New Zealand: All stories
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.
Most believe green is good for jobs
24 Aug 2012
Environmental protection is seen to promote economic growth and jobs, a new survey shows.
Foresters put faith in new technology
24 Aug 2012
The forestry sector is pressing ahead with plans to transform itself by adopting new technologies to get the most out of its harvest.
It's about balance, says science chief
24 Aug 2012
Balancing environmental issues with resource use and economic growth is the biggest issue New Zealand faces, our top scientist says.
EXCLUSIVE: Carbon News readers can now get full climate report
24 Aug 2012
Subscribers to Carbon News now have access to the full report on research into New Zealanders' views on climate change.
Let's all be like Taranaki, says Joyce
24 Aug 2012
The Government is continuing its pressure on local authorities to give environmental consents to mining and big dairying operations.
Billions back fossil fuels, says study
24 Aug 2012
Subsidies for fossil fuels could top $US1 trillion this year, an American-based independent research agency is warning.
Fracking no answer, warn Greens
24 Aug 2012
Coal-seam gas is not the answer to New Zealand’s economic woes, the Green Party is warning.
Transpower wins energy award
24 Aug 2012
A Transpower-led alliance to upgrade the North Island electricity grid has taken the environmental excellence title at this year’s Deloitte Energy Excellence Awards.
Tasman pact aims to fight illegal logging
24 Aug 2012
New Zealand and Australia are to join forces to combat illegal logging.
Aquaflow makes Asia tech final
24 Aug 2012
A New Zealand renewable fuels company is a finalist in a competition to find Asia’s most prestigious private technology ventures.
Niwa gets bulk of new research money
24 Aug 2012
Environmental research has been allocated more than $16 million in the latest Government science investment round.
Most Kiwis back a green revolution
17 Aug 2012
New Zealanders are willing to put their hands in their pockets to encourage clean industries and technologies.
Wave power popular, but progress is slow
17 Aug 2012
New Zealanders might support Government incentives to encourage the marine energy industry, but our attempts at it have yet to bear fruit.
AL MORRISON: We've been too smug for too long
17 Aug 2012
The Department of Conservation wants to do business with business.
Mill Creek wind farm to play key role
17 Aug 2012
Meridian Energy has turned the first sod on Mill Creek, its 26-turbine wind farm north-west of Wellington City.
NZ farmers impress soil scientist
17 Aug 2012
The soil management and measuring practices of New Zealand’s pastoral carbon farmers have impressed an eminent soil scientist.
LanzaTech signs green rubber deal
17 Aug 2012
New Zealand biotechnology company LanzaTech has signed a joint development agreement with nylon producer Invista to develop a bio-based butadiene, used in the production of synthetic rubber.
We must value water, say irrigators
17 Aug 2012
Instead of knocking the productive use of water for activities such as irrigation, it’s time all New Zealanders accepted and celebrated how water adds value, the irrigation industry says.
Fish on the move, say ocean scientists
17 Aug 2012
Climate change is affecting Australia’s marine ecosystems more quickly than expected, with tropical fish and plankton moving south as waters warm.
NZ stepping out in bamboo socks
17 Aug 2012
Kiwi hosiery brand StepOut says it is introducing New Zealand’s first eco-friendly supermarket range of socks and tights - and upping the stakes against its Aussie rival.
People want more action on climate change
10 Aug 2012
New Zealanders want the Government and business to do more about climate change – but most of all we want other countries to do something.
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.
