New Zealand: All stories
Conference-bolstered Greens going to play hard ball on ETS
3 Jun 2008
Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimmons has come away from the party’s annual conference at the weekend strengthened in her position to play hardball over the emissions trading scheme.
Forum assures committee: parliamentary process is parliamentary process
3 Jun 2008
The Government-appointed multi-sector Leadership Forum on Climate Change is not working as an alternative to the select committee process – and has told the select committee considering the emissions trading scheme so.
Farm level obligation possible in ETS bill
3 Jun 2008
The ETS bill is likely to be framed so individual farms can become the point of obligation to account for emissions.
Key reveals thoughts on "bastardised" ETS scheme to student blogger
3 Jun 2008
National leader John Key has referred to different credit phase out timelines for different sectors as “a bit of a bastardised way to develop an emissions trading scheme”.
Electric vehicles no panacea, says Meridian
3 Jun 2008
Meridian says its electric vehicle trial will give New Zealanders “a first and early glimpse of the technology,” but warns that it is a mistake to view electric vehicles as a solution to all our carbon emission woes.
Today's the day of the big debate on crucial United States ETS bill
3 Jun 2008
The major Liebermann-Warner cap and trade bill is due to be debated in the US Senate today NZ time.
NZ solar efforts look small compared with EU's strong sector growth
3 Jun 2008
CARBON NEWS SPECIAL FEATURE. - While little appears to be happening in New Zealand, the use of solar energy, one of the most accessible and affordable sources of renewable energy available is growing steadily in Europe.
Brazillian ambassdor snaps back on rain forest-for-fuel claims
3 Jun 2008
The Brazilian Ambassador to New Zealand Manoel Gomes-Pereira, tired of his country being used as a piñata in the rainforests debate, has taken the unusual step for a diplomat of making a spirited public defence of Brazil’s biofuels strategy.
Aussie truck drivers: include fuel in ETS
3 Jun 2008
Australian truck drivers back the inclusion of fuel in their Government's emissions trading scheme and consider cuts to the fuel excise to be bad policy.
Disesel price no impact on truck numbers
3 Jun 2008
Rising diesel prices will not affect the number of trucks on the road if customers can afford to cover the increase, says the Road Transport Forum.
ETS impact modelling problems in Australia
3 Jun 2008
Economists in Australia are struggling to measure the impact on the economy of a proposed 90% emissions cut by 2050.
Red Stag co-generation plant puts $1m a year on bottomline
3 Jun 2008
Red Stag Timber of Rotorua, operator of the Waipa Sawmill, has emerged as the poster child of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority’s campaign to use renewable energy from wood fuel.
US study: US$35 per ton carbon price will cut emissions 10%
3 Jun 2008
A new analysis by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business shows possible positive short-term effects of establishing a mandatory price for CO2 emissions inthe United States.
When it comes to buying climate friendly vehicles 11% will part with the cash
3 Jun 2008
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — Although many new-vehicle buyers may want to purchase an environmentally friendly vehicle, only 11 percent are “very willing” to pay more to do so.
US wineries go for 100% solar power, lightweight bottles
3 Jun 2008
Elbin Blatz, a winery in California’s Napa Valley region, has installed a first-of-its-kind solar power array and the latest example of how Northern California’s wine industry is using solar power.
Americans cut car use by equivalent of 11 billion miles a year
3 Jun 2008
Americans drove their cars 4.3% fewer miles in March 2008 than they did a year earlier, according to the Federal Highway Administration.
US drivers shudder at $4 per gallon
3 Jun 2008
It appears the specter of US$4/gallon (about $1 per litre NZ) keeps the key out of the ignition in the Unired States.
Public investment in major clear coal plant project at risk
3 Jun 2008
The public fnding plug is about to be pulled on a U$1. billion cler claol energy project in the Unired States.
Transport sector advised to help shape next world emissions deal
3 Jun 2008
Leipzig.-Speaking at the International Transport Forum in Leipzig, Germany UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer called on key stakeholders in the transport sector to help shape the UN climate change deal that will be clinched in Copenhagen at the end of 2009.
FORUM: Dog and Lemon man says electric car owners exposed to power shortage issues
3 Jun 2008
Clive Matthew-Wilson, founder of the Dog and Lemon Guide, responds to a Carbon News story saying he is inventing a long term power shortage in order to justify an argument casting doubt on a future for electric vehicles..
EU experience shows cement industry's ETS worries 'exaggerated'
30 May 2008
Cement firms’ worries about international competitiveness effects and leakage, caused by emissions trading, may be exaggerated, according to a new analysis by carbon market experts.
Go carefully on soil carbon sequestration - officials
30 May 2008
Soil-storage of carbon mightn’t be the answer to farmers’ prayers for a solution to agricultural greenhouse-gas emissions, and New Zealand must use caution in any decision to move into soil credits, officials say.
Marine energy on a roll - offshore investors lining up
30 May 2008
New Zealand’s marine energy industry has been kick-started, with the Government coming in strongly behind it and international companies lining up to invest.
Mercury emission threat reappears
30 May 2008
A mercury poisoning disease may make a comeback as climate change dries out wetlands.
Electric car sceptic invents long-term power shortage
30 May 2008
The Dog and Lemon Guide man says the viability of electric cars in New Zealand is doubtful because of electricity shortages.
New Zealand's largest gas field completed
30 May 2008
The Pohokura offshore gas field development in Taranaki has been completed.
Why Parker is enthisiastic about marine energy
30 May 2008
Average wave power can exceed 100 kilowatts per metre of wave crest length, on the southwest-facing coasts of New Zealand.
Govt funding for Kaipara harbour tidal energy devices
30 May 2008
A project to generate electricity from the tides in Kaipara Harbour is to receive a grant of $1.85 million from the Marine Energy Deployment Fund.
New Zealand food imports still the greenest option for UK
30 May 2008
By Angela van de Weerdhof. - New Zealand food producers should fare well when the European Union rings in carbon labeling on all imports.
Banrock Station boss: make money by carbon sinking local reserves
30 May 2008
Money should be made from reserves by turning them into carbon sinks.
Letter to the Editor: Wairarapa councils' backdoor windfarm ban irks
30 May 2008
This letter from a Wairarapa lawyer regarding yesterday's Carbon News story revealing a troika of councils trying to ban windfarm development through plan changes.
FORUM: Climate change sceptics call Government scientists "propagandists"
30 May 2008
NIWA scientists have become political propagandists, according to New Zeaand climate change sceptics.
Meridian fights local body troika's backdoor bid to ban windfarms
29 May 2008
Meridian Energy Ltd has launched an appeal against what it sees as a crimp on renewable energy zoning by the Masterton, Carterton, and South Wairarapa District Councils.
Federated Farmers: We did not fund secret report
29 May 2008
Federated Farmers is strongly denying rumours that it is one of the secret funders of last month's NZIER report which predicts that the emissions trading scheme will cost New Zealand 22,000 jobs and billions of dollars.
Farmers: Green move to get agriculture into ETS early "not a runner"
29 May 2008
Farmers say a Green Party attempt to get them into the emissions trading scheme early as part of a deal for the party’s support for the climate change bill is not a political runner.
Brtish Gas wants NZ as green test bench
29 May 2008
Further evidence is emerging that Contact Energy is a prime target in the acquisition by British Gas of Australia’s Origin Energy, parent of Contact.
New petrol price impact research under way
29 May 2008
New Government research is under way on the impact of higher petrol prices on vehicle use
Carbon credit costs will skyrocket if no international trade
29 May 2008
An official report on the leading US using emissions trading bill says carbon credit costs could go up 93% if international trading in the credits is not allowed.
Air NZ looks for sting from EU emission trading
29 May 2008
Air New Zealand is examining the implications for its business of yesterday’s European Parliament Environment Committee’s vote for tougher emissions reductions targets
Recipients of millions in marine energy grants announced today
29 May 2008
Who gets the first Government grants to encourage marine energy development will be announced today.
Dunne lines himself up for an anti-ETS bill vote, or a household protector victory
29 May 2008
Is United Future leader Peter Dunne lining himself up for a vote against the emsission trading scheme? Or accolades for delivering a policy concession from the Government?
Farmers: It's not just us who need to adapt to predicted water shortages
29 May 2008
Federated Farmers spokesperson Frank Brenmuhl says the Ecoclimate report is an interesting and useful document but "the population needs to adapt, not just farmers."
Contact cranks part of New Plymouth plant back to life
29 May 2008
Contact Energy has announced that it will recommission part of its New Plymouth power station in response to anticipated winter electricity supply worries.
Stern's global climate change deal proposal
29 May 2008
Several Carbon News readers describe the latest Stern plan to manage climate change an essentail reading.
Comms company looks to install solar panels on customers' roofs
29 May 2008
Cox Communications has announced initiatives to cut energy costs that include adding solar electricity to its headquarters and communications system and increasing fuel efficiency in its fleet vehicles.
EXCLUSIVE: Greens push for early ETS entry for agriculture
28 May 2008
The Green Party is looking to force the Government to bring agriculture into the emissions trading scheme early.
Mitsubishi may win race to get first electric car to NZ market
28 May 2008
Mitsubishi hopes to win the race to get electric cars onto the New Zealand market.
New climate change report: Worse-ever droughts main NZ worry
28 May 2008
Fighting possible extreme droughts will be the main obstacle for farmers as a result of climate change in New Zealand but overall production is predicted to go up.
Canterbury prepares water plan to cope with temperatures up to 3.3deg higher
28 May 2008
Canterbury will have a regional water strategy in place within 18 months as part of its strategy for dealing with the expected impact of climate change.
Windflow falls victim to noise issue
28 May 2008
Windflow Technology of Christchurch is the pre-eminent alternate energy production engineer in New Zealand. Yet its power generation wind turbines are being rejected on the environmental grounds that they make too much noise.
Debanking debate heats up as deadline looms for submissions on NZ First bill
Tue 1 Jul 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The debate over so-called “woke banking” is back in the spotlight as the deadline approaches for public input on NZ First’s Debanking Bill.
SolarZero liquidation complex - but sale possible
Tue 1 Jul 2025
It will likely take a long time to sort out the complexities around the liquidation of SolarZero, with a series of claims against the company adding to the myriad complexities in arrangements set up to manage its contracts and obligations.
Flurry of govt announcements at Fieldays
12 Jun 2025
The government has come up with a solar energy package for farms, a new grass-fed certification scheme for meat and dairy, and a supplier agreement for carpets in new state homes - all part of the annual flurry of politicians’ Fieldays announcements.
Mangroves' overlooked climate role
Mon 30 Jun 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | New Zealand’s mangrove forests are pulling tens of thousands of tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere each year, yet their climate benefits remain unrecognised in national emissions reporting.
How flying can be a climate solution
16 Jun 2025
By Paul Callister and Robert McLachlan - Planetary Ecology | How can aviation contribute to tackling climate change when no practicable technology-based solutions are on the horizon?
Bill to limit farm-to-forest conversions passes first reading
Fri 27 Jun 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The government's bill aiming to limit farm-to-forestry conversions in the Emissions Trading Scheme passed its first reading in Parliament this week, however concerns were raised over rushing it through under urgency, with less than two weeks allowed for public submissions.
IRD will stop using wetland destruction in ‘how-to’ for claiming expenses
Fri 27 Jun 2025
By Liz Kivi | Environmental organisation Forest & Bird has welcomed the Inland Revenue’s decision to stop using wetland destruction as an example of a tax-deductible agricultural expense in future guidance.
