New Zealand: All stories
Little point in NZ carbon trading currency, says business group
13 May 2008
A second major business group is suggesting that New Zealand should be using international carbon instruments instead of creating its own currency.
Shock shipping news puts New Zealand on the spot
13 May 2008
A United Nations study that claims the true scale of CO2 emissions from shipping is three times higher than previously thought, is bad news for New Zealand.
The Business Roundtable writes
13 May 2008
References to the Business Roundtable in your editorial of April 29, 2008 were drawn to my attention.
Dairy operator eyes $75m loss without forestry offset scheme
12 May 2008
The emissions trading scheme could cost the owners of one of New Zealand’s biggest dairy conversions $75 million and see prime pastoral farmland remain locked-up in plantation forest unless a forestry offset scheme is introduced.
Nats deny any ETS deal with Government
12 May 2008
National is denying reports that it is gearing up to do a deal with Labour over the emission trading scheme, and the Government isn’t commenting.
Most Kiwis believe big emitters running the climate change show
12 May 2008
Most New Zealanders think that big greenhouse-gas emitters are calling the shots on the country’s climate change policy, and a Labour-Green coalition is seen as the best combination to manage change, according to a new poll.
Can National really make the tough calls on climate change?
12 May 2008
ANALYSIS – National may be showing it really doesn’t want to act on climate change.
Celebrity chef could cook up a storm for our food exporters
12 May 2008
Suggestions by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay that British restaurants should be fined for having imported food on their menus are a sign of the misguided Northern Hemisphere perception of the environmental impact of the international food trade, and are potentially damaging to New Zealand, says Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Peter Silcock.
New poll: Kiwis like ETS delays but want heavy emitters to pay now
9 May 2008
New Zealanders approve of the Government’s billion-dollar decision to delay bringing transport into the emissions trading scheme – but think that heavy emitters should be facing the cost of their emissions now.
Transport delay seen as threat to carbon currency
9 May 2008
The viability of the proposed New Zealand carbon currency, NZU, is threatened by the Government’s decision to delay bringing transport into the emissions trading scheme for another two years, says the Sustainability Council.
Government disputes $80b 'carbon tax' windfall claim
9 May 2008
The Government is disputing a suggestion by Solid Energy chief Don Elder that it could stand to make $80 billion from New Zealand’s emissions trading scheme.
ANALYSIS: Will Don Elder today spell out his dream for New Zealand?
9 May 2008
What did Don Elder hope to achieve by assuming a carbon price of $200 per tonne and almost nil-emissions reduction – to produce a result showing the Government could make a surplus of up to $80 billion from its emissions trading scheme?
Petrify, liquefy: New ways to bury greenhouse gas
9 May 2008
Turn greenhouse gases to stone? Transform them into a treacle-like liquid deep under the seabed? The ideas may sound like far-fetched schemes from an alchemist's notebook, but scientists are pursuing them as many countries prepare to bury captured greenhouse gases in coming years as part of the fight against global warming.
EXCLUSIVE: Top Fletcher officers played key role in ETS policy switch
8 May 2008
Highly reliable sources have told Carbon News that two senior Fletcher Building executives, Jonathan Ling and Hans Buwalda, were the key players in successfully lobbying Climate Change Minister David Parker for major changes to the emissions trading scheme, announced on Tuesday.
NZX chief: Here's our big chance to impress the Americans
8 May 2008
New Zealand has a chance to build a strong relationship with the United States over greenhouse-gas emissions trading by being the first country to bring agriculture and forestry into the scheme, says NZX chief Mark Weldon.
Big players put cases to ETS select committee
8 May 2008
The select committee hearing submissions on the emissions trading bill is in for an interesting day today, with energy producers, users and lobbyists lining up to make submissions.
Capital developer creating ‘first true green building’
8 May 2008
Leading restoration developer Ian Cassells is highlighting New Zealand’s “phony” approach to green building by developing the country’s first office-as-a-village, which will eliminate car emissions by having people live, work and play in the same place.
Government ETS moves will batter forestry Kyoto credit values
7 May 2008
Forest owners expect the value of their hard-won Kyoto carbon credits to plummet as a result of yesterday’s announced changes to the emissions trading scheme, with the likely result that few new forests will be planted.
Stock exchange chief looks to the futures
7 May 2008
NZX chief Mark Weldon says that changes to the timetable for implementation of the emissions trading scheme will move demand from a spot market to a futures market.
Non-committal Nats happy to play the waiting game
7 May 2008
National says it is carefully avoiding “running the politics” on climate change and won’t finalise its climate-change policy until at least July, when it sees Australia’s proposals.
Government allies vent their anger
7 May 2008
Government moves to delay the impact of the emissions trading scheme on big-business and motorists have earned anger from allies, with the Green Party threatening to pull its support.
Pandering, polluting, unprincipled – and popular
7 May 2008
ANALYSIS – The Government yesterday gave control over New Zealand’s transport fuel emissions to the offshore oil markets.
Changes not enough, NZ Steel tells government
7 May 2008
New Zealand Steel will today tell the Government that it still wants an exemption from the emissions trading scheme - despite Government moves yesterday to soften the impact of the scheme on big emitters.
Heavy-emitters should buy now, says carbon trader
6 May 2008
New Zealand’s top 200 greenhouse-gas heavy emitters should be buying carbon credits now to protect against likely price rises as the emission trading scheme starts to kick in, says a leading leading carbon trader.
Unions, company worried about ETs-induced job losses at steel mill
6 May 2008
Unions say they are concerned about the potential impact of the emissions trading scheme on the Glenbrook Steel mill, and say that the potential impact on jobs and manufacturing capacity needs to be considered.
Food exporters need help measuring carbon footprint
6 May 2008
The poster-guys of New Zealand’s carbon-neutral scene, Marlborough’s Grove Mill winery, say that Government support is needed if New Zealand exporters are to be ready to counteract growing Northern Hemisphere perceptions that buying our food is bad for the climate.
ETS hearings hit Auckland
6 May 2008
Hearings into the proposed emissions trading scheme move to Auckland tomorrow, with Air New Zealand, Greenpeace, Fletcher Building, the Maori Council and New Zealand Steel among those lining up to tell the politicians what they think if it.
Change in policies and pace call after Kyoto bill breaks billion dollar barrier
6 May 2008
Government is being urged to more quickly adopt emission-cutting policies, like public transport and home insulation, to help avert part of the now billion dollar Kyoto climate change bill, while National is calling for "a new direction".
Forest giant could be carbon-saving crop of the future
5 May 2008
Foresters wanting to cash in on the carbon trading regime are being told to think Californian coastal redwoods.
Nation’s biggest newspaper comes out for Forum advice on emissions trading scheme
5 May 2008
ANALYSIS: The New Zealand Herald today came out in support for the emissions trading scheme course advocated in advice to the Government last week by the powerful Climate Change Leadership Forum.
ETS threatens viability of $400m plant, says cement maker
5 May 2008
The emissions trading scheme threatens the viability of a planned $US400 million cement plant which would actually reduce overall greenhouse-gas emissions, warns cement manufacturer Holcim New Zealand.
NZ expert sees third way for troubled biofuels
5 May 2008
From economic saviour to planet disaster, biofuels have had a whirlwind public relations ride.
$200,000 grant backs computer collection scheme
5 May 2008
A community collection scheme for keeping end-of-life home computers out of landfills has been backed by a $200,000 grant from the Government’s Sustainable Management Fund.
'Enemies' unite in plea for leadership on climate change
2 May 2008
Two lobbyists usually found on opposite sides came together last night in a call for national leadership, co-operation and unity on climate change for the sake of all New Zealanders.
Crest Energy ready to power up the Kaipara
2 May 2008
Crest Energy plans to construct a marine turbine power generation plant in the Kaipara Harbour. The scheme will encompass around 200 completely submerged marine tidal turbines near the entrance to the harbour.
Waihopai attack might hurt big global warming probe
2 May 2008
The attack on the satellite earth station at Waihope, near Blenheim, could have imperiled New Zealand participation in what many believe to be the most sensitive and complex scientific study of global warming.
Exporter: Food miles ploy major threat to UK halal meat trade
2 May 2008
Meat exporter Dr Haj Mohamed Samy Abdel-Al believes that the food miles syndrome underpins criticism in Britain of halal foods from New Zealand.
Tree-mendous ... Charles to check on our forests
2 May 2008
Internal Affairs officials are in the early planning stages for a visit by the Prince of Wales and they have been advised by their UK counterparts it will be all business, rainforest business.
NZIER sets cat among political pigeons
1 May 2008
Two days after being revealed exclusively by Carbon News, the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research’s (NZIER’s) report into the costs of the Government’s planned emissions trading scheme (ETS) is sending shock-waves through Parliament.
Emissions-trading impacts on regional agenda
1 May 2008
Worried regional leaders gathering in Wellington tonight will discuss a report that predicts some far-flung regions will be hardest hit by the emissions trading scheme.
Cheaper for government to pick up greenhouse-gas tab
1 May 2008
A private research company says that it would be cheaper to have the Government paying for greenhouse-gas emissions than using an emissions trading scheme.
NZIER refuses to disclose who is paying for its ETS report
1 May 2008
The NZIER will not say who is funding its latest report on the possible impacts of the emissions trading scheme.
ETS impact ‘like a major war’ – Act leader Hide
1 May 2008
The Government’s emissions trading scheme (ETS) will have the economic impact of a major war, according to Act Party leader Rodney Hide.
ANALYSIS: What you are not hearing from the NZIER and heavy emitters
1 May 2008
The NZIER appears to expect a New Zealand Government to carry on regardless with an all-sectors, all-gases emissions trading scheme for 17 years – if the rest of the country’s competitors do not.
Worried about the environment
1 May 2008
The quest to find solutions to climate change is being hampered by public confusion over the difference between climate change and general environmental issues, warns a social trends researcher.
Vehicle exhaust emissions to be put to the test
1 May 2008
Testing will begin today to ensure all vehicles entering New Zealand meet tough new exhaust emissions standards.
Are our cattle killing the orangutan?
1 May 2008
Greenpeace is accusing the dairy sector of environmental irresponsibility after the Green Party revealed the sector is contributing to tropical rainforest destruction by importing huge quantities of palm kernel for cattle feed.
NEW REPORT: 'households, road users and SMEs' carry multi-billion ETS bill
30 Apr 2008
All sectors of the economy should come into the emissions trading scheme at the same time to avoid the “huge transfer of wealth” that will be the result of the proposed scheme, says the New Zealand Sustainability Council in a report out today.
Lines companies can’t duck thermal ban - Parker
30 Apr 2008
Lines companies will not be able to buck the Government’s ban on new thermal power generation despite the Electricity Industry Reform Amendment Bill (EIRA) seeming to give them that option, Climate Change Minister David Parker has told Carbon News.
Minister reveals emissions trading scheme to cut emissions by 11%
30 Apr 2008
Climate Change Minister David Parker this morning revealed the Government expects its emissions trading scheme to cut emissions by 11% by 2012.
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.
