New Zealand: All stories
Silicon Valley backs LanzaTech
5 Oct 2012
New Zealand waste-to-fuels pioneer LanzaTech has bagged more than $18 million of growth captial from a Silicon Valley science investment organisation.
Rail closure wrong-headed, say Greens
5 Oct 2012
KiwiRail’s decision to close the Gisborne-Napier rail line is a huge disappointment for the Gisborne community and a result of the National Government’s wrong-headed transport policy, the Green Party says.
Millions to be spent on climate-proofing
5 Oct 2012
Potential climate change trends over the next 90 years will be identified and examined in a new, multi-million dollar research project which aims to climate- proof New Zealand.
Our lakes are warming up, says report
5 Oct 2012
Recent studies reveal significant warming of the world's lakes.
Rena spill becomes part of community study
5 Oct 2012
Emergency management specialists from Massey University's Joint Centre for Disaster Research are to revisit the scene of the Rena oil spill in the Bay of Plenty as part of a $760,000 project investigating the resilience of communities having to cope with disaster on their doorstep.
Scientists out to develop better seeds
5 Oct 2012
A new research programme aims to deliver better seeds and plant species for farmers, to help to improve animal productivity and minimise environmental impacts.
Worried forest owners urge Key to act
28 Sep 2012
The heads of eight major forestry companies have asked the Prime Minister to intervene directly over the flow of cheap foreign carbon credits into New Zealand.
Government lying to us, says forester
28 Sep 2012
The Government is being accused of lying to New Zealanders over plans to encourage afforesation as a means of reducing greenhouse gas levels.
EDITORIAL: The problem called John Banks
28 Sep 2012
The Government may be weakening in its opposition to restricting the number of international carbon units allowed into New Zealand.
Emissions cut, but still at high level
28 Sep 2012
New Zealand’s emissions of greenhouse gases from the energy sector fell slightly last year, but overall, our growth remains high compared to other countries, jusat-out figures show.
CarbonScape picks up rich second prize
28 Sep 2012
New Zealand carbon-refining company CarbonScape has been pipped at the post in one of the world’s largest competitions for sustainable innovation.
Think carrot ... not stick
28 Sep 2012
Carbon Match founder LIZZIE CHAMBERS says we need to think about how the carbon market can drive innovation - and artifically low carbon prices are not the answer.
Law firm gives fees to sustainability
28 Sep 2012
Intellectual property law firm James and Wells is donating donating a percentage of its fees from “sustainable clients” to coastal clean-up charity Sustainable Coastlines.
Super fund drops nuclear investment
28 Sep 2012
The New Zealand Superannuation Fund will no longer invest in the company that owns the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
Farmers see plan as a step too far
28 Sep 2012
Federated Farmers is appealing against the ground-breaking Environment Court decision allowing the Horizons Regional Council’s OnePlan to go ahead.
Maori leaders want cheap credits blocked
21 Sep 2012
The influential Climate Change Iwi Leaders Group is pressuring the Government to cut the flow of cheap international carbon credits into New Zealand.
Is ETS a scheme or a scam, ask Greens
21 Sep 2012
New Zealand's emissions trading scheme could be renamed the emissions trading scam, Parliament has heard.
CarbonScape tracks big prize
21 Sep 2012
New Zealand carbon-refining company CarbonScape has made the final three in a one of the world's largest competitions for sustainable innovation.
Fund backs war on wilding pines
21 Sep 2012
Projects to control wilding pines in Southland and Canterbury are among the recipients of the latest Community Environment Fund round.
Foresters feel credits call, says Labour
21 Sep 2012
The National Government’s decision to not restrict cheap international carbon credits in order to secure the vote of ACT leader John Banks has enormous implications for the forestry sector, Labour’s Climate Change spokesperson Moana Mackey says.
Green firms an inspiration, says judge
21 Sep 2012
The top sustainability performers in the central and southern regions were recognised at a ceremony in Wellington this week.
Antarctic tourism worries scientist
21 Sep 2012
A Canterbury University lecturer is concerned about the potential increase of high-risk tourism activities in the Antarctic and a lack of regulation to address their impacts.
Put that in writing, minister, says council head
14 Sep 2012
Sustainability Council chief Simon Terry is challenging Climate Change Minister Tim Groser to deny in writing that New Zealand faces a carbon deficit.
Committee begins to wade through ETS ideas
14 Sep 2012
Parliament’s finance and expenditure select committee next week will continue wading its way through hundreds of submissions on changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme.
ETS submission: Changes a costly mistake
14 Sep 2012
The Government’s planned changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme are a costly environmental mistake, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment says.
ETS submission: Make car tests mandatory
14 Sep 2012
The Government should introduce mandatory emissions testing of all vehicles as part of a suite of moves to cut the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, the Motor Trade Association says.
ETS submission: Get real on power line trees
14 Sep 2012
Clearing trees to put up power lines should not invoke a carbon liability, the Electricity Networks Association says.
ETS submission: Clarify forest ownership
14 Sep 2012
The Emissions Trading Scheme is forcing forests out of the ownership of custodian trusts, a Parliamentary select committee has heard.
Scientist wants to breathe new life into flax
14 Sep 2012
New Zealand could revive its flax industry on the back of new research showing it has potential as an anti-fungal packaging material.
RMA not all hot air, says wind chief
14 Sep 2012
The wind energy industry says that environmental groups should not lose sight of the good parts of proposed changes to the Resource Management Act.
Court rejects challenge to weather records
14 Sep 2012
The High Court has rejected a legal challenge to the Niwa national temperature record.
Businesses in north soak up ETS costs
14 Sep 2012
Northland businesses are absorbing the costs of the Emissions Trading Scheme rather than passing them on to customers, a new study shows.
Aquaflow wins major Asia award
14 Sep 2012
Kiwi renewable fuels company Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation won a Red Herring magazine Top 100 Asia Award in Hong Kong this week.
Ross Sea plan embarrassing, say Greens
14 Sep 2012
The Government's proposal for a protected area in the Ross Sea focuses on protecting the fishing industry, not the environment, the Green Party says.
Bold farm plan: Let's trade in effluent
7 Sep 2012
Fancy trading in nitrogen discharges? The Environment Court says it’s a good idea.
Discharge rules inevitable, says farmer
7 Sep 2012
Limits on nutrient discharge from farms are inevitable – and the sooner farmers accept it the better, says outspoken Tararua farmer Andrew Day.
Europe bulbs ban leaves NZ unmoved
7 Sep 2012
Europe’s decision to cut power use by banning the sale of energy-hungry incandescent light bulbs has failed to impress the New Zealand Government.
Water-wise Maori now look to the wind
7 Sep 2012
As the Government prepares to negotiate with Maori over ownership of rivers, a Waitangi Tribunal claim is being finalised for Maori to earn a dividend for the use of wind for commercial electricity generation.
Quake city threatened, says ice scientist
7 Sep 2012
Not enough notice is being taken of the potential threat of rising sea levels in the rebuild of Christchurch, says University of Canterbury Gateway Antarctic director Professor Bryan Storey.
Blenheim innovator makes world final
7 Sep 2012
Carbon-refining company Carbonscape is a finalist in the international Postcode Lottery Green Challenge.
NZ emissions-cutter wins recognition
7 Sep 2012
A concerted effort to measure and cut greenhouse gas emissions has earnt GE New Zealand the international Cemars certification.
Industry slams Govt biofuel backdown
31 Aug 2012
The Government’s decision to stop subsidising biofuel development and to allow Solid Energy to retreat from the alternative fuels is damaging, the industry says.
Work goes on to link Tasman trading schemes
31 Aug 2012
Australia’s decision to link to the European Emissions Trading Scheme will not slow progress on linking to the New Zealand scheme, the Government says.
Coconut compound does the trick
31 Aug 2012
A New Zealand scientist has come up with a product that he hopes will allow farmers to earn carbon credits while cutting greenhouse gas emissions and boosting production.
Mining cuts won't ease gases liability
31 Aug 2012
Solid Energy’s decision to cut coal production in the face of depressed prices might result in fewer climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions, but it will do little for New Zealand’s GHG liability.
NZ to host EU energy conference
31 Aug 2012
An international conference to bring Pacific Islands governments together with potential investors in renewable energy development will be held in New Zealand next April.
Volt gives jolt to crash protection
31 Aug 2012
Holden’s new electric car has been judged one of the safest cars on the market.
Public split as ETS changes face scrutiny
24 Aug 2012
Changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme have gone into Parliament as a new poll shows that New Zealanders are evenly split over whether we should even have a price on carbon.
ETS bill has October deadline
24 Aug 2012
The Government expects to have its changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme through the select committee and back into Parliament by October 17.
Govt promises ‘earlier action’ in response to Commission’s warning climate targets at risk
Fri 17 Oct 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Government says it will “explore opportunities for earlier action” ahead of the third Emissions Reduction Plan, and has committed to looking at ways to stop the system of free carbon credits for industrial polluters from disincentivising industrial decarbonisation.
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.
All carrot, no stick for farmers on methane
Fri 17 Oct 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | COMMENT: The abandonment of methane emissions pricing and the adoption of a weaker target is effectively the last nail in the coffin of the historic cross-parliamentary consensus embedded in the Zero Carbon Act 2019.
Govt releases updated emissions projections
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.
