New Zealand: All stories
Wellington emissions now below COVID lockdown levels
18 Dec 2023
Wellington’s emission are down by 10% since 2020 and 1% below the levels achieved during the Covid lockdowns of 2019.
Bill passed to repeal Clean Car Discount
15 Dec 2023
The Government has passed legislation repealing the Clean Car Discount, which it nicknamed the “Ute tax,” for all vehicles registered after 31 December 2023.
Best by the rest...
15 Dec 2023
In our weekly round-up of the best climate coverage in local media: Harnessing the oceans to ‘bury’ carbon has huge potential – and risk; Climate Commission report makes for awkward reading; and could returning to fossil fuel exploration hurt NZ’s relationships in the Pacific?
Govt must address climate crisis: Lawyers
14 Dec 2023
Activist lawyers have put the new government on notice that they could be facing legal repercussions if they fail to take adequate action to meet the country’s climate targets.
“Pixie-like hapū” won’t stand in the way of seabed mining: Shane Jones
14 Dec 2023
Shane Jones, the new minister of oceans and fisheries, resources, and regional development told Parliament yesterday that “pixie-like hapū wouldn’t be allowed to mangle “tikanga Māori” to prevent seabed mining 37 kilometres off the coast of Taranaki.
'Significant' gap in climate adaptation law: Environmental Defence Society
14 Dec 2023
The lack of a legal framework for climate risk assessments at a regional or local level is a gap in law that should be fixed by a proposed Climate Adaptation Act, says the Environmental Defence Society.
Climate Change Commission doubles down on ETS criticism
13 Dec 2023
The Climate Change Commission has doubled-down on its long held view that the ETS is not fit for purpose when it comes to driving down emissions, in its latest advice to government.
The NZ aviation industry is making bold climate claims – and risking anti-greenwashing litigation
13 Dec 2023
By James Higham - The Conversation | On the same day last week that Air New Zealand announced the purchase of its first fully electric aircraft, Christchurch Airport announced it had reached “a new standard for decarbonisation”.
Environmental Defence Society calls on climate minister to revisit ETS review
12 Dec 2023
The Environmental Defence Society is calling on the government to revisit its decision to stop the Emissions Trading Scheme review.
Lack of interest in NZ oil and gas?
12 Dec 2023
The lack of interest in OMV’s oil and gas assets in New Zealand does not bode well for the new government’s hopes of attracting new investment with the reversal of the oil and gas exploration ban.
Climate minister confirms commitment to international climate targets
8 Dec 2023
Climate Change minister Simon Watts confirmed New Zealand’s commitment to the Paris Agreement ahead of flying to Dubai for the annual United Nations climate summit.
Sea level rise happening faster in post-quake Christchurch
8 Dec 2023
Sea level rise is happening faster than anticipated in Christchurch - and the council is still allowing new builds and subdivision in at-risk areas.
University sends delegation to UN climate talks
8 Dec 2023
The University of Canterbury has sent its first delegation to a UN Conference of the Parties (COP).
Best by the rest...
8 Dec 2023
In our weekly round-up of the best climate coverage in local media: COP28’s first Health Day points to what needs to change in NZ; Protecting climate refugees is more urgent than ever; And Subsidising petro-states to stop drilling oil and gas.
New Zealand criticised for dependence on offsetting
7 Dec 2023
New Zealand has been singled out, along with Japan and South Korea, for relying on offshore offsetting to meet its nationally determined contribution in the latest update by non-profit Climate Action Tracker.
Climate disclosures increasing - but so are corporate emissions: new report
6 Dec 2023
Climate disclosures are increasing amongst New Zealand’s biggest companies, however few are reducing actual greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report from Forsyth Barr.
NZ signs sustainable agriculture declaration
5 Dec 2023
New Zealand was one of 134 countries at Dubai’s COP28 UN climate summit to sign the COP28 “UAE declaration on sustainable agriculture, resilient food systems and climate action”.
Genesis plans $1.1 billion spend on renewables - while still relying on fossil fuels
4 Dec 2023
Genesis Energy has unveiled its plans to find a way forward using profits from the Kupe field to refresh Huntly as a lynchpin in the electricity network as it pushes towards 100% renewables.
Best by the rest...
1 Dec 2023
In our weekly round-up of the best climate coverage in local media: Helter smelter - the Tiwai Point dance begins again; the new government's climate plans include some surprises; and will reviving oil and gas exploration make NZ a ‘pariah’ state?
Consumer NZ takes legal action against Z Energy over climate claims
30 Nov 2023
Consumer NZ is taking Z Energy to the High Court, claiming the company has misled New Zealanders with its claims over emissions reductions and mitigation.
COP28 climate conference kicks off today
30 Nov 2023
Climate change ministers old and new will represent New Zealand at the UN’s largest ever climate conference, which starts today.
Massive native reforestation project proposed
29 Nov 2023
By Jeremy Rose | New Zealand could go from being a buyer of offshore carbon credits to an exporter of offsets, according to the promoters of an ambitious plan to reforest and restore 2.1 million hectares of indigenous forests over the next 10 years.
Climate friendly transport: Why Air New Zealand needs to get onboard with passenger rail
29 Nov 2023
By Paul Callister and Robert McLachlan | Air New Zealand has a problem. The national airline needs to be profitable and, traditionally, this has involved increasing passenger numbers.
Incoming govt might face $24 billion climate bill
28 Nov 2023
By Liz Kivi | The new government has a major task ahead to deliver on the country’s international obligations for emissions reductions, with implications for international trade if targets aren’t met.
Greens launch petition to keep oil and gas ban
28 Nov 2023
The Green Party has launched a petition to stop the incoming government repealing the ban on offshore oil and gas exploration.
New govt cans ETS review, climate and environment ministers outside cabinet
27 Nov 2023
By Liz Kivi | The new National-led coalition government has dumped the current review of the Emissions Trading Scheme, and appointed climate and environment ministers outside cabinet.
Energy and resources portfolio split
27 Nov 2023
The former energy and resources portfolio has been split into two by the new government.
Biodiversity finance? Definitely. Biodiversity credits? Maybe
24 Nov 2023
By Jeremy Rose | The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment and some of the country’s major environmental groups have questioned the government’s one-eyed focus on biodiversity credits.
NZ aircraft to fight climate-fuelled wildfires worldwide
24 Nov 2023
It’s unusual for an aircraft manufacturer to be able to genuinely claim its product is making a net positive contribution to climate change but that’s the claim of one Hamilton-based company - and it may just be true.
Best by the rest...
24 Nov 2023
In our weekly round-up of the best climate coverage in local media: Big carbon farming decisions lie ahead; the good (and bad) news on climate change; and growing concerns around the Māori Carbon Collective.
Toitū to stop accepting NZUs
23 Nov 2023
Toitū Envirocare, the government’s carbon certification service, announced today that it will transition away from accepting New Zealand carbon credits in its carbon certification programmes.
Manawa says stand-alone generation successful
23 Nov 2023
Manawa Energy has declared its move to a generation-only model a success.
Climate Change Commission in the dock
22 Nov 2023
The Climate Change Commission is back in court defending its advice, with a case brought by Lawyers for Climate Action (LCANZI) starting in the Court of Appeal yesterday.
Climate change might be to blame for ozone hole - new research
22 Nov 2023
Ozone levels above Antarctica may not be recovering after all, and climate change might be to blame, according to NZ scientists.
NZ signs up to US-led clean energy framework
21 Nov 2023
New Zealand is one of 14 countries in the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) that agreed to two more "pillars" of the initiative last week, covering cooperation on clean energy and anti-corruption measures.
Call for incoming government to allow micro-cars on our roads
20 Nov 2023
By Jeremy Rose | Long-time micro-car advocate Toa Greening is calling on the incoming government to change road regulations to allow microcars - increasingly popular in Asia and Europe - on New Zealand roads.
Contact hopes renewable projects will reduce ‘dry year risk’
20 Nov 2023
Contact Energy’s senior staff seem full of hope that the coming month will bring to an end a few uncertainties in the electricity sector.
We’re burning too much fossil fuel to fix by planting trees – making ‘net zero’ emissions impossible with offsets
20 Nov 2023
By Mike Joy | The idea that we can mitigate current carbon emissions by “offsetting” them with carbon reduction initiatives elsewhere has become central to government and business responses to climate change. But it’s an idea we need to seriously question.
Bottom trawling risks releasing massive ocean CO2 sink: new report
17 Nov 2023
New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone contains about 2,240 million tonnes of organic carbon or 1% of the estimated global carbon stocks in marine sediments, a report commissioned by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has found.
Ministry for the Environment emissions up by 70%
17 Nov 2023
The Ministry for the Environments emitted 752.33 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in the 2022/23 financial year - a 69.84% increase on the previous year.
Best by the rest...
17 Nov 2023
In our weekly round-up of the best climate coverage in local media: Disclosing your climate risks; NZ could breach European free trade deal; and weaving the harbour back to life.
Auditor-general to assess councils climate action
16 Nov 2023
How four councils are taking action on climate change impacts is under scrutiny from the auditor-general.
ETS participants relying on banked NZUs
16 Nov 2023
NZ ETS participants stockpiling NZUs for future liabilities, uncertainty concerning changes to the regulatory framework, and the looming general election all contributed to ETS auctions failing to clear this year, according to Ministry for the Environment briefing papers released under the OIA.
Energy regulators must consider climate - Transpower
15 Nov 2023
The energy sector’s regulators need to be given explicit requirements to include climate change as part of their regulatory considerations, says Transpower.
Coalition talks should prioritise environment, says Environmental Defence Society
15 Nov 2023
Advocates say the incoming government’s environmental policy could risk increasing pollution and driving up species extinctions.
Kiwi entrepreneur takes aim at plastic and carbon pollution from the global beverage industry
15 Nov 2023
Brianne West, founder of the hugely successful plastic-free beauty brand Ethique, is launching a new company aiming to stop the production of millions of single-use plastic drink bottles every year.
Interactive map targets restoring biodiversity
14 Nov 2023
A new interactive map, launched today, includes information on every ecosystem in every catchment of Aotearoa and includes targets for restoring 15% of biodiversity in each area.
Incoming govt climate policy "troubling" - Environmental Defence Society
13 Nov 2023
The Environmental Defence Society says the prognosis for the incoming government to tackle major environmental issues is troubling.
Climate change a threat to human rights, Court of Appeal told
13 Nov 2023
The Human Rights Commission has argued that climate change impacts raise serious issues of human rights law and te Tiriti o Waitangi, in a case before the Court of Appeal.
Fonterra announces 30% on-farm emissions reduction target
10 Nov 2023
Fonterra has announced it is targeting a 30% intensity reduction in on-farm emissions by 2030 from a 2018 baseline.
Cuts to climate finance put exports in jeopardy: Lawyers
23 May 2025
By Liz Kivi | The government has halved international climate finance, a move aid organisations describe as “devastating,” and which lawyers say could put our Paris Agreement commitments and export market access at risk.
Surge of lobbying over electricity sector review
Today 10:30am
Jostling and lobbying have intensified ahead of the release of a review into the electricity sector.
Controversy around NZ’s methane target hits international press
Tue 3 Jun 2025
By Liz Kivi | New Zealand’s approach to methane targets has hit international media, with climate scientists from multiple countries penning an open letter warning Prime Minister Christopher Luxon not to weaken methane targets.
Tech alone won’t save us, warns climate expert
Today 10:30am
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Technology alone won't be enough to reach net zero emissions, environmental psychologist Lorraine Whitmarsh told the Carbon and Energy Professionals conference in Auckland last week.
“It’s not the car – it’s how we move” – EECA
Tue 3 Jun 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams| New Zealand’s transport emissions conversation has focused heavily on electric vehicles – but Richard Briggs, group manager, delivery and partnerships at the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, says we’re asking the wrong question.
Environmentalists see forestry changes as dangerous step for Tairāwhiti
Tue 3 Jun 2025
By Zita Campbell, Local Democracy Reporter | Tairāwhiti environmentalists have called changes for commercial forestry under proposed Resource Management Act reforms “a slap in the face” and a return to weaker forestry regulations.
Kiwi cleantech companies on the world stage
27 May 2025
Six New Zealand 'cleantech' companies were in Singapore earlier this month, along with a venture capital firm and the MacDiarmid Institute, to meet investors and multinational partners.
