New Zealand: All stories
EXCLUSIVE: Govt stays silent on free allocations
18 Feb 2011
The Government is still refusing to say how many free carbon credits are being given to some of New Zealand’s biggest companies, despite an Official Information Act request.
Lignite mining could send emissions soaring
18 Feb 2011
Solid Energy’s proposed lignite projects in Southland could add 10 million to 20 million tonnes to New Zealand’s annual greenhouse gas emissions.
Windfarm decision worries developers
18 Feb 2011
A decision to let only part of the proposed Tiritea wind farm go ahead has got wind energy developers worried.
Fewer emissions aid rural sector, says Garnaut
18 Feb 2011
Cutting greenhouse gas emissions could improve the economic prospects of rural Australia, says that country’s government adviser on climate change.
Motorway money poor choice, say Greens
18 Feb 2011
The Government’s transport stimulus package would have created many more jobs if it hadn’t cut funding for everything else to build new motorways, said the Green Party says.
Foresters' champion plants trees for carbon
11 Feb 2011
The man who won forest owners the right to earn money from the carbon stored in their trees is about to plant his first dedicated carbon forest.
Clean-tech costs falling fast, says Garnaut
11 Feb 2011
The cost of clean technology is falling faster than expected, as the United States and China swing their manufacturing might behind the sector, says the Australian Government’s climate change adviser.
Emissions target proposal seen as a trick
11 Feb 2011
A row has broken out over whether New Zealand’s proposed 2050 emissions reduction target is any sort of reduction at all.
ETS group looks at oral submissions
11 Feb 2011
The committee reviewing the Emissions Trading Scheme says it will try to hear oral submissions from those who want to make them.
Engineers warn of infrastructure chaos
11 Feb 2011
Engineers are warning the British Government that the country’s infrastructure will not cope with the effects of climate change.
Ag emissions calculator updated
11 Feb 2011
The group giving neutral climate change advice to agriculture has updated its online emissions calculator.
Weather chaos just the start, warn scientists
4 Feb 2011
The wild weather in Australia should sound a warning to New Zealand business on what to expect from climate change, says one of our leading climate scientists.
Action group gives nod to Green Growth move
4 Feb 2011
A group of top business people pushing for a clean-tech strategy for New Zealand says it will work with the Government’s new Green Growth advisory group.
Time running out for say on forest schemes
4 Feb 2011
The public has just two weeks left in which to make submissions on the future of the Permanent Forest Sink Initiative and other forestry schemes.
Garnaut backs fixed carbon price
4 Feb 2011
Australia’s chief climate change adviser is backing the idea of a fixed carbon price.
Smith calls for carbon reduction submissions
4 Feb 2011
The Government is calling for submissions on New Zealand’s 2050 emissions reduction target.
Lanzatech takes on international exec
4 Feb 2011
A New Zealand company turning algae into oil has appointed an international government relations manager.
EDS wants new way to manage our oceans
4 Feb 2011
The Environmental Defence Society wants an overhaul of the way in which we manage our oceans - including extending the coverage of the Resource Management Act out to the 200-mile limit.
Airport eyes switch from diesel boilers
4 Feb 2011
The diesel boilers might be turned off at Christchurch airport in favour of an environmentally friendly alternative.
Australian fuels firm adds to biodiesel plants
4 Feb 2011
Australian Renewable Fuels is buying out its biggest competitor.
Kiwi bach shows off power of solar
4 Feb 2011
A solar-powered bach is New Zealand's entry in an American competition designed to showcase solar-energy innovation.
Northland iwi top credits allocations
28 Jan 2011
Two Northland iwi are the biggest recipients so far of carbon credits being given to the owners of pre-1990 forests.
Forestry credits close on 10m mark
28 Jan 2011
The government is on the verge of issuing its 10 millionth forestry carbon credit.
Animal emissions going under microscope
28 Jan 2011
The Southern Hemisphere’s largest research centre measuring methane emissions from animals will be opened in Palmerston North next month.
Sustainability pioneer runs for Kiwi-of-the-year award
28 Jan 2011
A pioneer of sustainable business is in the running to be named New Zealander of the Year.
Govt stays silent on value of free credits
21 Jan 2011
Some of New Zealand’s biggest companies received free carbon credits from the Government.
Caygill committee eyes start next month
21 Jan 2011
The committee reviewing the Emissions Trading Scheme is yet to hold its first meeting, but chairman David Caygill expects those advocating changes to the scheme are already hard at work on submissions.
Some growers qualify for free carbon credits
21 Jan 2011
Horticulturalists have joined the list of those eligible for free carbon credits under the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Study reveals history of southern ice melts
21 Jan 2011
Research from Victoria University has revealed new findings on why Antarctic ice sheets have melted in the past, as well as how future melting might affect sea levels.
Investment in five wind farms tops $250m
21 Jan 2011
More than $250 million is being invested in new wind farms in New Zealand - and all without government subsidy.
FORUM: Signs of change
21 Jan 2011
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Susan Krumdieck, of Canterbury University, reflects on a sustainability conference which was, in itself, sustainable.
Review rules out some ETS challenges
23 Dec 2010
Questions about whether the Emissions Trading Scheme is the best way for New Zealand to tackle climate change have been ruled out of a review of the scheme.
Public might not appear before panel
23 Dec 2010
The public might not get a chance to make oral submissions on the review of the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Farmers renew call to keep agriculture out
23 Dec 2010
Federated Farmers says it will use the review of the Emissions Trading Scheme to try to keep agriculture out of the scheme.
California gives nod to timber carbon case
23 Dec 2010
The carbon-storing properties of wood products have been recognised in the new cap-and-trade scheme endorsed by Californian law-makers last week.
Clean-tech strategists will go it alone
17 Dec 2010
Business leaders pushing for a clean-tech development strategy for New Zealand say they’re ready to launch it next year – with or without the Government.
Aviation world eyes NZ algae technology
17 Dec 2010
A New Zealand company that started with an idea to turn algae into fuel has been invited to contribute to the Davos round of trade negotiations.
Forestry credits pioneer set to sell more
17 Dec 2010
One of the first forest owners to sell New Zealand forestry credits is gearing up to sell again.
ETS review terms out soon
17 Dec 2010
The terms of reference for a review of the Emissions Trading Scheme will be out by the end of the year, the Government says.
CANCUN: Significant step forward
17 Dec 2010
New Zealand climate change minister Tim Groser and Nick Smith say that the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Cancún, Mexico, is a significant step towards a global, legally binding and comprehensive agreement on climate change.
CANCUN: A clearer picture is emerging
17 Dec 2010
A clearer overall framework for global greenhouse gas emissions reductions is emerging - even if more work is needed to develop market mechanisms, writes Business New Zealand energy, enviornment and infrastructure manager John Carnegie from Cancun.
CANCUN: What the scientists are saying
17 Dec 2010
Leading climate scientists from New Zealand, Australia and Britain say progress was made in Cancun - but not enough to prevent dangerous climate warming.
CANCUN: Give money to research, says FedFarm
17 Dec 2010
The Cancun climate change summit proved that a solution to global carbon emissions is still as elusive as ever, says Federated Farmers.
Second chance on wilding trees exemptions
17 Dec 2010
Landowners clearing wilding trees established before 1990 have a second chance to apply for an exemption to the deforestation rules under the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Landcare gives Scottish parliament the nod
17 Dec 2010
New Zealand’s Landcare Research has certified the Scottish Parliament’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Less snow, but skifields should weather the storm
17 Dec 2010
New climate modelling shows that climate change means there will be less snow at the country's ski fields.
NZ plays key role in fossil fuels subsidies probe
17 Dec 2010
New Zealand is leading a group of small and medium-sized countries pushing for reform of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, which, it says, could cut greenhosue gas emissions by 10 per cent.
$2 petrol price points up Govt failure, say Greens
17 Dec 2010
The $2-a-litre petrol price barrier has been broken and shows more than ever the Government needs to plan for a future of high oil prices, the Green Party says.
Pacific climate response in question as NZ finance remains unclear
19 Dec 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | With New Zealand's $1.3 billion international climate finance commitment set to end with no clarity on what follows, the Auditor-General says oversight of that funding remains patchy and long-term outcomes are unclear.
NZ hydrogen regulation to catch up with the world
18 Dec 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | The government has announced a regulatory reset for New Zealand’s emerging clean tech hydrogen sector.
State-owned farmer drives profit growth with emissions reductions
19 Dec 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | Government-owned Landcorp, trading as Pāmu, is one-third of the way to meeting its 2031 emissions reduction targets, with five years left to run to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30.3% against 2021 emissions.
Transport dominates NZ’s rising consumer emissions
10 Dec 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Transport pollution was the biggest contributor to an increase in New Zealand’s consumption-based emissions in 2023, with emissions from household travel up 12%, and consumption-based emissions totalling 58.3 million tonnes – up 1.6% from the previous year.
NZ could become ‘dumping ground’ for dirty vehicles: Commissioner
16 Dec 2025
By Liz Kivi | Simon Upton, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, has warned the Government that its changes to the clean car standard could turn the country into a dumping ground for high emitting cars, making future emissions budgets harder to achieve.
Uncertainty eroding confidence in forestry sector
5 Dec 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Warnings are mounting that tree planting is set to plunge to “very close to zero”, as new Ministry for Primary Industries data shows ETS registration applications falling sharply as confidence in forestry declines.
Investors must support positive climate-tech
28 Nov 2025
OPINION: We need better leadership than the current ‘climate opportunism’ that is rife in the Beehive, and we need to back a marketplace that will make it happen, writes Rob Campbell.
