New Zealand: All stories
Labour again trying for foreign units limit
11 Oct 2013
Labour is having another go at limiting the number of foreign carbon units emitters can surrender under the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme.
Obama's coal power call tougher than ours
11 Oct 2013
Emissions controls on new thermal power plants in the United States would not be met by most New Zealand plants.
Greens vow to bring power to the people
11 Oct 2013
The Green Party says it would implement policies promoting small-scale distributed energy generation, such making it more affordable for families to install solar panels on roofs.
Building green now cost effective, says report
11 Oct 2013
Sustainable building no longer has to prove its economic worth – the business case more than stacks up in terms of lower operating and life-cycle costs, and improved value for owners, says a new report.
Nuclear energy left behind, says report
11 Oct 2013
Nuclear power is the only mainstream energy technology that does not show significant growth, the Worldwatch Institute says.
No nukes policy in line for world award
11 Oct 2013
New Zealand is in the running for the Future Policy Award, recognising policies that create better living conditions for current and future generations.
Forest trust for all seeks board members
11 Oct 2013
The Forest Growers' Levy Trust, the new organisation representing the interests of all plantation forest owners, large and small, is calling for nominations for its first elected board.
Rebel campaigner eyes NZ connection
4 Oct 2013
Leading Australian climate change campaigner Professor Tim Flannery says he would bring his privately funded Climate Council to New Zealand - if asked.
Obama's strategy guru joins LanzaTech
4 Oct 2013
Digital communications strategist and Obama 2012 campaign manager Jim Messina is applying his talents to New Zealand-born LanzaTech.
IPCC report means no more excuses for NZ
4 Oct 2013
The latest IPCC report on climate change removes New Zealand’s excuses for not taking strong action on the problems.
We're thinking solar, say power people
4 Oct 2013
On and off-grid solar capacity in New Zealand has grown 370 per cent over the past two years, the Sustainable Electricity Association says.
Happiness is herbs for boom business
4 Oct 2013
A sustainable business started in a linen cupboard has turned into an $800,000-a-year company.
Home-energy firm wins UK accolade
4 Oct 2013
A Wellington-based home-energy efficient company has been recognised as part of the fastest-growing business in Britain.
Pressure grows to act on Maui's dolphin
4 Oct 2013
New Zealand is under increasing international pressure to take action over the near-extinction of Maui's dolphin.
True carbon price bioenergy aid, says expert
27 Sep 2013
A realistic carbon price and support from large companies would help to propel bioenergy from a good idea to reality, says one of our leading experts.
100% Pure? We're ranked at a lowly 36
27 Sep 2013
“100% Pure” New Zealand ranks at just 36th in the world when it comes to environmental sustainability, according to a new international energy report.
Business better, gas emissions worse
27 Sep 2013
New Zealand’s strengthening economy is showing in our carbon emissions.
LanzaTech wins $4m US research grant
27 Sep 2013
LanzaTech has been awarded a $US4 million grant by the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy of the US Department of Energy to work with partners on unlocking the energy in waste methane gases.
IPCC serious over sea levels
27 Sep 2013
By HOLLY RYAN, Science Media Centre. Rising sea levels will receive increased attention from climate scientists today when the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change unveils its latest report on the state of the climate.
High Court throws out One Plan appeals
27 Sep 2013
The High Court has backed the legality of the ground-breaking Horizons Regional Council One Plan.
She'll be reading Ecoman ...
27 Sep 2013
Jane O’Loughlin of Wellington is the winner of Ecoman, the story of how Ecostore founder Malcolm Rands developed an international business out of eco-friendly cleaning products.
Emitters make canny use of cheap ERUs
20 Sep 2013
Canny emitters used the international glut of cheap ERUs to cut carbon liabilities last year to a fraction of previous levels.
NZ Steel takes almost $5m in free credits
20 Sep 2013
New Zealand Steel is once again the biggest recipient of free carbon credits, receiving nearly $5 million worth from the Government.
We're giving away a copy of Ecoman, the story of a sustainable business
20 Sep 2013
Ecostore founder Malcolm Rands has written a book to explain how he built a successful, sustainable international business.
Waikato students set to tackle Outback in e-car
20 Sep 2013
A group of University of Waikato mechanical engineering students have unveiled their masterpiece – an electric car they will race 3000km from Darwin to Adelaide over six days next month.
Power rental market expects the best
20 Sep 2013
Emissions regulations could have an impact on the booming global power rental market, a new report says
Scientist gets $2m for dairy research
20 Sep 2013
University of Waikato Earth Scientist Professor Peter Kamp has been awarded $2.07 million funding to continue research into energy efficiency in the dairy sector.
Smart Sydney landlords save millions
20 Sep 2013
Sydney's major commercial office landlords are saving more than $25 million a year on their electricity bills, thanks to more energy-efficient buildings.
Political parties back Palmer on RMA
13 Sep 2013
Sir Geoffrey Palmer’s call for environmental protections to be written into a New Zealand constitution is gaining political traction.
Labour hopefuls and their green values
13 Sep 2013
Which of the three MPs battling to be leader of the Labour Party would be best for the environment?
Start now, science chief tells businesses
13 Sep 2013
New Zealand’s chief science adviser says that businesses should not be distracted by apparent argument over the validity of anthropogenic climate change.
Why sustainable building speaks for itself
13 Sep 2013
Sustainable building no longer has to prove its economic worth – the business case more than stacks up in terms of lower operating and life cycle costs, and improved value for owners, according to a new report.
Waterfront building becomes a star
13 Sep 2013
One of New Zealand’s leading sustainable buildings has achieved a market-leading NABERSNZ rating for energy performance.
Renewables yes, but thermal power will win
13 Sep 2013
Thermal power will continue to be the dominant source of power for the foreseeable future, despite growth in renewables, a new report says.
Warehouse switches off energy-hungry bulbs
13 Sep 2013
The Warehouse will no longer sell energy-hungry incandescent light bulbs.
Our businesses must lead, says green champion
6 Sep 2013
The Global Sustainability Leader of the Year says New Zealand businesses need to step up to the responsibilities – and opportunities – of environmental issues like climate change.
Industry unhappy with forest credits move
6 Sep 2013
The Government’s decision to replace Permanent Forest Sink Initiative credits with NZUs is wrong, says a market analyst.
We're talking ETS with Australia and Korea
6 Sep 2013
New Zealand has had discussions with Australia and Korea on the theoretical requirements involved in linking emissions trading schemes.
Shane Jones: It's all about balance
6 Sep 2013
Labour MP Shane Jones says that a Government led by him would balance environmental and economic interests.
Greens criticise good-news minerals report
6 Sep 2013
A new Government report will promote investment in, and better policies on minerals in New Zealand, Straterra says.
Businessmen join the stars in oil protest
6 Sep 2013
Business leaders Phillip Mills and Nick Gerritsen are among a list of A-list New Zealanders opposing the Government’s plans for deep-sea oil drilling and its crackdown on protesting at sea.
Bag maker gets fine over environment claim
6 Sep 2013
Companies have been given a clear warning that their environmental claims must stand up to scrutiny.
Labour thermal power bid fails
6 Sep 2013
A bid by Labour MP Moana Mackey to bring back the ban on new thermal electricity generation has fallen at the first hurdle.
BOC boasts fumigant is ozone safe
6 Sep 2013
BOC gases has come up with a non-ozone-damaging fumigant to replace methyl bromide.
La Nina effect cause of warming pause
6 Sep 2013
New findings that show a slowing of global surface temperature warming are no cause for complacency, scientists warn.
Solar installation rates trend down
6 Sep 2013
Solar module installations enjoyed a significant increase from approximately 1.4 GW in 2006 to 29 GW in 2011, but the industry has started to move away from the initial spur, according to research and consulting firm GlobalData.
Environment first, vows Labour contender
30 Aug 2013
A government led by Labour leadership contender Grant Robertson would make all legislation subject to an environmental impact assessment.
Is this the new Groser, asks academic
30 Aug 2013
Climate Change and Trade Minister Tim Groser appears to have had a Road to Damascus experience.
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.
