New Zealand: All stories
Rain, demand and prices fall
10 Sep 2024
After more than a month of elevated wholesale electricity prices, heavy rain, access to gas and more wind combined to drive spot prices down to virtually zero dollars in the last week or so.
Air NZ, Mitre 10 fall short in climate action rankings
10 Sep 2024
Air New Zealand and Mitre 10 have fallen short in a new ranking of 21 major companies based on their climate action targets.
NZTA agrees to cover $100m of Sounds roads recovery
10 Sep 2024
By Maia Hart, Local Democracy Reporter | Repair work in the Marlborough Sounds will “accelerate” after the NZTA board approved $100m in funding, although not everything the council asked for has been signed off.
Climate plan is high-cost and low ambition, says expert
9 Sep 2024
By Shannon Williams | The government’s Second Emissions Reduction Plan is high-cost, high-risk, and low ambition, says Massey University Professor, Robert McLachlan.
Offshore renewables plan ignores risks: environmentalists
9 Sep 2024
The government’s plan for offshore renewables ignores environmental risks, according to the Environmental Defence Society.
Councils to lose ability to make tougher local rules for forestry
6 Sep 2024
Foresters have welcomed the government’s announcement that it will roll back councils’ ability to introduce their own tougher rules for forestry, but the move is likely to be controversial with some local authorities.
Govt climate plan creates financial risks, business leaders say
6 Sep 2024
The proposed initiatives in the government’s Draft Second Emissions Reduction Plan carry a high risk of failure in policy implementation, according to the Sustainable Business Council and Climate Leaders Coalition.
Offshore electricity generation policy to speed up consents
6 Sep 2024
The Government reiterated the next steps of its ‘Electrifying New Zealand’ policy when it announced its response to the energy shortage. However, it also released details on how the offshore electricity generation regime would work.
Media round-up
6 Sep 2024
In our weekly round-up of climate coverage in local media: What can we learn from the Paris Agreement? The disasters that await if we keep failing to confront climate change; and is the new national transport plan steering New Zealand back to a car-dependent past?
'The Emissions Trading Scheme is broken': Carr
5 Sep 2024
By Shannon Williams | Aotearoa New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme is broken and not fit for purpose, says Climate Change Commission chair Dr Rod Carr.
Carbon price steady following failed auction
5 Sep 2024
The carbon price on the secondary market stayed steady yesterday following the failed quarterly auction, for which no bidders fronted.
2024 New Zealand's third-warmest winter on record – NIWA
5 Sep 2024
This year saw Aotearoa New Zealand's third-warmest winter on record with the nationwide average temperature sitting at 9.6°C for the season, 1.0°C above the 1991-2020 average.
Carbon auction fails again
4 Sep 2024
The September carbon auction has failed, with no bidders fronting at the auction and millions of units now rolling over to the December auction, increasing the likelihood that auction will fail as well.
Risks and rewards of LNG imports
4 Sep 2024
The move to import liquefied natural gas (LNG), mainly to power electricity generation, has had a mixed reaction among the major players.
How NZ deer farms could reduce emissions
4 Sep 2024
New Zealand's deer farms could reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, but it is relatively difficult to make reductions and researchers say there are trade-offs.
‘Blue carbon’ markets needed - new research
3 Sep 2024
Researchers are calling for a national blue carbon strategy, with government regulation needed for voluntary markets to enable large-scale blue carbon projects.
Transport plan will accelerate emissions: Green Party
3 Sep 2024
The Green Party has slammed the coalition government’s new National Land Transport Programme, saying it marks “another missed opportunity” to take action to fight the climate crisis.
Former mayor powering up NZ's first climate action campus
2 Sep 2024
By Jon Rawlinson | While she once ran the city, former Christchurch mayor Vicki Buck has been focused on establishing New Zealand's first climate action campus in her home town for the past four years.
Solar farm build underway for Christchurch Airport
2 Sep 2024
Construction has begun on New Zealand’s largest solar farm at Christchurch Airport.
Kiwi electric motorbike maker signs major deal with Australia Post
2 Sep 2024
Tauranga-based electric utility bike maker UBCO has signed a deal with Australia Post to provide a new fleet of custom electric motorbikes.
Price shocks still possible for carbon market: experts
30 Aug 2024
While the government’s move to slash carbon auction volumes has stabilised New Zealand’s compliance carbon market somewhat, experts say there is still potential for market volatility due to wider uncertainty around climate policy.
Lawyers' climate disclosure concerns
30 Aug 2024
Climate-related financial disclosures could be under-reporting companies’ transition risk to investors, exposing them to both commercial and litigation risk.
Media round-up
30 Aug 2024
In our weekly round-up of climate coverage in local media: What would happen to jobs and emissions if Methanex left New Zealand? Can supply meet the jump in electricity demand as NZ decarbonises? and Tairāwhiti's massive clean-up operation.
Climate plan risks high future costs
29 Aug 2024
The government’s ‘least cost approach’ to emissions reductions risks passing on significant costs to future generations, according to the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.
Could we use hydro resources to ‘plug the gaps’ in NZ's electricity system?
29 Aug 2024
By Ian Mason | The recent spike in wholesale electricity prices due to a combination of fossil (natural) gas shortages and low hydro lake levels has prompted considerable discussion about ways to avoid this happening in the future.
Govt’s next moves for RMA reform
29 Aug 2024
The Government has given more details on the Resource Management Act changes it intends to introduce by the end of the year.
Deputy prime minister’s climate denial ‘insult to Pacific leaders’ - Labour
28 Aug 2024
Winston Peters’ attempt to downplay climate change at the Pacific Islands Forum is an “embarrassing new low,” according to Labour leader Chris Hipkins.
Electrification could save households $10 billion a year and slash climate pollution
28 Aug 2024
Electrification could save New Zealand households $10.7 billion per year by 2040 and drastically reduce emissions.
Greenpeace slams plans for LNG import terminal
27 Aug 2024
Greenpeace has slammed the government’s plans for an LNG fossil gas import terminal.
NZ ‘reneging’ on climate policy makes international headlines
27 Aug 2024
International media has singled out New Zealand for walking back climate policies.
Gentailers report mixed results amid pricing concerns
27 Aug 2024
Three of the four gentailers reported mixed results last week amid serious concerns about current wholesale electricity prices and long-term pricing.
Calls growing for national food strategy
26 Aug 2024
A growing chorus is calling for a national food strategy to address a “food system in disarray” in the face of climate change.
NZ and UK set to partner on offshore wind
26 Aug 2024
Favourable winds may see New Zealand collaborating with the UK on renewable offshore power generation.
Govt still working on land use restrictions for ETS: Watts
23 Aug 2024
Climate change minister Simon Watts says the government is still working on policy to restrict land entering the Emissions Trading Scheme but hopes to deliver it “this side of Christmas.”
Media round-up
23 Aug 2024
In our weekly round-up of climate coverage in local media: NZ’s largest climate polluters revealed; the government walks away from climate-change regulations in the building sector; and Fonterra is accused of 'greenwashing'.
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.
Pine forests will increasingly replace farmland unless policies change - new research
22 Aug 2024
More New Zealand farms could give way to pine forests under current policy settings, according to new research.
NZ’s electricity market is a mess. Rolling out rooftop solar would change the game
21 Aug 2024
By Stephen Poletti, Bruce Mountain & Geoff Bertram | Wholesale prices in the New Zealand electricity market have soared over recent weeks, climbing as high as NZ$1,000 per megawatt hour.
‘Bombshell’: Devastation as Ruapehu mills announce permanent closure
21 Aug 2024
By Moana Ellis, Local Democracy Reporter | Ruapehu mayor Weston Kirton says he is deeply concerned for local communities devastated by news that two timber mills in the central North Island will close permanently.
Gas deal done
20 Aug 2024
Methanex took one for the team and a hefty pay check when it closed down operations to sell a large amount of gas for Contact and Genesis.
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.
Relief coming for South Auckland train commuters
19 Aug 2024
By Mary Afemata, Local Democracy Reporter | After two years of disruptions, trains will once again be running along a major stretch of south Auckland's rail line by January 2025.
NZ urgently needs to move further, faster to adapt to climate risks: commission
16 Aug 2024
New Zealand is moving too slowly to adapt to climate change impacts, according to the Climate Change Commission.
The online exchange with a difference
16 Aug 2024
By Zita Campbell, Local Democracy Reporter | An innovative online trading platform is tapping into the East Coast community to help tackle recovery and regenerative mahi across the region.
Media round-up
16 Aug 2024
In our weekly round-up of climate coverage in local media: NZ Steel gets free carbon credits worth upwards of $66 million; Can the free market solve our emissions problems? and why energy storage is crucial to our climate future.
Govt keeping options open on international climate targets: Watts
15 Aug 2024
By Liz Kivi | The government is looking at multiple ways to meet New Zealand’s 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), according to climate change minister Simon Watts.
Electricity Authority looks for answers at ‘tricky stage’ in energy transition
15 Aug 2024
The Electricity Authority says this week it will consider more possible regulatory interventions and release more data on wholesale electricity price volatility.
Air New Zealand: A climate leader no more
15 Aug 2024
Sir Jonathon Porritt takes aim at Prime Minister Christopher Luxon over the airline's decision to axe its climate target.
$20 million supercomputer for NIWA
15 Aug 2024
Methane emissions will be subject to more effective monitoring thanks to a new supercomputer.
Will gene tech rule changes lead to lower emissions?
14 Aug 2024
The government is moving to overhaul restrictions on the use of gene editing and other genetic technologies, and touting possible climate benefits.
ETS a ‘broken paradigm’ undercutting biodiversity efforts
Mon 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.
Profound shifts in our changing energy system – new data
Today 10:46am
New Zealand’s energy system is undergoing a profound shift as falling gas production and a dry hydro year reshaped the electricity market in 2024, according to data from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Energy in New Zealand 2025.
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
Marginal drop in last year's regional emissions
Today 10:46am
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
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.
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.
Why climate strategy is now central to business success
Tue 26 Aug 2025
SPONSORED CONTENT: Ahead of next month’s Climate Change and Business Conference, New Zealand businesses are being urged to treat climate strategy not as a regulatory burden, but as a core driver of economic competitiveness.
