New Zealand: All stories
Garnaut to tell Aussies how life will be in Carbonland
30 Sep 2008
Australians this week will get their best look yet at life in a carbon economy.
London link boosts NZX international standing
30 Sep 2008
NZX’s tie-up with London’s Plus Markets Group gives the New Zealand Stock Exchange a foothold in its drive to internationalise itself through its carbon emissions trading and registry.
Turning milk bottles into useful products
30 Sep 2008
Clever thinking by University of Auckland Faculty of Engineering students is set to change the way milk bottles are recycled on Waiheke Island.
EXCLUSIVE: It's official, we're losing climate change battle
26 Sep 2008
The world is losing the battle against climate change, with global carbon emissions rising sharply last year, a hard-hitting scientific paper due out today will show.
Nats vow to sweep new broom through forest industry
26 Sep 2008
National hopes to sweep a new broom through the forestry sector, promising changes to the Resource Management Act, pushing for offsetting to be included in the Kyoto Protocol, and creating open, regular dialogue between the government and industry.
ANALYSIS: Our future under K2 bleak without forestry
26 Sep 2008
The release of the National Party’s forestry policy has received a warm reception from the sector, with the New Zealand Forest Owner’s Association applauding the party for listening to the industry.
Hydrogen economy tumbles down the NZ wish-list
26 Sep 2008
A government-sponsored research project into a hydrogen economy for New Zealand shows signs of having been sandbagged by political parties' moves to suppress debate on coal.
Pallet-maker puts the heat on plastic bags
26 Sep 2008
A Christchurch company has developed a heat process that converts consumer plastics into industrial freight pallets.
Heavy emitters told climate change issues ripe for litigation
23 Sep 2008
It is only a matter of time before a class action is brought against heavy emitters in New Zealand over damage caused by climate change, says Kensington Swan partner Bryan Gundersen.
Market readies as NZUs about to go on line
23 Sep 2008
Excitement is mounting on the trading markets as NZUs (New Zealand units) are about to go live.
Bank offers customers fixed-price diesel deal
23 Sep 2008
Westpac is leveraging off its drive into industrial equipment leasing by expanding the package, and is now offering its customers a longer-term fixed price on their diesel supply.
New waste bill puts pressure on manufacturers
23 Sep 2008
The Waste Minimisation Bill, expected to get royal assent today, has been almost overlooked in the wake of the passing of the emissions trading legislation.
Patagonia talks paved way for Poznan, says Parker
23 Sep 2008
Promoting emissions-reducing technologies and making countries accountable for failing to reach reduction targets were two of the issues on the table in high-level talks Patagonia last week, says Climate Change Minister David Parker.
Programme helps firms to get to know their carbon footprint
23 Sep 2008
A new programme to help large emitters to measure their carbon footprint has been launched by Landcare.
Our ETS action outstrips nuclear stand, says international expert
19 Sep 2008
New Zealand’s “brave” emissions trading scheme is as significant on the world stage as our 1980s stand against nuclear energy, and could lead to the formation of an Asia/Pacific carbon-trading bloc, says an international climate-change consultant.
National's fisheries policy hooks seafood industry
19 Sep 2008
National’s fisheries policy would leave the industry more than $130 million better off over the first eight years of New Zealand’s emissions trading scheme, the industry says.
Promises, promises ... but what are the costs, asks forester
19 Sep 2008
The “Cassandra of carbon trading” says that the ETS-era is characterised with promises of rewards, yet riddled with unknown costs to achieve them.
Crest appeal one of four over tidal power scheme
19 Sep 2008
Four appeals have been lodged against the Northland Regional Council's decision to grant resource consents for New Zealand's first tidal energy project – including one from the developer itself.
New Hamilton hospital first to go green
19 Sep 2008
New Zealand’s first green hospital, due to be opened next year in Hamilton, will be registered under the Australian green-rating system because no standard exists here.
Want a new Mitsi electric? Don't hold your breath
19 Sep 2008
Only one of Mitsubishi’s i MiEV electric vehicles is confirmed as coming to New Zealand in 2009 for display and evaluation purposes – and there are doubts the car maker will ever bring “useful” numbers them into the country for sale.
FORUM: Is the door open for a carbon tax?
19 Sep 2008
Kensington Swan energy specialist Bryan Gunderson looks at the impacts of Australia adopting a carbon tax.
ETS picture becoming clearer for forest owners
16 Sep 2008
The forestry sector will know precisely how to participate in the emissions trading scheme when the forestry stakeholder reference group meets with MAF at the end of the month.
Entrepreneur finds use for dairy effluent
16 Sep 2008
Electricity industry entrepreneur Brian Tolley says that his BioGenCool system that turns dairy effluent into electricity and fertiliser is the only way to cope with New Zealand’s biggest agricultural pollutant.
Kiwi boffin says he can turn tyres into fuel
16 Sep 2008
A New Zealander has developed a compact and mobile refinery appliance that he says can derive automotive fuel from the nation’s dumped tyres.
Kaipara hapu lodges appeal against Crest tidal project
16 Sep 2008
Northern Kaipara tribal group Te Uri o Hau has appealed the Northland Regional Council’s recommendation that Crest Energy be given resource consent for its Kaipara Harbour tidal energy project.
NZ key player at Patagonia climate change talks
16 Sep 2008
New Zealand is one of a handful of key countries at an international dialogue in Patagonia to guide the development of the post-2012 climate change accord.
Contact wins consent for Taupo geothermal station
16 Sep 2008
Contact Energy has been granted resource consent for a 220 megawatt Te Mihi geothermal power station near Taupo.
Grab the opportunities, UK expert tells our farmers
16 Sep 2008
Significant opportunities will emerge for New Zealand and Australian agriculture to benefit from moves to address climate change, according to a leading international expert in the field.
Don't wait for Nats' ETS, businesses told
12 Sep 2008
Businesses should not sit around waiting for the National Party to change the emissions trading scheme, warns one of their key lobbyists.
ETS befuddles business community, poll shows
12 Sep 2008
The emissions trading scheme might be law, but most business people don’t know much about it.
NZ algae-to-fuels pioneer claims world breakthrough
12 Sep 2008
New Zealand’s Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation says it has become the first company in the world to produce green-crude from wild algae.
Disappointed farmers vow to fight on ... but how?
12 Sep 2008
Federated Farmers will keep fighting the emissions trading scheme – but isn’t sure what move to take next.
Carbon courses aim to help small businesses
12 Sep 2008
A trial programme to help small and medium-sized businesses to cut their energy consumption is under way in Auckland.
Hemp (not the smoking kind) might be next wonder crop
12 Sep 2008
Former Green MP Nandor Tanczos could see his long campaign to have hemp made legal vindicated.
Forest owners: Problems have not gone away
12 Sep 2008
The treatment of pre-1990 forests under the emissions trading scheme will emerge again as a major issue, warns the New Zealand Forest Owners’ Association.
Garrett: Don't tinker with your new ETS law
12 Sep 2008
Australian Environment Minister Peter Garrett has warned New Zealand not to “go tinkering” with its new emissions trading law.
LETTER: Bad news for Ngai Tahu
12 Sep 2008
In Carbon News (5 Sept 2008) Willie Te Aho was quoted as saying that the deforestation liability for Ngai Tahu would be around $15,000 per hectare for changing the use of its 80,000 hectare pre-1990 forest estate.
LETTER: Crests' Poutu power project
12 Sep 2008
Noting the Northland Regional Council decision to allow the Crest Energy tidal power scheme at Poutu, on the Kaipara Harbour.
Businesses, wake up and smell the carbon
11 Sep 2008
New Zealand business woke up to a new reality today – it’s time to start counting carbon.
Forest owners first to feel effects of ETS
11 Sep 2008
Forest owners will be the first New Zealanders into the emissions trading scheme - with the first entering within 10 weeks.
New world of emissions - what happens and when
11 Sep 2008
The mandatory reporting period for pre-1990 forests starts this year, with ETS obligations and entitlements accruing all year, and a surrender date of December 31 next year.
ETS leaves treaty settlements in doubt, says Harawira
11 Sep 2008
The validity of final Treaty of Waitangi settlements is in doubt in the wake of the passing of the emissions trading scheme, says the Maori Party.
REACTION: Good work on ETS, now get on with it, says business council
11 Sep 2008
Business leaders are welcoming the passage of emissions trading law as an essential step for New Zealand to preserve its exporting and tourism future.
FORUM: Biochar holds many of the answers for climate change
11 Sep 2008
Biochar technology is an environmental triple-whammy, so why is it under attack? By Dr Peter Read.
Parker hails party leaders for 'great victory' on climate change bill
9 Sep 2008
Prime Minister Helen Clark, Finance Minister Michael Cullen and Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton have played pivotal parts in getting New Zealand’s emissions trading scheme passed, Climate Change Minister David Parker says.
National promises ETS by 2010 - but fails to answer question on cap
9 Sep 2008
National is promising to have an emissions trading scheme in force by 2010.
Govt all talk and no action, says vehicle emissions group
9 Sep 2008
The Government needs to put its money where its mouth is when it comes to lowering vehicle emissions, says a high-powered lobby group.
NZ scientists unrecognised for work behind the scenes
9 Sep 2008
Political parties are so anxious to play down some energy issues that valuable work by the government’s own energy and scientific agencies is receiving little recognition
ETS a ‘broken paradigm’ undercutting biodiversity efforts
Mon 25 Aug 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Pure Advantage is calling on the government to reform the Emissions Trading Scheme, with a new policy briefing saying that New Zealand’s offset-heavy approach is a “broken paradigm” undermining biodiversity and shifting risk to communities.
Profound shifts in our changing energy system – new data
Today 10:46am
New Zealand’s energy system is undergoing a profound shift as falling gas production and a dry hydro year reshaped the electricity market in 2024, according to data from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Energy in New Zealand 2025.
International scientists slam NZ govt's proposed approach to methane
13 Aug 2025
New Zealand's proposed approach to methane emissions has again been attacked by international climate scientists, with a new study saying the attempt to redefine climate target-setting by livestock-exporting countries undermines the transition to a sustainable and equitable food system
Marginal drop in last year's regional emissions
Today 10:46am
Regional greenhouse gas emissions were down slightly last year, with a fall in gas supply leading to a big drop in Taranaki, but more coal burnt leading to higher emissions in Waikato, according to new figures from Stats NZ
Fund for low emissions transport winds up
31 Jul 2025
New Zealand’s Low Emission Transport Fund has officially wrapped up, ending a nine-year programme that put hundreds of millions of dollars towards accelerating the country’s shift to cleaner transport.
Certainty crucial to emissions cuts – Watts
20 Aug 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says that policy certainty is the Government’s primary lever for unlocking private capital and meeting climate targets, telling a carbon forestry conference that ETS settings are 'locked' through 2030.
Why climate strategy is now central to business success
Tue 26 Aug 2025
SPONSORED CONTENT: Ahead of next month’s Climate Change and Business Conference, New Zealand businesses are being urged to treat climate strategy not as a regulatory burden, but as a core driver of economic competitiveness.
