city planning
30 Apr 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | New research, using AI to help map urban tree loss, shows Christchurch lost 14.5% of its canopy cover in the five years between 2016 and 2021.
New funding for low methane farming uptake
29 Apr 2026
By Pattrick Smellie | The government will co-fund projects under an Early Adoption Accelerator scheme announced today to accelerate the uptake of low emissions farming technologies emerging from the AgriZero public-private partnership.
Peters backs rail over road as Govt weighs heavier trucks
29 Apr 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Winston Peters has broken ranks with the Government over proposed changes to heavy vehicle rules, saying rail – not bigger trucks – is the answer to New Zealand’s fuel pressures as the Coalition considers easing weight limits to reduce freight costs.
Minister signals hands-off approach to emissions policy
29 Apr 2026
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts used last week's estimates debate to set out the Government's approach to emissions reduction, attributing New Zealand's lowest recorded emissions since 1998 in 2024 not to government policy but to the behaviour of households and businesses.
Coal-to-urea plan ‘extremely unlikely’ to be zero carbon
28 Apr 2026
By Liz Kivi | A plan to turn Southland coal into nitrogen fertiliser is extremely unlikely “if not impossible” to be net zero, despite the claims of the Australian company applying to fast-track it, says sustainable energy expert Ralph Sims.
Forest & Bird warns Emissions Trading Scheme ‘failing’
28 Apr 2026
New advice from the Climate Change Commission shows that New Zealand’s main climate policy tool is broken and at risk of collapse without urgent action to cut gross emissions, according to environmental advocates Forest & Bird.
High Country protections at risk under new Crown land bill
28 Apr 2026
A proposed law change has ruled out carbon farming as a permitted activity but could open large areas of South Island High Country to intensified development and potential sale, with the Environmental Defence Society warning that iconic landscapes and biodiversity values are at risk.
Announcements expected soon on $200M gas fund
24 Apr 2026
By Pattrick Smellie | Fossil fuel companies appear likely to take up a $200 million government fund to encourage additional oil and gas exploration, dashing lobbyist Business New Zealand’s hopes that it might be repurposed to underwrite industrial electrification.
Biodiversity plan heavy on talk, light on action, expert warns
24 Apr 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | A newly released government biodiversity implementation plan has been criticised for lacking practical action, with one expert saying it focuses too heavily on discussion and data gathering rather than delivering results on the ground.
Northland community climate resilience fund faces massive demand
24 Apr 2026
By Susan Botting, Local Democracy Reporter | A three‑year‑old ratepayer-funded Northland Regional Council community climate resilience fund is experiencing strong demand, with to date around five times more money sought than is available.
Media round-up
24 Apr 2026
In our round-up of climate coverage in local media: What is the real cost of storm-hit infrastructure? Urgency is needed over climate adaptation funding; and a community conservation group has won a legal victory against multinational mining company OceanaGold.
Pacific Islands call for fossil fuel phase-out, NZ hangs back
23 Apr 2026
By Liz Kivi | Pacific Islands nations have launched a landmark declaration for a Fossil Fuel Free Pacific, calling for a Fossil Fuel Treaty and urgent phase-out of fossil fuels, however New Zealand isn’t rushing to join the call.
Storms hitting New Zealand every eight days
23 Apr 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Storms are now striking New Zealand nearly every week, with new data showing a sharp rise in frequency and intensity as the country reels from repeated flooding and extreme weather events.
Timaru’s buses go fully electric
23 Apr 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Timaru’s bus service is set to go fully electric with the rollout of 10 new vehicles, marking a major step in cutting emissions and advancing Canterbury’s low-carbon public transport network.
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.
Steel sector targets 90% emissions cut by 2050
22 Apr 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The steel industry has set out how it plans to decarbonise across the value chain, targeting a 90% cut by 2050.
NZ cleantech could match forests in emissions cuts – but funding gap looms
22 Apr 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | A handful of New Zealand cleantech startups could cut global emissions by 19.2 million tonnes a year by 2030, but a lack of capital is threatening to slow their scale-up, a new report shows.
Climate change challenges laid bare for Southland
22 Apr 2026
By Matthew Rosenberg, Local Democracy Reporter | Southland faces a host of changes and challenges under the weight of climate change, a new report has revealed.
Extreme weather in Wellington ‘a different beast’
21 Apr 2026
By Liz Kivi | Climate scientist Luke Harrington says the small-scale but intense floods which have slammed the capital in recent days are the kind that intensify most rapidly in a warming climate – and are the hardest to predict.
Going concern status flags depth of Methanex NZ's gas crisis
21 Apr 2026
Methanex's New Zealand operation is relying on financial support from its Canadian parent to remain a going concern after a second consecutive year of asset impairments left the business with negative equity.
Green Party calls for national electrification plan
20 Apr 2026
By Liz Kivi | The Green Party is calling for a national plan to electrify homes, transport and industry using renewable energy, to reduce fossil fuel dependence in response to the Middle East crisis.
Diesel crunch exposes fuel vulnerability
20 Apr 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Rising diesel prices and tightening supply are exposing New Zealand’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels, with experts warning the squeeze on farming and forestry is likely to ripple through the economy while strengthening the case for lower-emissions energy alternatives.
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.
Fresh complaint targets hidden LNG modelling
17 Apr 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Lawyers for Climate Action and New Zealand Climate Foundation have complained to the Ombudsman about redactions in documents released by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, challenging its refusal to disclose key conclusions from modelling underpinning the Government’s $2.7 billion LNG import facility proposal.
Media round-up
17 Apr 2026
In our round-up of climate coverage in local media: The fuel crisis is a chance for government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, what would it take to tap into New Zealand's oceans energy, and which political parties would subsidise your rooftop solar panels?
Wilding conifers continue to plague Southland
17 Apr 2026
By Matthew Rosenberg, Local Democracy Reporter | Fast-spreading conifer trees are causing headaches in Southland as inconsistent funding continues to hinder control efforts.
Latest emissions inventory: ‘Something has gone very wrong’
16 Apr 2026
By Liz Kivi | New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2024 decreased by just 0.1% compared to 2023, in what an expert says is a “terrible result”, compared to faster progress in previous years.
How much is climate misinformation shaping NZ Govt policy?
16 Apr 2026
COMMENT: While an inquiry into climate misinformation is sounding alarm bells about fossil fuel propaganda and its threat to the very foundations of society across the Tasman, we’re even more vulnerable to misinformation and unseen influence here in Aotearoa, writes Matt Halliday.
Brownlee meets China’s top legislator on green cooperation
16 Apr 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee was at talks with China’s top legislator Zhao Leji in Beijing this week, with both sides signalling interest in expanding cooperation in green development, climate policy and emerging technologies.
Marlborough’s Rānui Solar Farm enters final testing
16 Apr 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Marlborough's biggest solar farm has entered its final testing phase and is now generating up to 9.9MW of electricity, marking a key milestone for a project expected to boost regional energy security.
Peters backs rail over road as Govt weighs heavier trucks
29 Apr 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Winston Peters has broken ranks with the Government over proposed changes to heavy vehicle rules, saying rail – not bigger trucks – is the answer to New Zealand’s fuel pressures as the Coalition considers easing weight limits to reduce freight costs.
Energy system debate to headline Electrify Queenstown
Today 11:45am
A major political debate on the future of New Zealand’s energy system will take centre stage at Electrify Queenstown 2026, as policymakers and industry figures gather to map the country’s path toward electrification.
Greens condemn planned coal mine next to protected wetland
Mon 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’s latest push to roll out more EV chargers is a good thing – but can it go the distance?
14 Apr 2026
A $50 million plan to expand New Zealand’s public electric vehicle (EV) charging network marks another step toward a lower-emissions transport system.
Drop in ETS forestry registrations
Tue 5 May 2026
By Liz Kivi | ETS forestry registrations have dropped off this year, with the new mandatory emissions return period, new land-use rules, and carbon price volatility all meaning participants aren’t rushing to register forestry in the emissions trading scheme.
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.
