New Zealand: All stories
Rules change, but forest owners still obligated
3 Jul 2009
Forest owners are still under obligation to surrender emissions units to meet deforestation liabilities – despite Parliament delaying reporting dates.
Goverment needs to wake up, say foresters
3 Jul 2009
The new forestry deadlines established by the Government this week amount to “fiddling while Rome burns,” say foresters.
ETS committee sifts through last reports
3 Jul 2009
The emissions trading scheme review committee met yesterday and will meet regularly through the month as it works towards presenting its findings and recommendations to Parliament.
Crown Minerals happy with tour of the majors
3 Jul 2009
New Zealand is emerging as one of the top global focuses for oil exploration.
Holcim delays decision on cement plant move
3 Jul 2009
Swiss-owned Holcim invoked a palpable feeling of relief in the extractive industry community when it again pushed back the date for its decision whether or not it will move its production from Westport to Oamaru.
Greens push split-emissions cuts targets
30 Jun 2009
The prospect is emerging of New Zealand setting separate reduction targets for carbon and methane.
Energy sector wants firm emissions targets now
30 Jun 2009
The renewables sector is waiting to see whether the Government intends to present firm policy or a proposed strategy when it begins a series of public meetings in nine cities around the country next Monday to discuss New Zealand’s 2020 emissions target.
Farmers deserve reward, not tax, says scientist
30 Jun 2009
Farmers should be compensated for their work in tending the eco system instead of being taxed for climate change, says Professor Robert Watson, chief scientific adviser for Britain’s department of environment, food, and rural affairs.
'Green capital' to show off zero-emissions vehicle
30 Jun 2009
Palmerston North is consolidating its reputation as New Zealand’s green capital with the pending roll out of a locally designed and built zero-emissions vehicle.
Climate summit has benefits for NZ businesses
30 Jun 2009
New Zealand businesses and organisations can benefit directly from next month’s Climate Project summit in Melbourne, says BusinessLAB director Simon Harvey.
Why Top Energy is sitting pretty
30 Jun 2009
Top Energy is one of the few electricity generators untroubled by uncertainty around New Zealand’s emissions trading scheme.
Industry counts cost of government's ETS delay
26 Jun 2009
Government moves to postpone the entry of the heavy industrial emitters into the emissions trading scheme will cost forest owners money and delay the establishment of a carbon market in New Zealand.
Labour: Government had enough time
26 Jun 2009
The Labour Party is rejecting Government claims that there was never enough time to bring the stationary energy and industrial processes sector into the emissions trading scheme.
Parties stay quiet on ETS cooperation deal
26 Jun 2009
The Government and the Labour Party are refusing to comment on progress for an emissions trading scheme deal.
Forest owners notch Copenhagen victory
26 Jun 2009
New Zealand forest owners have managed to get offsetting and recognition of the capacity of wood products to store carbon into a key document leading up to December’s climate change talks in Copenhagen.
Government inaction worries foresters
26 Jun 2009
Foresters are anxious about the Government’s refusal to comment on its plans to develop market access for forestry credits.
Green Spaniards here and keen to talk business
26 Jun 2009
Representatives of the technology company that has pushed Spain to the forefront of the global green economy were in the official delegation accompanying King Juan Carlos on his tour of New Zealand this week.
ETS 'alienates' Maori forest land, says MP
26 Jun 2009
The emissions trading scheme effectively alienates Maori land ownership by putting an encumbrance over Maori land, says the Maori Party.
Europe keen to show us how to insulate
26 Jun 2009
The European Commission is keen to acquaint New Zealanders with its new portal designed to share information on building insulation and other methods of reducing energy demands in buildings of any size.
Greens fear impact of Ukraine connection
23 Jun 2009
Green Party climate change spokesperson Jeanette Fitzisimons is calling for tough and transparent rules on the type of international carbon credits admitted to the New Zealand emissions trading scheme in the wake of reports that a huge number of Ukrainian units are coming our way.
ETS review body on hold for key report
23 Jun 2009
The emissions trading scheme review committee will not be meeting to discuss ETS issues this week.
Kiwi climate system takes Manhatten
23 Jun 2009
Climate change modelling software developed in Hamilton is taking on the world, but it has taken winning a contract in New York City for New Zealand to sit up and take notice.
Top UK scientist here to see NZ toes the line
23 Jun 2009
The appearance at a public seminar in New Zealand of a top British government scientist this week underlines the importance that the British authorities are placing on whipping New Zealand into line on emissions trading.
Groser seeks progress on climate agreement
23 Jun 2009
Trade Minister Tim Groser says he’ll be using a series of international meetings to push for an economically efficient climate change agreement.
In the House ...
23 Jun 2009
On Thursday, the Government asked – and answered – questions about the emissions trading scheme.
Actor joins Greenpeace to document Pacific climate impacts
23 Jun 2009
Kiwi actress Keisha Castle-Hughes left for the Cook Islands yesterday to sail with Greenpeace and document climate impacts in the Pacific.
Climate lobby wants longer ETS review
23 Jun 2009
The New Zealand Climate Change Coalition wants the Government to extend the time frame for the select committee reviewing emissions trading, and to "clarify its real intentions on this issue."
Dunne: ETS report might be July or August ... or later
19 Jun 2009
The emissions trading scheme review committee might not release its report until as late as August.
Greens get in on the act with ETS talks
19 Jun 2009
The Green Party and National have had preliminary talks about supporting a Labour-National agreement on the emissions trading scheme.
Report doesn't do us justice, says forest chief
19 Jun 2009
The regulatory impact analysis of the emissions trading scheme does not do justice to forestry as a low-cost mitigation option for other sectors, says Forest Owners’ Association chief executive David Rhodes.
Emissions from power generation at low level
19 Jun 2009
New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation have dropped to their lowest level in five years.
Brussels tries to charm NZ into action on ETS
19 Jun 2009
A European Union charm offensive exerted on Australia over the past month is partly dedicated to ensuring that the Rudd government passes its delayed emissions trading scheme legislation in sympathy with Europe’s own policies.
Last of the coal to be mined at Kimihia project
19 Jun 2009
Solid Energy’s re-development of its Kimihia open-cast mine near Huntly is the last phase of an intensive and expensive environmental project that has turned earlier workings into a public recreational park.
Carter quiet on potential of forest carbon credits
16 Jun 2009
Forestry Minister David Carter doesn’t want to talk about the potential for New Zealand forest owners to sell carbon credits to other countries – nor what the Government is doing to help them.
US forests stand crucial for NZ growers
16 Jun 2009
The United States’ stand on forestry offsetting is being closely watched and could be hugely beneficial to New Zealand.
Biofuel source important to us, says Air NZ
16 Jun 2009
Air New Zealand says that where a biofuel is produced will be part of its selection criteria for any future biofuel it may use.
German coal move good for NZ researchers
16 Jun 2009
Accelerated investment by Germany in Australian clean coal will be of interest to New Zealand coal interests because of this country’s investment in coal emissions sequestration development over the Tasman.
Publisher pushes NZ climate connection
16 Jun 2009
Wealthy British publisher Colonel Derek Smail is using his New Zealand Inspired publication to boost UK-NZ climate cooperation.
World first as Japan buys NZ carbon credits
12 Jun 2009
New Zealand forestry-based carbon credits have been sold to Japan.
Carbon heavyweight changes mind about NZ
12 Jun 2009
The company that cancelled plans to come to New Zealand when the in-coming National Government announced a total review of the emissions trading scheme is back.
Ecologist queries Air NZ enviroment award
12 Jun 2009
Air New Zealand’s Qualmark’s Enviro-Gold accreditation is based in part on a false view of sustainability, says Pacific Ecologist editor Kay Weir.
Where are our carbon credits, asks tribal group
12 Jun 2009
Emissions trading has been a long time coming for Ngâti Porou Whanui Forests.
New bill will ignite local biofuel debate
12 Jun 2009
A new private member’s bill will spark an interesting debate about whether New Zealand-produced biofuel is disadvantaged compared with imported biofuel, says Gull’s New Zealand manager Dave Bodger.
NZUs should be staggered, says trading group
12 Jun 2009
The issuing of carbon credits to forest owners should be staggered through the year, rather than in one lump a year, says Environmental Intermediaries and Trading Group.
US trading plans excite NZ forest owners
9 Jun 2009
Moves to include international forestry offsets in America’s plans for a clean-energy economy will be a boon for New Zealand forest owners.
Decision near on greenhouse gas emissions rules
9 Jun 2009
The rules that will govern the way in which the stationary energy processes sector works under the emissions trading scheme are nearly complete.
Carbon certifiers tense as competition grows
9 Jun 2009
Competition in the carbon-neutral certification business is hotting up, with pioneer CarboNZero saying that newcomer Green Carbon fails to meet the criteria clients should use when choosing a greenhouse-gas certifier.
Capital clearing way for e-car stations
9 Jun 2009
The Wellington City Council is evaluating all of its transport policies to remove anything that stands in the way of kerbside charging stations for electric vehicles.
US connection boosts NZ Carbon Exchange
9 Jun 2009
A link to United States-based Cantor Fitzgerald is putting the New Zealand Carbon Exchange on a strong footing.
We need an environment watchdog, says society
5 Jun 2009
An environmental protection authority would give New Zealand more rigorous, science-based decisions on projects of national significance, says the Environmental Defence Society.
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.
