New Zealand: All stories
Peters unveils plans for rail-enabled interisland ferries
1 Apr 2025
Two new rail-enabled ferries will arrive by the end of 2029, but the costs remain under wraps.
Contact to appeal Southland wind farm rejection
1 Apr 2025
Contact Energy says it will appeal the Southland Wind Farm consent rejection and reapply under the new Fast-Track consent process.
Court of Appeal rejects case against Climate Commission
31 Mar 2025
The Court of Appeal has dismissed a case against the Climate Change Commission and former climate minister James Shaw, which argued that New Zealand has adopted climate targets that are too weak.
NZ must move faster on emissions – Reddy
31 Mar 2025
New Climate Change Commission chair Dame Patsy Reddy says the 1.5% global warming target is approaching more quickly than people thought, and the problem is worse than anyone expected.
Economy and climate go hand in hand – minister
31 Mar 2025
Growing our economy and reducing climate emissions go hand in hand, says Minister of Climate Change Simon Watts.
Govt releases detail on ETS forestry restrictions
28 Mar 2025
The government has released more detail on new restrictions for farm conversions to exotic forestry in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which foresters say will prevent another planting boom.
Extreme weather could lead to financial disaster for ordinary New Zealanders
28 Mar 2025
A rise in extreme weather events due to climate change could result in financial disaster for many New Zealanders, according to a credit risk consultancy.
Is NZ heading towards another energy crunch?
28 Mar 2025
The major gentailers all put forward positive cases at last week’s Downstream conference that they had done all they could to avert a potential energy shortage this winter.
Media round-up
28 Mar 2025
In our weekly round-up of climate coverage in local media: Rail is still considered crucial to Canterbury's future, climate risk is being left of company balance sheets, and NZ climate forecasts rely on the system Trump is dismantling.
New bill to block climate litigation ‘constitutional overreach’ - lawyers
27 Mar 2025
Climate and environmental advocates have slammed a National MP’s bill that would block people suing companies for climate damage.
Govt doubles smelter’s carbon subsidy against official advice
27 Mar 2025
By Shannon Williams | The government has increased the New Zealand Aluminium Smelter's free carbon allowance, ignoring official advice to boost the subsidy by a lower amount.
Wind farm rejection will delay Aotearoa’s energy transition
26 Mar 2025
Contact Energy's proposed wind farm in Southland has been rejected, a move the New Zealand Wind Energy Association (NZWEA) says will delay the country's transition to renewable energy.
Govt unveils RMA overhaul
25 Mar 2025
By Shannon Williams | The government has unveiled its blueprint for reform of the resource management system, and while parts of it have been welcomed, critics say it is a "hostile takeover of nature".
Energy sector faces complex affordability and security issues
25 Mar 2025
Energy affordability and security of supply were the key themes of the Downstream conference in Christchurch last week.
Floodplain grazing phase-out on cards
25 Mar 2025
By Emily Ireland, Local Democracy Reporter| Grazing on 576 hectares of regional-council owned flood protection land in Wairarapa could be heavily reduced in favour of emissions-friendly activities.
Declining concern over climate change
24 Mar 2025
Public concern over climate change has dipped steadily since reaching an all-time high following the events of Cyclone Gabrielle, according to the latest Ipsos poll.
Reserve Bank wins international award for work on climate-related risk
24 Mar 2025
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand - Te Pūtea Matua scooped two awards at this year’s Central Banking awards, including one for its “pioneering” work on climate stress testing.
Carbon credit deal to provide windfall for Maori landowners
21 Mar 2025
By Moana Ellis, Local Democracy Reporting | An isolated Maori Land Trust in the central North Island has sealed a groundbreaking carbon credit deal, securing millions for its 4000 owners and tens of thousands of beneficiaries.
If NZ wants to decarbonise energy, we need to know which renewables deliver the best payback
21 Mar 2025
By Alan Brent and Isabella Pimentel Pincelli | A national energy strategy for Aotearoa New Zealand was meant to be ready at the end of last year. As it stands, we're still waiting for a cohesive, all-encompassing plan to meet the country's energy demand today and in the future.
Media round-up
21 Mar 2025
In our weekly round-up of climate coverage in local media: Most New Zealanders support meeting our international climate target through a mix of domestic and offshore action; three figures paint a bleak picture of climate reality; and will removing Maori rights clear the way for an attack on the natural world?
'Our world is melting'
20 Mar 2025
Signs of human-induced climate change reached new heights in 2024, with some of the consequences irreversible over hundreds if not thousands of years, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organisation.
Renters stand to gain the most from efficient energy use: EECA
19 Mar 2025
Research on how New Zealanders view and use energy in their homes shows a significant difference between homeowners and renters.
Kiwi companies bought carbon credits from projects now under scrutiny for fraud
18 Mar 2025
Fonterra and Toitu are among New Zealand organisations caught up in an international carbon credits scandal, whose alleged instigator is facing multi-million dollar fraud charges in the US.
NZ, India touch on climate and energy at leaders' meeting
18 Mar 2025
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi detailed plans for further cooperation between the two countries across a range of areas including climate and energy during their meeting in New Delhi this week.
Govt calls for tenders to improve remote sensing for carbon storage
18 Mar 2025
The government has issued a request for proposals to help it improve how carbon stored in forests can be measured by remote-sensing.
Trans-Tasman cable: Thinking big or a waste of time?
17 Mar 2025
Plans to build a $12 billion cable linking the Australian and New Zealand electricity markets are certainly ambitious.
Genesis signs second biomass agreement
17 Mar 2025
Genesis Energy has signed another preliminary agreement with a potential biomass supplier to replace coal for Huntly power station.
South Dunedin's climate response will cost billions - report
14 Mar 2025
Half of South Dunedin buildings are at risk of rainfall flooding now, and this will rise to almost 70% by 2100.
Govt dumps climate-friendly waste policies
14 Mar 2025
The government has quietly dropped several waste policies, one of which was set to cut 45,000 tonnes of CO2e from methane emissions by 2035.
Decreasing industrial demand 'alarming' - major electricity users
14 Mar 2025
The Major Electricity Users group says a drop in electricity demand from industrial is 'alarming' - and the latest data also shows a worrying lack of firming generation.
Media round-up
14 Mar 2025
In our weekly round-up of climate coverage in local media: Victoria University law students take oil exploration case to Supreme Court; politicians ponder incentives for offshore windfarms; and Greenpeace accuses methane panel of only listening to vested interests.
Govt scrubs climate considerations from procurement rules
13 Mar 2025
The government is consulting on changes which scrap any reference to climate considerations from rules government agencies must follow when tendering contracts.
Greenpeace accuses govt of weakening environmental protections to gain trade advantage
13 Mar 2025
The government's Infrastructure Investment Summit kicked off today, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon opening the summit with a clear message - "New Zealand is open for business".
Electricity Authority backs six initiatives to power the energy transition
12 Mar 2025
The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko is providing enhanced regulatory support to six initiatives through its Power Innovation Pathway to accelerate Aotearoa New Zealand's energy transition, it announced yesterday.
NIWA offers hope for hydro
11 Mar 2025
Niwa has offered a glimmer of hope that the current extreme dry spell could be broken this autumn.
Climate protester found not guilty
11 Mar 2025
"No outcome from this trial changes the fact we're on track for 3-4 degrees."
Will congestion charging reduce Auckland's emissions?
10 Mar 2025
A bill that could cut congestion in Auckland along with transport emissions passed its first reading in parliament last week.
Demand reduction deal as hydro lakes drop
10 Mar 2025
The electricity sector's preparations for a potential energy shortage this winter have continued with Meridian and Tiwai Point aluminium smelter agreeing for it to reduce demand.
Govt publishes draft land-use classification framework
7 Mar 2025
The government has developed a draft land-use classification framework, which distinguishes carbon forestry from indigenous and exotic forestry plantations.
Saving earthquake-prone buildings could slash emissions
7 Mar 2025
Saving all of Aotearoa New Zealand's seismically-deficient buildings could avoid up to 7.4 megatonnes of carbon emissions, a new study shows.
Meridian's shocker result and way forward
7 Mar 2025
Meridian's was expected to be a shocker of a result and, as predicted, earnings, cash flow and net profit were all down for what was its worst ever half year report since listing.
Media round-up
7 Mar 2025
In our weekly round-up of climate coverage in local media: Minister appointed an oil and gas lobbyist to EECA board against official advice; what will happen if NZ hooks up to Australia's power grid; and why the government needs to reveal its calculations on carbon capture.
NZ expert joins GHG Protocol board
6 Mar 2025
Climate policy expert Christina Hood has been appointed to the international Greenhouse Gas Protocol's Independent Standards Board.
Nelson launches draft climate strategy
6 Mar 2025
Nelson City Council will decide if it will open community engagement on its Draft Climate Change Strategy today.
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.
KiwiSaver fossil fuel investment up 18% 'alarming disconnect'
5 Mar 2025
KiwiSaver investments in fossil fuels jumped to $4.42 billion in September 2024, marking an 18% increase from $3.75 billion in March 2024, according to Mindful Money.
Minister wrong about climate commitment: Lawyers
4 Mar 2025
By Liz Kivi | Lawyers for Climate Action has warned climate change minister Simon Watts that he was wrong to suggest New Zealand has no legal obligation to meet its international emissions reduction target.
NZ tops list of countries most at risk of urban fire in severe warming scenario
4 Mar 2025
New Zealand will be one of the countries worst affected by fires as a result of climate change, with fires expected to increase by over 40% by 2100 under extreme climate scenarios, according to new research.
Kiwi winegrowers commit to net zero by 2050
4 Mar 2025
New Zealand Winegrowers has come up with a Net Zero 2050 roadmap, which picks a bunch of key ways vineyards and wineries can reduce emissions.
NZ and Viet Nam sign up to cooperate on climate
3 Mar 2025
New Zealand has signed a partnership agreement with Viet Nam, including a Memorandum of Arrangement on climate change cooperation aiming to strengthen cooperation on adaptation and mitigation, including carbon markets.
Local council shakeup will weaken environmental protection, say critics
Wed 26 Nov 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Government’s sweeping overhaul of local councils threatens to erode hard-won environmental protections, warning that stripping regional councils of directly elected governance will weaken oversight of freshwater, biodiversity and land-use decisions.
‘Highly uncertain’ ETS hampers Genesis biomass plans
Fri 28 Nov 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | “Highly uncertain” New Zealand carbon prices and market settings are identified as a commercial threat by Genesis Energy to its planned use of biomass to replace coal and gas at its Huntly power station by 2028.
Marex invests in methane-busting biotech, hopes to kickstart NZ methane credits
Thu 27 Nov 2025
By Liz Kivi | NASDAQ-listed financial services group Marex has taken a minority stake in Ruminant Biotech, an Auckland-based agritech startup, with a view to kick-starting Marex’s methane-based carbon credits trading business in New Zealand.
Mounting emissions due to Government decisions
20 Nov 2025
By Liz Kivi | The Coalition Government’s climate policies have added a whopping 26 million tonnes of emissions out to 2030, according to new analysis of Government projections.
Christchurch Airport boasts world-first liquid-hydrogen refuelling for test aircraft
30 Oct 2025
By Liz Kivi | Local companies working on hydrogen-electric flight have made ‘a significant step forward’ in successfully filling aviation tanks with liquid hydrogen produced and stored on-site at an international airport for the first time.
Indigenous land cover shrinking as urban areas expand
Mon 24 Nov 2025
Indigenous land cover in Aotearoa New Zealand has continued its long-term decline, with new figures from Stats NZ revealing a further loss of native ecosystems as urban development and industrial activity increase.
Investors must support positive climate-tech
Fri 28 Nov 2025
OPINION: We need better leadership than the current ‘climate opportunism’ that is rife in the Beehive, and we need to back a marketplace that will make it happen, writes Rob Campbell.
