New Zealand: All stories
Millions pour into ag emission reduction research projects
25 Mar 2008
Research into the mitigation of agricultural emissions is the biggest beneficiary of the first $5m allocated by the Government under its Plan of Action for Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change.
Cut company tax to 25%, Aussies plead
25 Mar 2008
A 5% cut in the company tax rate is being demanded by lobbyist Australian Industry Group (AIG) to cushion business from the financial impact of the emissions trading scheme (ETS) that Kevin Rudd’s Australian Labor Government intends implementing in 2010.
FULL VERSION: Discussion paper on the Australian Emissions Trading Scheme
25 Mar 2008
The Garnaut Climate Change Review has released its ETS discussion paper, which looks at which industries should be included in Australia's ETS, and issues like recycling revenue from the sale of emission permits.
Kelpie Wilson: The Rising Price of Coal
25 Mar 2008
By Kelpie Wilson, truthout Environment Editor. As the global energy/climate crisis deepens, coal has become the starkest symbol and most telling measure of our predicament.
Self-assessment the Kiwi ETS maxim
20 Mar 2008
A CARBON NEWS INQUIRY SERIES - By Hugh de Lacy: Don’t wait around for the Government to impose overseas standards on carbon assessment and verification: self-assessment is the core theme in the New Zealand emissions trading scheme (ETS), according to Dave Brash, general manager of the Treasury’s Emissions Trading Group.
American ETS cost estimates parallel New Zealand’s
20 Mar 2008
New Zealand seems to be pretty much on the button when it comes to forecasting the costs of its emissions trading scheme (ETS), to judge from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) guesstimate of the United States model.
Huntly sends electricity emissions into nosedive
20 Mar 2008
Genesis Energy’s new e3p combined-cycle gas turbine at Huntly slashed electricity generation emissions 10% in the 2007 December quarter compared to the same period in 2006, even though total thermal generation jumped 17%.
"Energy Forests" could meet all future NZ transport and heat needs
20 Mar 2008
Purpose-grown energy forests if planted today could meet all of New Zealand's future transport fuel and heat energy needs, without threatening the country's important agricultural industry, according to a study completed by Crown Research Institute, Scion.
Greens support for forestry offset conditional
20 Mar 2008
The Green Party is warning the Flexible Land Use Alliance, which has announced it has a parliamentary majority for its forestry offset scheme, that it needs to realise that the Green Party's support is conditional.
The full bill: Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference)
20 Mar 2008
As a service to subscribers, Carbon News provides a full copy of the Climate Change (emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill
Hansard debate record on the first reading of the NZ ETS bill
20 Mar 2008
As a service to subscribers, the Hansard report on the introduction of the bill proposing to introduce emissions trading in new Zealand, and ban new non-baseload thermal generation for 10 years can be viewed here (http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Debates/Debates/d/f/2/48HansD_20071212_00000817-Climate-Change-Emissions-Trading-and-Renewable.htm)
ETS briefing: the digest provided to MPs
20 Mar 2008
As a service to subscribers, Carbon news attaches (../../attachments/docs/bill-digest-1587climatechangeemissionstrading1.pdf) the Digest briefing provided to MPs on the Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill.
No swerving from ETS – Cullen
19 Mar 2008
Finance Minister Dr Michael Cullen's office says he is adamant the global economic downturn will not deflect the Government from its decision to introduce an emissions trading scheme (ETS) this year.
Could Clark deliver a personal climate change tax credit?
19 Mar 2008
Could the Clark Government come up with a one-off cash Climate Action Dividend in this year’s Budget, to offset higher costs people will face to pay for its climate change measures?
Deforestation in 2007 exceeds Anderton’s expectations
19 Mar 2008
The rush to change land use before the forestry industry came under the emissions trading scheme (ETS) resulted in far more trees being cut down and not replaced than the Government expected.
British firm announces world's largest tidal power development
19 Mar 2008
While the Government here has received two applications for the first tranche of $2 million for wave engery, a British company yesterday announced the world's largest tidal power project.
Queensland drives net solar cost down to under $1500 per household
19 Mar 2008
The announcement follows the inaugural meeting of the Premier’s Council on Climate Change, addressed by one of Australia’s greatest scientific minds, Dr Tim Flannery.
Nitrification inhibitors critical to clean dairying
19 Mar 2008
If every one of the country’s 5000-odd dairy farmers were to spray their pastures with Ravensdown’s Eco-N, nitrous oxide emissions from all of New Zealand’s pastoral farming would be cut to below 1990 levels, the company says.
CARBON NEWS FORUM: BP Chief Executive - Action needed now to smooth transition to low carbon economy
19 Mar 2008
"Across the world we're at an inflection point as far as the future energy mix is concerned. If we act now to develop sustainable regulatory and fiscal structures, we will be able to smooth the transition to a lower carbon economy of the future. If we wait, then that transition could be very difficult indeed" said BP chief executive Tony Hayward at the Third International Renewables Energy Conference.
Smith reveals National’s goal for integrated trans-Tasman ETS, plans to protect emitting industries beyond 2025
18 Mar 2008
Avoiding a repeat of Labour’s economic strip-tease of the 1980s, and integrating the New Zealand emissions trading scheme (ETS) with Australia’s will be key planks in the National Party’s climate change policy at this year’s general election.
Key backs ETS – with balance
18 Mar 2008
Opposition Leader John Key says his party supports the proposed New Zealand emissions trading system, describing it as “a good model, market-based, it works”. He also talked of further reforming the planning laws so renewable energy projects could proceed.
Business leader says to trust prices to look after the environment
18 Mar 2008
Businesses should reinforce their belief in the power of markets to put a price on carbon and take care of the environment.
Continental plans bio fuel test flight
18 Mar 2008
Continental Airlines, Boeing and GE Aviation have announced plans to conduct a biofuels demonstration flight in the first half of 2009 in an effort to identify sustainable fuel solutions for the aviation industry.
Aquaflow aviation specialist for key projects
18 Mar 2008
Algae biodiesel developer Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation of Nelson has appointed Des Ashton as a consultant to lead key areas of operational development, in particular aviation projects.
Thanks: Carbon News 11th most read business story on day one
18 Mar 2008
A Carbon News story detailing its top stories in its first edition of March 11 has ranked 11th in reading ratings on the Scooop web site. Thanks for your interest and support
EXCLUSIVE: Government to plead for forest off-setting option
17 Mar 2008
The Government will plead with its Kyoto Protocol partners to introduce forest offsetting to the rules covering the second commitment period from 2012 to 2025, but its chances of success are remote, a well-placed source has told Carbon News.
Government’s bio-fuel bubble fit to burst
17 Mar 2008
The bio-fuels bubble has exploded in the face of the Labour Government’s demand that they be incorporated into petrol and diesel mixes, according to the New Zealand chief executive of global energy giant British Petroleum (BP), Peter Griffiths.
Business wants New Zealand to go nuclear on emission credits
17 Mar 2008
Businesses being required to enter New Zealand’s emissions trading scheme want to be able to trade nuclear-sourced emissions credits.
EXCLUSIVE PROFILE: The young millionnaire behind Green Carbon
17 Mar 2008
By Hugh de Lacy - The trauma of an 11-year-old only child seeing his parents all but ruined by the 1987 sharemarket crash is what drove Seeby Woodhouse into a hugely successful entrepreneurial career.
Two marine energy fund applications
17 Mar 2008
Two applications have been received for the first $2m tranche of government grants under the Marine Energy Deployment Fund (MEDF).
Calculate your deforestation liability
17 Mar 2008
The ValueADD Company has launched an online interactive calculator to determine carbon liabilities for de-foresting pre-1990 land. Some of the liabilities are significant.
EU pumps up minimum taxes for diesel to equal petrol
17 Mar 2008
Members of the European Parliament have decided the current EU-wide minimum rate of tax on diesel should be increased to match the current minimum rate for unleaded petrol, but no further.
Agricultural emission rumours discounted
16 Mar 2008
Rumours of a massive under-estimation of the level of greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted by agriculture in New Zealand appear to be unfounded, with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) suggesting 50ha of exotic plantation will be enough to offset the emissions of a 500ha hill-country farm.
Corporate tax group's views on treatment of New Zealand emission trading units
12 Mar 2008
Inland Revenue is being asked to clarify how emissions trading units, used in the coming New Zealand emissions trading scheme, will be treated. This paper prepared by Deloitte for the Corporate Tax Group (representing 32 major corporations) and submitted to the IRD, sets out the issues – and proposed solutions in how ETUs should be treated for tax purposes.
Climate Change natural - unstoppable
12 Mar 2008
By Dr Muriel Newman, Director NZ Centre for Political Research www.nzcpr.com (http://www.nzcpr.com/). I have just returned from an historic meeting of more than 500 people from around the world who gathered in New York to address the question of whether man-made global warming is really threatening the future existence of our planet.
Right House scores DOC carbon neutral contract
12 Mar 2008
Department Meridian Energy subsidiary Right House has secured the contract to help the Department of Conservation move ot its 2012 carbon neutral goal.
Rabobank's annual Ag report: fine balance needed on climate change
12 Mar 2008
Given New Zealand’s exposure to global agricultural commodity markets, any loss of international competitiveness as a result of the new scheme would be damaging, according to report co-author and Rabobank head of Food and Agribusiness Research and Advisory, Bill Cordingley.
Half of inter-island pole 1 power link back before winter
12 Mar 2008
Transpower New Zealand says the mitigations needed to return a half pole 1 of the HVDC inter island link to service will be completed prior to winter.
Poll: National electricity grid greatly worries New Zealanders
12 Mar 2008
Eight out of 10 New Zealanders believe the national electricity grid needs upgrading. Some 42% think an upgrade is urgent, according to the results of a major new national poll by ShapeNZ.
Policy churn ‘bewildering and costly’: Commissioner urges cross-party fix for environmental management
Thu 9 Oct 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton warns that fragmented, stop–start policy and constant law reform are stalling progress on climate, freshwater and biodiversity.
Transpower tracks more than 100 new grid projects
Tue 14 Oct 2025
Transpower’s latest connection data show more than 100 generation, storage and load projects in its pipeline, reflecting the rapid pace of electrification across the country.
SPECIAL BULLETIN: Govt weakens methane target
Sun 12 Oct 2025
By Liz Kivi | The government has ignored the Climate Change Commission’s advice to strengthen methane targets and has instead weakened them significantly.
Govt releases updated emissions projections
Mon 13 Oct 2025
By Liz Kivi | The Ministry for the Environment has released updated emissions projections to 2050, which show significant differences to the Climate Change Commission's recent projections for the same period.
Air NZ inks deal for its first internationally verified carbon credits
Thu 9 Oct 2025
By Liz Kivi | Air New Zealand has committed to buying 8000 tonnes of carbon removals by 2030, in partnership with local native forest investment platform My Native Forest.
Emails show forestry lobby fought Gisborne crackdown as slash clean-up drags on
26 Sep 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Sustainable land use advocates are accusing Eastland Wood Council of stonewalling efforts to tighten forestry rules, after correspondence between the group and the local council was released under the Official Information Act.
Climate credibility gap widening for Aussie firms
1 Oct 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | Australian public companies’ climate change commitments are in retreat, reflecting difficulty in achieving stated targets and increased fossil use, but not because of any pressure to make less effort, according to a study of major companies’ ESG reporting.
