New Zealand: All stories
English goes silent on carbon deficit costs
15 Dec 2014
The Government is refusing to discuss what impact a 2030 carbon deficit will have on the economy – despite warnings from Treasury.
Climate expert: It's all smoke and mirrors, Mr Groser
15 Dec 2014
New Zealand is using smoke and mirrors to meet its 2020 emissions reduction target, when it could get there by using clean heating and transport technologies, says one of our leading scientists.
Fossil fuel probe under way as NZ goes exploring
15 Dec 2014
New Zealand is expanding oil and gas exploration at the same time as Britain probes the likely cost of stranded fossil-fuel assets.
What did the Romans ever do for us? They left a water warning
15 Dec 2014
As all good Monty Python fans know, water technologies feature large in the legacy of benefits left by Roman civilisation.
UN launches new coalition to promote renewable energy
15 Dec 2014
The launch of a new coalition spearheaded by the United Nations Environment Programme will focus on boosting renewable energy usage around the world.
Australia takes action on energy market reform
15 Dec 2014
The Australian Government is leading a new focus on reforms to put downward pressure on electricity prices and give Australian consumers greater power over their energy bills.
Bank of England probes risk of fossil fuel assets
15 Dec 2014
In a move that’s likely to cause consternation in some of the world’s most powerful corporate boardrooms, the Bank of England has disclosed that it is launching an inquiry into the risks fossil fuel companies pose to overall financial stability.
Eels worth the effort, says environment watchdog
15 Dec 2014
New Zealand needs to put more effort into protecting long-fin eels, or tuna, says the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.
We're facing a $3b carbon crisis ... and it could be worse
8 Dec 2014
New Zealand has a $3 billion carbon headache looming – and Treasury says that’s the conservative estimate.
The country needs a carbon budget, says pressure group
8 Dec 2014
A climate change lobby group is calling for a national carbon budget and legally binding emissions reduction targets.
Groser has a cunning plan (but he won't say what it is)
8 Dec 2014
Climate Change Minister Tim Groser says New Zealand will “push the envelope” on post-2020 emissions reductions.
Investiors back clean coke with close on $700,000
8 Dec 2014
New Zealand clean-tech pioneer CarbonScape raised nearly $700,000 through its crowd-sourcing campaign.
Why our ‘silent ally’ soils are on the endangered list
8 Dec 2014
The world is not paying enough attention to its soil – our silent ally – says the United Nations.
Outlook bright for UK’s solar power potential
8 Dec 2014
Solar energy is sometimes dismissed as a fanciful idea with little to offer so far in such a cloudy country as the United Kingdom, but a new report says power from the sun could thrive in Britain in barely five years’ time − without the need for any subsidy.
It doesn't take much to turn up the temperature
8 Dec 2014
Start the car, turn on the gas under the kettle, shovel some coal on the fire. Each time that happens, another pulse of carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.
Paper mill sets new benchmarks for best practice
8 Dec 2014
Manufacturing benchmarks achieved by a rural South Australian factory are being shared and instituted across the world by global manufacturing giant Kimberly-Clark.
Lines company loves its electric cars
8 Dec 2014
Auckland lines company Vector says its electric vehicles are proving to be immensely popular with staff.
Labour vows to watch work and the new economy
1 Dec 2014
The Labour Party’s Future of Work Commission will include analysis of the impacts on work of climate change and the low-carbon economy.
Govt hopes Kyoto credits will cover emissions blow-out
1 Dec 2014
The Government will use international Kyoto credits received in what’s known as the KP1 true-up to cover its emissions blow-out.
Memo farmers: Learn to manage your methanotrophs
1 Dec 2014
Farmers could cut their future exposure to carbon prices by looking after the methanotrophs in their soils, a soil scientist says.
Fitzsimons putting her money where her heart is
1 Dec 2014
Due diligence in investments has a slightly different connotation for retired politician Jeanette Fitzsimons.
One Plan water approval seen as ground-breaking
1 Dec 2014
The signing of the Horizon Regional Council’s One Plan after a decade of debate, legal action and controversy is being hailed by Fish & Game as a landmark in the battle to protect the nation’s water quality.
Climate change health action urgent, say doctors
1 Dec 2014
The need for rapid action on climate change in New Zealand in order to protect health is clear, according to a group of climate and health experts.
Why playing around with the climate could make things a whole lot worse
1 Dec 2014
Geoengineering – which sometimes seems to be the despairing climate scientist’s Plan B – simply won’t work.
Getting out of fossil fuel investment is the right way to go
1 Dec 2014
The controversy ignited by the Australian National University in October, when it decided to sell its shares in seven resources companies, has raised two important questions about divestment from assets such as fossil fuels.
Queensland risks running the well dry by gifting water to coal
1 Dec 2014
The Queensland parliament has passed water reform legislation that will make it easier to take and use water, particularly for large mining and agriculture projects.
Beyond the poo bus ... the many uses of human waste
1 Dec 2014
A British went into service last week, powered by biomethane energy derived from human waste at a sewage plant.
Scientists find new fuel job for sawdust
1 Dec 2014
Researchers at KU Leuven’s Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, in Belgium, have converted sawdust into building blocks for gasoline.
Two join Green Building Council board
1 Dec 2014
Hawkins Construction chief executive Gary Walker and INZIDE Commercial co-owner Steve Aschebrock have joined the board of the Green Building Council.
Govt slammed for weak climate fund contribution
24 Nov 2014
The Government is under fire for the size of its contribution to a global fund to help developing countries to combat climate change.
Climate change too far down Labour's list
24 Nov 2014
By editor ADELIA HALLETT.- New Labour Party leader Andrew Little appears to rank climate change only slightly more importantly than does Prime Minister John Key.
New shadow minister eyes climate change priorities
24 Nov 2014
Labour's new climate change and environment spokesperson says there's never been a time when she didn't believe in climate change.
Yealands wins sustainability award
24 Nov 2014
Yealands Family Wines took the top prize in this year's Sustainable Business Network Awards.
Green Revolution trebles human burden on planet
24 Nov 2014
Humans are changing not just climate overall, but also the difference between seasons in any given year.
NZ carbon measuring project turns 60
24 Nov 2014
Sixty years ago, New Zealand scientists started the world’s first long time-series of atmospheric radiocarbon measurements.
Australia’s coal and gas exports being left stranded
24 Nov 2014
The United States and China have announced goals to reduce emissions by 26 per cent to 28 per cent and to cap emissions by 2030 respectively.
How a garden on your roof could fight floods this winter
24 Nov 2014
In recent years, there seems to have been a rise in the extreme weather all over the world from terrible flooding in Bangladesh and Pakistan, the record cold snap in North America, to one of the wettest winters on record in the United Kingdom.
Minister knows of water woes, but public information tap is turned off
17 Nov 2014
Finance Minister Bill English has been told something about fresh water – but the public isn’t allowed to know what it is.
We can cut carbon and pollution at no cost, says China
17 Nov 2014
China can achieve economic development, energy security and reduce pollution at the same time, according to a major new study.
Crowd-funders get behind CarbonScape
17 Nov 2014
Kiwi cleantech company CarbonScape has hit its crowd-funding equity target.
Green groups want say on Ruataniwha changes
17 Nov 2014
Environmental groups want to have their say on a late tweak to the conditions imposed on the proposed $230 million Ruataniwha dam in Hawke's Bay in a High Court challenge.
Expand climate portfolio, says Mahuta
17 Nov 2014
The Cabinet portfolios of agriculture and climate change should be given to the same person, says Labour Party leadership hopeful Nanaia Mahuta.
Lakes expert to spotlight water quality
17 Nov 2014
An American water quality expert who has studied and modelled the effects of nutrients in American lakes will be sharing his knowledge at a public forum in Rotorua this week.
Launchpad jury likes wilding pines project
17 Nov 2014
Taking an environmental problem and turning it into a commercial success has seen a Queenstown social enterprise team taken under the wing of a business incubator.
New Australian report debunks coal industry myths
17 Nov 2014
The coal industry has many friends in high places, and none more so than Tony Abbott, Prime Minister of Australia − one of the world’s major producers of a fuel that earns the country billions from exports.
UK ignores pledge to end fossil fuel support
17 Nov 2014
Despite promises to phase out subsidies to the coal, oil and gas industries, a new report says the UK and other G20 governments are still providing them with massive financial help.
Diet's effects on emissions give food for thought
17 Nov 2014
American researchers confirm that a shift to vegetarian, Mediterranean or fish-based diets would cut greenhouse gases, conserve forests and savannah, and have a big impact on obesity-linked health problems.
Designer dumps leather and heads for greener pastures
17 Nov 2014
An eco-conscious Kiwi designer is saying goodbye to leather.
How Mighty River is switching on to the new economy
10 Nov 2014
Generator Mighty River Power is claiming a stake in the new economy, pushing for New Zealand’s car fleet to go electric and indicating that it will move into the water business.
Trustpower's Aussie wind farm breezes along
10 Nov 2014
The second stage of Kiwi company Tustpower's project to build South Australia's largest wind farm has been launched, ahead of time and under budget.
Pacific climate response in question as NZ finance remains unclear
19 Dec 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | With New Zealand's $1.3 billion international climate finance commitment set to end with no clarity on what follows, the Auditor-General says oversight of that funding remains patchy and long-term outcomes are unclear.
NZ hydrogen regulation to catch up with the world
18 Dec 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | The government has announced a regulatory reset for New Zealand’s emerging clean tech hydrogen sector.
State-owned farmer drives profit growth with emissions reductions
19 Dec 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | Government-owned Landcorp, trading as Pāmu, is one-third of the way to meeting its 2031 emissions reduction targets, with five years left to run to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30.3% against 2021 emissions.
Transport dominates NZ’s rising consumer emissions
10 Dec 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Transport pollution was the biggest contributor to an increase in New Zealand’s consumption-based emissions in 2023, with emissions from household travel up 12%, and consumption-based emissions totalling 58.3 million tonnes – up 1.6% from the previous year.
NZ could become ‘dumping ground’ for dirty vehicles: Commissioner
16 Dec 2025
By Liz Kivi | Simon Upton, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, has warned the Government that its changes to the clean car standard could turn the country into a dumping ground for high emitting cars, making future emissions budgets harder to achieve.
Uncertainty eroding confidence in forestry sector
5 Dec 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Warnings are mounting that tree planting is set to plunge to “very close to zero”, as new Ministry for Primary Industries data shows ETS registration applications falling sharply as confidence in forestry declines.
Investors must support positive climate-tech
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.
