New Zealand: All stories
Plea to lighten up on the car industry
13 Jun 2008
Cars are being unfairly picked on in the debate over greenhouse-gas emissions, says a leading player in the luxury car market.
Cut out the conflict says (forgetful?) Fed Farmers
13 Jun 2008
Federated Farmers is appealing for more dialogue and less confrontation on environmental issues.
New animal id and tracing system launched
13 Jun 2008
A comprehensive animal identification and traceability system is essential for maintaining international credibility for our food exports, Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton said yesterday.
Forestry owners: Ministers claim of liabilities warning not true
13 Jun 2008
Claims by forestry minister Jim Anderton on Radio New Zealand’s Morning Report yesterday that land owners were warned five years ago of potential deforestation liabilities are not correct, the New Zealand Forest Owners Association said yesterday.
Kiwis cut power use 2%, advertisements and rain now due
13 Jun 2008
The Winter Power Group advised today that television advertisements encouraging consumers to become ‘powersavers’ will begin this Sunday 15 June.
Unique cross-sector roundtable forms to discuss sustainable agriculture
13 Jun 2008
Key participants in the Conflict in Paradise Conference, being held in Auckland yesterday, agreed to establish a unique roundtable group to work to find ways of making New Zealand agriculture more sustainable.
Hydro lakes at their lowest this year
13 Jun 2008
National Party Energy spokesman Gerry Brownlee says for the sake of the country he hopes the forecast heavy rains make a real difference to the southern hydro lakes this week.
Fonterra refuses to rush into gas-reducing nitrogen inhibitors
12 Jun 2008
Fonterra says that it won't promote greenhouse-gas reducing nitrogen inhibitors on farms until they are internationally recognised.
Heavy emitters' bull turned loose in Maori Party's china shop
12 Jun 2008
The heavy emitters' organisation yesterday launched a public attack on the Maori Party in a move which might indicate it has given up on getting the party's support to delay the ETS bill.
Stop the climate change talking and do something, says Skilling
12 Jun 2008
New Zealand is skirting around the issues and failing to reach the consensus needed to deal with climate change, says the New Zealand Institute.
NZ Wood urges caution over concrete carbonisation claims
12 Jun 2008
The forestry industry body NZ Wood says that the concrete industry needs to be realistic about its claims about concrete’s ability to absord CO2 revealed in Carbon News report yesterday.
ACT working on individual carbon tax?
12 Jun 2008
ACT will cover the ETS debate in Parliament with the concept of individual invoices for a carbon flat tax.
Kaipara marine energy plan worries fishermen
12 Jun 2008
More than half the 121 objectors to Crest Energy’s Kaipara Harbour tidal energy project say they are worried about the impact the project will have on fishing.
Push for wider use of geothermal energy, using "low heat" resources
12 Jun 2008
New Zealanders will have more opportunity to use heat energy drawn directly from the ground in the future as a result of research being led by GNS Science.
Smart software solution to help farmers meet Kyoto obligations
12 Jun 2008
A software solution developed by MAF, AgResearch and FertResearch will enable farmers across the country to accurately estimate their greenhouse gas emissions.
US$100m, 20MW roof-top solar power plan detailed
12 Jun 2008
More details have come out about US company Duke Energy’s $100 million investment in commercial-scale rooftop solar panels.
British companies unveil £2bn carbon reduction plans
12 Jun 2008
Britain's largest energy and industrial companies have announced that they are looking at the possibility of implementing a £2 billion plan to capture carbon and store it in caverns.
O'Reilly: No excuse for faltering energy supply
12 Jun 2008
Secure electricity supply is fundamental for business and there’s no excuse for the current faltering supply, says Business NZ.
AgResearch Chairman Rick Christie departs
12 Jun 2008
Rick Christie announced yesterday that after two three-year terms as AgResearch Chairman he would step down from the role on June 30 to tackle his increased workload elsewhere.
Mobil joins the biofuel parade
12 Jun 2008
Mobil is selling a 98 octane fuel containing up to 10% ethanol (E10), and a 91 octane fuel containing up to 3% ethanol.
$400,000+ price-tag for NZIER report?
11 Jun 2008
The secretly funded NZIER report on the potential impacts of the emissions trading scheme may have cost at least $400,000.
Major deforestation reported, but MAF survey shows ETS will lift replanting rates
11 Jun 2008
National yesterday decried the worst ever loss of 13,600 hectares of forest last year as a disaster for the environment. However it will vote against the ETS, which a MAF study reveals will boost replating rates by 5 to 15%.
Maori party attacks proposed heavy emitter subsidies as “outrageous”
11 Jun 2008
The Maori Party’s co-leaders yesterday described the proposed 90% subsidy of heavy emitters under the emissions trading scheme as “outrageous”, indicating a tough line in any support for the ETS bill.
Holcim researching concrete’s CO2 absorption potential
11 Jun 2008
Concrete’s reputation as a carbon-emissions bad-boy is under review as Holcim enters the second phase of research into the capacity for concrete to absorb atmospheric CO2.
Major breakthrough in NZ animal methane research
11 Jun 2008
New Zealand scientists celebrated a major break through last week on mapping the genetic sequence of a microbe, which produces methane from the rumen of cattle and sheep.
Vehicle valuer: Medium and large cars become an asset liability
11 Jun 2008
Having just experienced the greatest one day jump in world oil prices, there is more pressure than ever on asset values for medium and especially large cars when they are sold into the second hand vehicle market.
Power saving radio and TV ads to start this weekend
11 Jun 2008
Transpower confirmed yesterday the electricity industry will step up current efforts to conserve power and is extending the public information campaign to include radio and television advertising, starting this weekend.
First personal carbon trading scheme launches
11 Jun 2008
The world's first real time personal carbin trading scheme has launched.
The big debate comes down to heated towel rails?
11 Jun 2008
The debate over whether or not enough's being done to encourage power savings has come down to heated towel rails.
Solid Energy one of NZIER emissions trading study funders
10 Jun 2008
State owned enterprise Solid Energy is one of the funders of the NZIER’s study on the possible economic impacts of the emissions trading scheme.
DOC - Crest Energy allays our concerns over Kaipara tidal energy project
10 Jun 2008
The Department of Conservation, who originally opposed Crest Energy’s tidal energy project in the Kaipara Harbour, now says that many of its initial concerns have been addressed through consultation with Crest Energy and the Northland Regional Council.
InterCity stalls its "carbon neutral" effort till after the election
10 Jun 2008
InterCity’s plan to be New Zealand’s first carbon neutral tourism and national transport company is on hold while it waits for the outcome of the election.
World's cheapest car ruled out of NZ market
10 Jun 2008
Tata Motors’ Nano car retailing at US$2500 (about NZ$5000) will not be safe enough to enter the New Zealand market, according to the Ministry of Transport.
Scoping work under way to enhance register for start of ETS
10 Jun 2008
The public service is waiting for the ETS bill to become law before appointing people to key new roles administering emissions trading.
Public power savings campaign likely to start this weekend
10 Jun 2008
TV advertising by the electricity industry is likely to start this weekend to further encourage homes and businesses to be prudent with their power use, Energy Minister David Parker announced yesterday.
Brownlee: So there IS a power crisis
10 Jun 2008
National’s Energy spokesman, Gerry Brownlee, says he hopes Labour’s belated admission that there is a power crisis has not come too late.
TrustPower: Kiwi power users fortunate to have shelter from world fuel prices
10 Jun 2008
TrustPower welcomes the introduction of a national energy savings programme, the occasional need for which it says should not be regarded as a bad thing.
Green MPs respond to power problem: Fridges get the flick
10 Jun 2008
It's the little things that make a big difference, say Green MPs. So they've turned off the fridges in their offices.
FORUM: Despite global warming gloom, every cloud has a green lining
10 Jun 2008
By Paul Harper. - Current economic and political mindsets need to change in the face of future environmental challenges, according to the head of the United Nations environmental programme.
Spot electricity index down slightly in the past week
10 Jun 2008
The M-co spot electricity price index for the week ending June 8 shows a slight drop on the previous week.
IEA shows way to sustained economic growth based on clean energy
10 Jun 2008
Tokyo -The world faces the daunting combination of surging energy demand, rising greenhouse gas emissions and tightening resources.
No need to take IEA advice to quadruple nuclear power, says Greenpeace
10 Jun 2008
Tokyo, Japan -- Publication yesterday of the International Energy Agency's (IEA) latest energy forecast, to coincide with the start of the G8 Energy Ministers meeting, recognises that half the world's energy could be supplied by renewable sources by 2050.
M-co: story on First Rand Bank-backed launch of NZ trading platform wrong
10 Jun 2008
The Marketplace Company Limited (M-co) feels compelled to respond to your lead article published in Carbon News (June 9).
Don't rush the ETS - Field
9 Jun 2008
Independent MP Taito Philip Field is unlikely to support the Government’s emissions trading scheme, telling Carbon News that he fears it could damage the economy and that he doesn’t believe it needs to be passed before the election.
$40m electricity price subsidy revealed, new geothermal on early
9 Jun 2008
Cabinet will today consider a range of measures to manage the impact of the drought and low hydro lakes on the electricity system – and a price-cushioning $40 million Government subsidy on power produced at the standby Whirinaki plant has been revealed.
'Green’ car choices moving fleet market, though some execs still want the V6
9 Jun 2008
The public sector is leading the way in a definite shift towards fleets with lower carbon emissions, says FleetSmart’s business development manager, Christopher Young.
National prepared to gut emissions trading scheme
9 Jun 2008
National has once again proved it’s slippery on climate change, and will tell audiences whatever they think they want to hear, according to Climate Change Issues Minister David Parker.
Air NZ biofuel move will boost domestic demand, says BANZ
9 Jun 2008
The Bioenergy Association says Air New Zealand’s decision to test a biofuel for its planes will stimulate demand in New Zealand for biofuels in general - even if the national carrier is looking off-shore for its fuel.
Maker stands by Ecotube claims
9 Jun 2008
Ecotube-maker Bios Fuel says that the Consumers’ Institute didn’t test the exhaust-pipe device before panning it.
Climate law introduced requiring adaptation plans and reducing Commission's role
Today 12:30pm
By Oli Lewis | The Government has introduced legislation to amend the Climate Change Response Act (CCRA), which includes stripping the Climate Change Commission of one of its core roles, adds a new requirement for councils to produce adaptation plans for higher-risk areas, and updates ETS settings.
Clock ticks on Gas Security Fund as Tariki developer reports ongoing losses
Today 12:30pm
By Oli Lewis | A Canadian company advancing a major gas storage project in New Zealand continues to report ongoing losses.
Fed Farmers' election wish-list includes stopping whole-farm conversions to carbon forestry
9 Jun 2026
Federated Farmers has launched a five-point plan for the next government, setting out what it says should be a major focus for political parties heading into the November election.
'Terrible result': Emissions barely budged in 2024
5 Jun 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions were virtually unchanged in 2024, falling by 0.03%, despite the economy shrinking by ten times that amount during the same period, according to new data.
Weakening Clean Car Standard would hurt EV uptake, industry warns
7 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Electric vehicle advocates say weakening the Clean Car Standard would reduce access to new EV models, undermining New Zealand's place in global supply chains and slowing the country's transition to lower-emissions transport.
Seymour ‘imploring’ council to go easy on foresters is abuse of authority: EDS
7 Jul 2026
By Liz Kivi | The Environmental Defence Society says that Regulation Minister David Seymour’s attempt to influence Gisborne District Council to ‘go easy’ on forestry companies in enforcing environmental laws is a clear abuse of ministerial authority.
Planetary Facts dashboard aims to make environmental costs visible
Today 12:30pm
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Consumers can now compare the environmental impacts of everyday products with a new online dashboard designed to do for sustainability what nutrition labels have long done for food.
