New Zealand: All stories
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
Ecology group wants NZ ban on Brazilian biofuel
9 Sep 2008
The Pacific Institute of Resource Management - the New Zealand watchdog sponsored by Ecologist founder Teddy Goldsmith - is challenging the EECA’s claim that biofuels from Brazil are even remotely sustainable.
Labour wants to switch climate change focus to making money
5 Sep 2008
The Government is gearing up to switch its climate change focus from costing money to making money.
Parker: Not the time to move on offset planting
5 Sep 2008
Allowing land-owners to transfer forestry blocks to marginal land now would shoot New Zealand’s long-term international interests in the foot, says Climate Change Minister David Parker
Garnaut delivers carbon targets today
5 Sep 2008
Australians will find out today what their carbon reduction targets are likely to be.
Iwi leaders doubt ETS forest land dispute will spread
5 Sep 2008
The Iwi Leadership Group is playing down concerns that the Government’s emissions trading scheme will lead to a raft of other iwi revisting their treaty settlements.
Govt: ETS forestry compo benefits large number of iwi
5 Sep 2008
The Government claims a large number of iwi believe the compensation package under the emissions trading scheme gives them a net benefit rather than a net cost.
Tribal group challenges Parker's ETS support claim
5 Sep 2008
A major iwi is challenging Climate Change Minister David Parker’s claim that most tribes support the emissions trading bill.
National’s ETS changes: devilish cost in the detail
5 Sep 2008
ANALYSIS - The further glimpses of National Party emissions trading policy “detail” in the past few days show it might take some risks with the taxpayers’ purse.
Rare glimpse of National's post-election ETS policy detail
5 Sep 2008
National may have pointed to its possible course on emissions trading law if it forms the government after this year’s election.
US speculation regulator includes NZ among targets
5 Sep 2008
The American Commodity Futures Trading Commission is targeting United Kingdom and Commonwealth traders involved in no-limit speculative oil trades.
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.
