New Zealand: All stories
Sydney emissions cuts plan hits the roof
28 Feb 2014
Sydney wants to put a trigeneration plant on the roof of its town hall as part of a drive to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 70 per cent by 2030.
F&P marks 20 years of recycling whiteware
28 Feb 2014
Plastics New Zealand president Simon Wilkinson explains how much whiteware manufacturer Fisher & Paykel has achieved in 20 years' of recycling:
And the answer is ...
28 Feb 2014
Answers to the 20 big questions about climate change - is it real, how do we know humans are causing it, does it matter, and more - have been provided this week by Britain and America's top scientists.
Greens' solar policy breath of fresh air
28 Feb 2014
Econergy managing director DAVID SENN says that the Green Party's plans to subsidise solar energy for householders should go further:
Sea-level rises threaten island havens
28 Feb 2014
Decades of work to create safe island havens for some of the world’s rarest species could be undone if sea levels rise as high as climate scientists predict, according to a new study.
Big emitters cash in on free carbon credits
21 Feb 2014
A loophole allowing heavy industrial emitters to coin it at the expense of taxpayers by selling free carbon credits is likely to be closed under a Labour-Greens government.
Angry Maori take carbon case to UN
21 Feb 2014
Frustrated Maori will take their carbon price grievances to the United Nations next week.
Iwi ultimatum earns support of political parties
21 Feb 2014
Iwi threatening to take a claim to the Waitangi Tribunal over carbon prices have the support of at least two major political parties.
Think green, builders urge Christchurch
21 Feb 2014
New commercial buildings in Christchurch must be designed for energy efficiency if they aren’t to become obsolete, says the Green Building Council.
Costly, toxic and slow to charge? Busting electric car myths
21 Feb 2014
By THOMAS BRAUNL. Cars are the second most expensive investment after the family home, a status symbol and, in some cases — just visit a major motor show — a love affair.
Blocking the sunlight has a dark side
21 Feb 2014
By TIM RADFORD. Finding a technology that would let us counteract the effects of climate change is a cherished dream. But if there is a cure, it could be worse than the disease, scientists say.
TV takeback ticks over 200,000 mark
21 Feb 2014
More than 200,000 television sets have been collected for recycling under the TV TakeBack programme.
Scientists find key methane micro-organism
21 Feb 2014
Scientists from The University of Queensland have discovered a microbe that is set to play a significant role in future global warming.
Maori ultimatum leaves Government unmoved
14 Feb 2014
The Government appears to be ignoring an ultimatum from Maori to fix carbon prices or face the consequences.
Iwi forest plan key to processing boom
14 Feb 2014
A proposal by iwi to plant a million hectares of new forest over 10 years could provide the economies of scale needed to kick the New Zealand industry into large-scale processing.
Pine nurseries got it wrong, says Groser
14 Feb 2014
The destruction of hundreds of thousands of tree seedlings is part of a “market correction” and not due to a dysfunctional Emissions Trading Scheme, the Government says.
Green group opens door to affordable houses
14 Feb 2014
Green business lobby group Pure Advantage is moving into the affordable housing market, and says it offers huge social, economic and environmental advantages to New Zealand.
Solar plants bring fresh water to Vanuatu
14 Feb 2014
A solar energy plant designed by a New Zealand company is about to provide 11,000 Vanuatu residents with fresh water.
British farmers keen on Kiwi scientist's no-tillage methods
14 Feb 2014
New Zealand soil scientist and no-till drill manufacturer Dr John Baker says his ideas are being picked up in Britain.
Nuclear waste disposal gets expensive
14 Feb 2014
When countries embrace nuclear power to combat climate change the problem of disposing of the radioactive waste seems far away, but the costs will be enormous. PAUL BROWN reports:
Angry Maori table $600,000 carbon ultimatum
7 Feb 2014
Maori say they will lodge a $600 million Treaty of Waitangi claim if the Government doesn’t move fast to shore up carbon prices.
Earth Law move perfect for us, says academic
7 Feb 2014
New Zealand is well-positioned to move into an emerging international Earth-centred legal regime because of Maori culture, an environmental law lecturer says.
Scrap offshore oil rules, says watchdog group
7 Feb 2014
The Environmental Defence Society is calling for the Government's new rules on offshore oil and gas operations to be scrapped.
New water moves not enough, says commissioner
7 Feb 2014
Current proposals for freshwater management are not adequate for protecting water quality to even current levels in New Zealand, says Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Dr Jan Wright.
Dilmah founder bankrolls 'green' tea to save the planet
7 Feb 2014
The man who urges Kiwis to “do try it”, Dilmah Tea founder Merrill J. Fernando, has another message, and this one is about caring for the planet.
Why the big boys are serious about carbon pricing
7 Feb 2014
Several of the largest international oil companies, along with other major companies, are taking the prospect of international carbon pricing seriously, writes BARRY NAUGHTON.
Turbine tower installers eye windfall
7 Feb 2014
The wind turbine towers market is expected to be worth $US19.3 billion by 2020.
Hang on, isn't carbon-happy China just making stuff for us?
7 Feb 2014
Is it fair that China is blamed for the carbon dioxide emissions it generates to manufacture products destined for the West? asks Glen West, of the Center for International Climate and Environment Research.
Academic eyes ways to hold back flood waters
7 Feb 2014
Floods are becoming harder to manage by trying to hold water back behind flood defences, so it’s time to look at how to defend against them at the building and community level.
Engineers claim solar cell breakthrough
7 Feb 2014
California engineers have invented a new process for manufacturing highly efficient photovoltaic materials that shows promise for low-cost industrial production.
Major powerco sets pace for fall in emissions
31 Jan 2014
New Zealand's greenhouse-gas emissions from energy have fallen on the back of a massive cut from our single largest emitter.
It's the forestry effect, explains Groser
31 Jan 2014
The Government is blaming a projected greenhouse gas emissions increase on forestry cycles.
NZ slow to adopt green standards
31 Jan 2014
New Zealand business is trailing the world when it comes to environmental standards.
We're willing to pay for an ecosystem, says study
31 Jan 2014
New Zealanders are willing to pay cold hard cash for the ecosystem services provided by plantation forests.
Think or swim ... that's our climate change choice
31 Jan 2014
Making people think about the impact climate change could have on their homes makes them more likely to take action to prevent it, researchers say.
Time for a green revolution, says Norman
31 Jan 2014
The Green Party is invoking the legacies of Seddon, Savage and Kirk in a bid to pitch the green economy as the next big thing for New Zealand.
All power to Scottish tides, say engineers
31 Jan 2014
Renewable tidal energy sufficient to power about half of Scotland could be harnessed from a single stretch of water off the north coast of the country, engineers say.
More forest owners decide to leave ETS
24 Jan 2014
The number of post-1989 forest owners quitting the Emissions Trading Scheme quadrupled last year on the back of cheap carbon prices.
Drought message is clear, says climate study
24 Jan 2014
The drought that plagued large areas of the country last year was the worst on record, signalling New Zealand's climate is changing.
Study doubts value of land abatements
24 Jan 2014
The full abatement potential of Australia’s land sector is unlikely to be realised under existing policies, says carbon advisory firm RepuTex.
Climate paralysis risks our reputation, say Greens
24 Jan 2014
New Zealand’s continuing failure to do our share on climate change puts our clean green image at risk, the Green Party says.
The war on science: Why we should be very afraid
24 Jan 2014
Climate scientist Dr JIM SALINGER on why we should be very worried by attempts to discredit data showing New Zealand's climate is warming:
Database updates how we use energy
24 Jan 2014
An updated picture of how New Zealanders use energy is now available, showing where and how energy is used and a snapshot of how energy use is changing.
Tiny sensors will allow bees to tell us their troubles
24 Jan 2014
Thousands of honey bees in Australia are being fitted with sensors as part of a world-first research programme to monitor the insects and their environment using a technique known as 'swarm sensing'.
So, if the carbon tax isn't working, what is?
24 Jan 2014
Melbourne Energy Institute director MIKE SANDIFORD asks the Abbott Government to explain:
Pulp politics bring tension to Tasmania
24 Jan 2014
KATE CROWLEY, Associate Professor of Public and Environmental Policy at the University of Tasmania, examines the tension between the economy and the environment in the state's politics:
China tops wind turbine installations
24 Jan 2014
China will remain the leading global consumer of wind turbine rotor blades over the coming years, a new international report says.
Farmers put weight behind water storage
24 Jan 2014
Farmers say climate change means water storage is more important than ever.
Z Energy adds clean-fuel outlet
24 Jan 2014
A second public truck stop is selling Z Energy’s low-emissions Z DEC fuel.
EDITORIAL: Forget the pretence and let's make a real start with our water quality
20 Dec 2013
It's been an interesting year, with new carbon markets opening in some of the largest economies in the world, including North America and China.
Pacific Islands call for fossil fuel phase-out, NZ hangs back
Thu 23 Apr 2026
By Liz Kivi | Pacific Islands nations have launched a landmark declaration for a Fossil Fuel Free Pacific, calling for a Fossil Fuel Treaty and urgent phase-out of fossil fuels, however New Zealand isn’t rushing to join the call.
Announcements expected soon on $200M gas fund
Today 11:45am
By Pattrick Smellie | Fossil fuel companies appear likely to take up a $200 million government fund to encourage additional oil and gas exploration, dashing lobbyist Business New Zealand’s hopes that it might be repurposed to underwrite industrial electrification.
Fonterra admits ‘100% grass-fed’ claim breached law in greenwashing row
2 Apr 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Fonterra has admitted its “100% New Zealand grass-fed” claims on Anchor butter were misleading and breached the law, settling a case brought by Greenpeace Aotearoa over packaging used between December 2023 and April 2025.
Climate pollution static but NZ still on track for first emissions budget, says MfE
17 Apr 2026
By Liz Kivi | New Zealand is still on track to meet its first emissions budget, according to the Ministry for the Environment, despite the pace of emissions reductions slowing to a standstill.
NZ’s latest push to roll out more EV chargers is a good thing – but can it go the distance?
14 Apr 2026
A $50 million plan to expand New Zealand’s public electric vehicle (EV) charging network marks another step toward a lower-emissions transport system.
Wilding conifers continue to plague Southland
17 Apr 2026
By Matthew Rosenberg, Local Democracy Reporter | Fast-spreading conifer trees are causing headaches in Southland as inconsistent funding continues to hinder control efforts.
Victorian Hydrogen announces Southland urea fertiliser project using coal
Wed 22 Apr 2026
By Liz Kivi | Australian-based Victorian Hydrogen has announced it is developing a new 1.5 million-tonne-a-year urea fertiliser operation in Southland, which it will apply for under fast-track legislation.
