New Zealand: All stories
NZ could be 3°C warmer this century
18 Sep 2024
Aotearoa New Zealand could be up to 3°C warmer as soon as 2090, according to new climate predictions from the Ministry for the Environment.
Manawa deal: a red rag to a bull
18 Sep 2024
Contact’s proposal to takeover Manawa may make commercial sense, but it is like waving a red rag at a bull when it comes to the politics of the move.
‘Grave concerns’: experts plead with govt not to increase speed limits
17 Sep 2024
A coalition of experts is urging the government to drop its plan to increase speed limits, in an open letter arguing it will lead to more deaths and higher health costs as well as increased emissions.
Climate shouldn't be politicised: Carr
17 Sep 2024
By Shannon Williams | Climate Change Commission chair Rod Carr said it "defies belief" that the climate is a political debate.
Research to solve climate challenges scoops millions in funding
17 Sep 2024
A range of sustainability and climate-related projects have been awarded funding from the 2024 Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Endeavour Fund.
Industry says coal ‘critical’ to minerals strategy
16 Sep 2024
The mining lobby says coal should be included in the government’s just-released list of minerals deemed essential to New Zealand’s economy.
Govt must rethink energy assumptions: Rewiring Aotearoa
16 Sep 2024
Electrification presents a significant opportunity to future-proof the economy as well as reduce gross emissions, according to Rewiring Aotearoa.
Emissions down overall, despite higher electricity emissions
16 Sep 2024
By Robert McLachlan | Although emissions from electricity have increased, according to the latest data, use of oil, coal, and gas has dropped off compared to the previous quarter.
Electricity emissions soar 169% in June quarter
13 Sep 2024
Increased use of non-renewable sources saw emissions from electricity generation soar 169% between April and June.
Solar picking up pace
13 Sep 2024
The solar rush continues to pick up pace with Lodestone Energy starting construction on its fourth North Island utility-scale solar farm near Whitianga.
Environmental group challenges forestry claims
13 Sep 2024
By Zita Campbell, Local Democracy Reporter | Environmentalists are rejecting claims by a forestry umbrella group that Gisborne District Council does not have the expertise to support and regulate the industry.
Media round-up
13 Sep 2024
In our weekly round-up of climate coverage in local media: a former top diplomat says we need to step up our game with our next climate target; are Kiwis really ‘sick and tired’ of spending on cycleways? and why Aotearoa isn’t doing enough to fund climate action.
Minister says buying offshore carbon credits ‘unrealistic’
12 Sep 2024
By Liz Kivi | Climate change minister Simon Watts says buying carbon mitigation offshore to meet the country’s international climate obligations is “unrealistic”.
Climate venture fund invests in alternative oat milk start-up
12 Sep 2024
The Climate VC Fund is the largest investor in a seed-funding round to bring Christchurch-based alternative oat milk start-up Teiny to market.
Zespri looks at NZ-Belgium low-emissions shipping corridor
12 Sep 2024
Zespri and shipping partner ANL/CMA CGM have launched a feasibility study into a possible low-emissions shipping corridor between between Tauranga and Zeebrugge in Belgium, via the Panama Canal.
Cyclone Gabrielle was intensified by human-induced climate change
11 Sep 2024
A new study has revealed climate change increased rainfall during Cyclone Gabrielle by 10%, intensifying flooding as the region faces future storm risks.
Kiwis increasingly concerned about climate: report
11 Sep 2024
New Zealanders are increasingly concerned about climate change, according the latest Ipsos Issues Monitor.
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.
‘Weird and sad’ – Tuvalu Climate Minister condemns NZ halving methane target
Wed 15 Oct 2025
By Liz Kivi | Dr Maina Talia, Tuvalu’s Minister for Home Affairs, Climate Change, and Environment, says he’s surprised at New Zealand’s decision to weaken its target for reducing methane emissions – and is planning to take up the issue with his counterpart Climate Minister Simon Watts this week.
Transpower tracks more than 100 new grid projects
Tue 14 Oct 2025
Transpower’s latest connection data show more than 100 generation, storage and load projects in its pipeline, reflecting the rapid pace of electrification across the country.
SPECIAL BULLETIN: Govt weakens methane target
Sun 12 Oct 2025
By Liz Kivi | The government has ignored the Climate Change Commission’s advice to strengthen methane targets and has instead weakened them significantly.
Govt releases updated emissions projections
Mon 13 Oct 2025
By Liz Kivi | The Ministry for the Environment has released updated emissions projections to 2050, which show significant differences to the Climate Change Commission's recent projections for the same period.
Air NZ inks deal for its first internationally verified carbon credits
9 Oct 2025
By Liz Kivi | Air New Zealand has committed to buying 8000 tonnes of carbon removals by 2030, in partnership with local native forest investment platform My Native Forest.
Emails show forestry lobby fought Gisborne crackdown as slash clean-up drags on
26 Sep 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Sustainable land use advocates are accusing Eastland Wood Council of stonewalling efforts to tighten forestry rules, after correspondence between the group and the local council was released under the Official Information Act.
Climate credibility gap widening for Aussie firms
1 Oct 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | Australian public companies’ climate change commitments are in retreat, reflecting difficulty in achieving stated targets and increased fossil use, but not because of any pressure to make less effort, according to a study of major companies’ ESG reporting.
