New Zealand: All stories
Govt’s first post-ban offshore exploration permit draws backlash
Thu 30 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Government has approved the first offshore petroleum exploration permit since repealing the 2018 ban. But lawyers say the decision raises 'serious' legal questions, as seemingly at odds with guidance from the country's highest court.
NZ Steel closes in on first heat from electric arc furnace
Thu 30 Jul 2026
By Oli Lewis | The first truckloads of scrap steel are being delivered to New Zealand Steel as the company works through the final stages of a significant emissions reduction project.
Rail revival key to reducing transport emissions: new strategy
Thu 30 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Future is Rail has launched an election manifesto setting out a national strategy for the incoming Government to rebuild New Zealand's passenger and freight rail network, with proposals ranging from overnight train services to nationwide electrification.
Upton: Environmental information is critical national infrastructure
Thu 30 Jul 2026
By Oli Lewis | New Zealand has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to ensure environmental management decisions are based on shared, high-quality data.
Financial returns the best motivator for restoring land
Thu 30 Jul 2026
Most farmers and other rural landowners in New Zealand need to see financial returns to enable native forest restoration on their land, according to recent research.
Major climate tech summit to connect investors and startups
Wed 29 Jul 2026
By Oli Lewis | A two-day summit connecting climate tech startups, investors and policymakers starts in Wellington on Thursday.
Petition latest bid to stop climate torts bill
Wed 29 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Climate activist and iwi leader Mike Smith has launched a petition calling on the Government to abandon its legislation to bar climate torts, marking the latest step in his campaign against a bill criticised as shielding major emitters from legal accountability.
The price of international citizenship
Wed 29 Jul 2026
By Jeremy Rose | OPINION: In the run-up to the 1975 New Zealand election, the Labour, National, Social Credit, and Values parties all committed to the target of spending 1% of Gross National Product on foreign aid, with 70% of that coming from the government (or 0.7% of GNP.)
Meridian gets green light for Waikato solar farm
Wed 29 Jul 2026
Meridian Energy has secured resource consent for a 110MW solar farm near Morrinsville, paving the way for a project capable of generating enough electricity to power more than 25,000 homes a year.
Indoor ski venue partners with Sunergise on solar install to reduce grid reliance by 30%
Wed 29 Jul 2026
Auckland's Snowplanet indoor ski venue has partnered with commercial solar company Sunergise on a 1MW solar array, cutting the facility’s grid energy reliance by about 30%.
Govt signs NZ up for carbon credit co-operation with Philippines
Tue 28 Jul 2026
By Liz Kivi | New Zealand has signed an agreement with the Philippines to establish a framework for Paris Agreement co-operation allowing offshore mitigation, including on Article 6 credits – despite the Coalition Government repeatedly telling the voting public they wouldn’t send “billions overseas”.
Greens want one-year pause on AI datacentres
Tue 28 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Datacentre opponents have welcomed the Greens' call to press pause on new operations, while others say the energy-hungry facilities will bring jobs to the regions.
Calls for stronger protection of drinking water sources
Tue 28 Jul 2026
A new report has highlighted growing risks to New Zealand's drinking water supplies, with Water New Zealand warning stronger protection of source water is needed as almost half of all drinking water consents come up for renewal over the next decade.
Gentailers and Entrust split over dry-year obligations
Tue 28 Jul 2026
The country’s major electricity generator-retailers have rejected the Government’s proposed winter reliability obligations, warning they could lift average wholesale electricity costs by as much as $50/MWh while doing little to encourage new generation.
Greens promise to take forestry out of the ETS
Mon 27 Jul 2026
The Green Party launched its election manifesto at its AGM yesterday, promising action to reduce climate pollution and boost resilience, with an emphasis on Emissions Trading Scheme reform.
National deer management strategy urgently needed to halt 'catastrophe' for native forests
Mon 27 Jul 2026
Scientists are calling for an urgent national deer management strategy, with deer numbers now at unsustainable levels and decimating native forests.
Groundbreaking steel startup cuts production time while slashing emissions
Mon 27 Jul 2026
Startup CullBeck has raised a record $20 million to commercialise its new ironmaking technology, which replaces coal with hydrogen to eliminate carbon emissions from one of the world's most emissions-intensive industries.
Greens bill aims to keep supermarket food out of landfill
Mon 27 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Green Party has introduced a member's bill that would require New Zealand's largest supermarkets to donate edible surplus food to food rescue organisations instead of sending it to landfill, saying the move would reduce waste, cut emissions and help tackle food insecurity.
Contact: New biodiversity goal may be 'highly problematic' for renewable projects
24 Jul 2026
By Oli Lewis | The goal of no net loss of indigenous biodiversity in the new resource management system may be highly problematic for renewable energy developments, Contact Energy says.
Politicians need to ‘get over themselves’ to reduce emissions
24 Jul 2026
New Zealand needs to face up to two big areas of climate emissions: transport and agriculture, says climate policy expert Bronwyn Hayward.
Biomass can free-up electrons to perform higher value roles – with multiple other benefits
24 Jul 2026
By Rob Mallinson | OPINION: New Zealand’s energy debate too often treats electricity as the universal solution.
Expert election briefings on climate and the polycrisis now free to the public
24 Jul 2026
Expert briefings on climate change and the wider "planetary polycrisis" from the Reality of Everything symposium have been made freely available online, with organisers aiming to broaden public understanding of the interconnected issues ahead of New Zealand's general election.
Media round-up
24 Jul 2026
In our round-up of climate coverage in local media: Labour leader Chris Hipkins floats the idea of a carbon border tax; two-way charging between the garage and the grid will slash power bills; and cost isn't everything when it comes to rooftop solar.
Red Stag boss questions $60m cement support as timber ETS reforms stall
23 Jul 2026
By Oli Lewis | The Government has granted $60 million to an emissions-intensive industry while dragging its feet on a proposal to allow firms making harvested wood products to earn carbon credits in the Emissions Trading Scheme, an industry leader says.
Govt brushes off 'damning' assessment of stalled emissions reductions
23 Jul 2026
By Liz Kivi | The Government is downplaying the Climate Change Commission’s “damning” report on the country’s stalled emission reductions, while experts say policy changes since the Coalition Government came into power are squarely to blame.
Businesses told to plan ahead as energy risks mount
23 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Switching to electricity and improving energy efficiency are becoming increasingly attractive investments in the face of rising costs – and companies can no longer afford a "business as usual" attitude to energy, according to a new report.
Only Genesis can invest in Huntly, Treasury told ministers
23 Jul 2026
Treasury backed Crown investment in Genesis Energy because only Genesis could invest in Huntly Power Station, but argued the company had no special claim on building more renewable generation.
Business leaders say climate report ‘wake-up call’ for NZ
23 Jul 2026
By Liz Kivi | CEO-led organisations representing 42% of GDP are calling the Climate Change Commission’s latest report “a significant wake-up call for New Zealand.”
West Coast council holds off on climate adaptation plan
23 Jul 2026
By Vihan Dalal, Local Democracy Reporter | The West Coast Regional Council is holding off on preparing a climate adaptation plan until a proposed law change advances further in Parliament.
Disappointment and shock as Govt strikes out iwi-council deals
23 Jul 2026
By Craig Ashworth, Local Democracy Reporter | The iwi that last week signed an environmental deal with Taranaki Regional Council is “deeply disappointed” the agreement won’t survive Government law changes.
NZ at risk of missing all its climate goals: Commission
22 Jul 2026
By Liz Kivi | Aotearoa New Zealand’s rate of emissions reduction needs to more than double, with progress stalling since 2024 after the Coalition Government took power, according to the latest report from the Climate Change Commission.
Resource management Bills 'not yet ready to be enacted', says Upton
22 Jul 2026
By Oli Lewis | The two Bills to replace the Resource Management Act are not ready to be enacted and there is no way of knowing how they will affect the environment, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment says.
Green Party takes ‘electric election’ up a notch
21 Jul 2026
By Liz Kivi | The Green Party is promising to cut power bills and establish a publicly owned company, ‘Kiwipower,’ to deliver affordable renewable energy.
'Shocking' changes to RMA replacement further weakens environmental protections –EDS
21 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The select committee's report back on bills to replace the Resource Management Act fails to address the Environmental Defence Society's "massive concerns" with the legislation.
NZ First’s oil and gas plan ‘doesn’t stack up’ – professor
21 Jul 2026
By Liz Kivi | NZ First’s plan to invest $1 billion in offshore oil and gas exploration doesn’t make economic sense, says Auckland University emeritus professor and energy economics expert Basil Sharp.
SEANZ urges Govt not to sign contract for LNG before the election
21 Jul 2026
The Smart Energy Alliance has penned an open letter to the Government urging ministers not to sign a binding agreement for an LNG import facility before November’s election.
Study outlines methane-cutting options for NZ livestock
21 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Breeding, feed and forage strategies could play a key role in reducing methane emissions from New Zealand's grazing livestock, with researchers concluding that a combination of approaches will be needed to achieve meaningful cuts.
NZ First promises $1 billion for offshore oil and gas
20 Jul 2026
By Liz Kivi | New Zealand First wants to “drill baby drill,” and has made an election campaign promise of $1 billion to survey New Zealand’s offshore basins to extract oil and gas, in an announcement at the party’s campaign launch on Sunday.
Govt changes risk weakening climate policy, officials warn
20 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Government is pushing ahead with plans to remove health and life insurers from New Zealand's climate disclosure regime despite official advice that the move risks undermining the effectiveness of the reporting system anyway.
NZ’s complex problems require visionary solutions, not quick fixes. Here’s how we can govern for the future
20 Jul 2026
By Jonathan Boston, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington As New Zealand heads toward another general election, political attention is naturally focused on the issues touching people’s lives right now.
New legislation to bar climate torts proves polarising for submitters
17 Jul 2026
By Liz Kivi | Opponents of legislation to block climate lawsuits say it could seriously damage investor confidence, while supporters of the same legislation argue that not passing it could be “devastating” for the New Zealand economy.
Climate adaptation plans welcomed, but funding remains the missing piece
17 Jul 2026
By Oli Lewis | Experts are welcoming a proposal to make climate adaptation planning mandatory, but warn the plans may be ineffective without clarity around who will pay to implement them.
Conservation bill could put development ahead of protection, commissioner warns
17 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton says the proposed law changes could give economic development greater weight than conservation, undermining the purpose of the Conservation Act.
Sustainable Business Council listed on submission supporting climate torts bar
17 Jul 2026
By Liz Kivi | Business New Zealand’s submission supporting legislation to block climate lawsuits raised eyebrows this week for listing the Sustainable Business Council as seemingly in support of the controversial law change.
The arms race to climate calamity
17 Jul 2026
COMMENT: Both Australia and New Zealand are justifying spending millions of dollars on high-end killing machines by hyping the so-called China threat, while downplaying the very real threat of climate change to the Pacific region, writes Jeremy Rose.
Media round-up
17 Jul 2026
In our round-up of climate coverage in local media: The Prime Minister’s Office asked Z Energy to hand-deliver climate law briefing, the official watchdog warns of ‘catastrophic consequences’ if the electricity sector can’t adapt to a rush of rooftop solar, and angry customers are complaining about SolarZero contracts.
Government running out of time to lock in LNG import terminal deal before election
16 Jul 2026
By Oli Lewis | Procurement for a floating LNG import terminal in Taranaki is well advanced, the Government says, but the clock is ticking to sign contracts before the election.
Pacific coral reefs face mounting climate threat – experts
16 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Coral reef scientists are warning that climate change is accelerating the decline of reef ecosystems across the Pacific, with rising ocean temperatures, marine heatwaves and sea-level rise threatening both biodiversity and the communities that depend on them.
Rich nations inflate climate finance as NZ urged to act
16 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Rich countries have overstated the value of climate finance delivered to developing nations by around US$100 billion in 2024, Oxfam says. The non-profit is urging New Zealand to increase its climate finance while applauding the country's strategy of allocating finance as grants rather than loans.
Climate law introduced requiring adaptation plans and reducing Commission's role
15 Jul 2026
By Oli Lewis | The Government has introduced legislation to amend the Climate Change Response Act (CCRA), which includes stripping the Climate Change Commission of one of its core roles, adds a new requirement for councils to produce adaptation plans for higher-risk areas, and updates ETS settings.
Petition latest bid to stop climate torts bill
Wed 29 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Climate activist and iwi leader Mike Smith has launched a petition calling on the Government to abandon its legislation to bar climate torts, marking the latest step in his campaign against a bill criticised as shielding major emitters from legal accountability.
Govt’s first post-ban offshore exploration permit draws backlash
Thu 30 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Government has approved the first offshore petroleum exploration permit since repealing the 2018 ban. But lawyers say the decision raises 'serious' legal questions, as seemingly at odds with guidance from the country's highest court.
Study outlines methane-cutting options for NZ livestock
21 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Breeding, feed and forage strategies could play a key role in reducing methane emissions from New Zealand's grazing livestock, with researchers concluding that a combination of approaches will be needed to achieve meaningful cuts.
'Terrible result': Emissions barely budged in 2024
5 Jun 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions were virtually unchanged in 2024, falling by 0.03%, despite the economy shrinking by ten times that amount during the same period, according to new data.
Rail revival key to reducing transport emissions: new strategy
Thu 30 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Future is Rail has launched an election manifesto setting out a national strategy for the incoming Government to rebuild New Zealand's passenger and freight rail network, with proposals ranging from overnight train services to nationwide electrification.
National deer management strategy urgently needed to halt 'catastrophe' for native forests
Mon 27 Jul 2026
Scientists are calling for an urgent national deer management strategy, with deer numbers now at unsustainable levels and decimating native forests.
NZ Steel closes in on first heat from electric arc furnace
Thu 30 Jul 2026
By Oli Lewis | The first truckloads of scrap steel are being delivered to New Zealand Steel as the company works through the final stages of a significant emissions reduction project.
