New Zealand: All stories
Simple standard will deliver net bio-fuel gains - Fitzsimons
4 Apr 2008
A single sustainability standard written into the emissions trading scheme (ETS) legislation would ensure bio-fuels sourced from overseas represented a net benefit to the environment, Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said.
Mallard foreshadows easier planning path for renewables, attacks polluters
4 Apr 2008
The Government is developing a National Policy Statement on Renewable Electricity Generation.
Expert group to promote electric vehicles and biofuels
4 Apr 2008
A group of experts on transport fuels, renewable electricity and vehicle technologies will help New Zealand take a step closer towards becoming a sustainable nation, says Energy Minister David Parker.
Parliamentary Commissioner: Biofuel Bill should not proceed
4 Apr 2008
The Biofuel Bill currently before Parliament should not proceed in its current form, says Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Dr Jan Wright.
ETS bill submissions online
4 Apr 2008
The Parliamentary Servicee now has copies of all publicly available submissions on the Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill available online here
Roundtable: Proceed With Great Care: Emissions Trading
4 Apr 2008
Proceed With Great Care: Emissions Trading Proposal Has Costly, Risky, Far-reaching Consequences
Carbon tariff’s ‘counter to NZ’s interests’- Smith
3 Apr 2008
Using tariffs to protect New Zealand businesses from unfair competition by countries that don’t put a price on carbon “runs counter to New Zealand’s broader interests in freeing up trade,” National Party climate change spokesperson Nick Smith told Carbon News last night.
Speculation on MPs’ climate scepticism ‘disgraceful’
3 Apr 2008
It was “disgraceful” that Television New Zealand (TVNZ) should lead a news bulletin on “speculation” that senior National Party MPs Lockwood Smith and Maurice Williamson were climate change sceptics, the party’s climate change spokesperson, Nick Smith, told Carbon News last night.
Greens will vote to ban nuclear credits trading - admit 'laundering' likely
3 Apr 2008
A continued ban on the trading of nuclear emissions credits will have the full support of the co-leader of the Green Party, Jeanette Fitzsimons, even though she admits they will be "eventually laundered" through successive trades.
BILL HEARINGS - NZ ETS "toughest and potentially most expensive" in the world:
3 Apr 2008
New Zealand’s proposed emissions trading scheme is the toughest and potentially most expensive in the world, according to the Greenhouse Policy Coalition.
A slippery sort of "come out of the closet day" of climate change politics
3 Apr 2008
While the select committee opened up its hearings on the climate change bill at Parliament yesterday, senior Ministers launched a fusillade of statements questioning National’s position on climate change, including trying to get some “slippery” mud to stick to John Key.
Major CO2 storage project launches, brightens future for coal use
3 Apr 2008
The first carbon dioxide storage project in the Southern Hemisphere, in which Solid Energy is a major investor and founding member, was launched yesterday in south west Victoria, Australia.
Report: Carbon tariffs on China could drive industry back to US
3 Apr 2008
Imposing carbon tariffs on China could drive some manufacturers back to North America, according to a new CIBC Coming Home.
Oil stocks agreement signed with the Netherlands
3 Apr 2008
New Zealand and the Netherlands signed a treaty today which allows New Zealand to hold some of its emergency oil reserves in the Netherlands.
GHGPC: Emissions Trading - at what cost?
3 Apr 2008
In a presentation to the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee hearing submissions on the Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill, the Greenhouse Policy coalition, representing the energy intensive sector, had the following to say.
Professor reviewing forestry offset scheme proposal
3 Apr 2008
The Flexible Land Use Alliance has appointed Professor Lewis Evans to review a draft report by the University of Waikato and Covec on proposed changes to the forestry components of the Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill, including the introduction of a Forestry Offset Scheme.
Business NZ: problem with trading scheme design
3 Apr 2008
Business has a problem - not with an emissions trading scheme, but with the design of the one currently proposed for New Zealand.
No emissions trading revenue windfall for NZ
2 Apr 2008
Unlike Australia, there will be no multi-billion-dollar windfall to the New Zealand Government from selling carbon credits.
Parker: Full trans-Tasman ETS harmonisation only one option
2 Apr 2008
EXCLUSIVE - New Zealand does not need to integrate its emissions trading scheme (ETS) with Australia’s for it to work efficiently, Climate Change Minister David Parker told Carbon News yesterday.
Greens won't back off ban on new thermal baseload power
2 Apr 2008
Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons has told Carbon News she will not back off a proposed 10 year ban on new baseload thermal power generation.
Treasury report suggests thermal ban will increases costs
2 Apr 2008
The New Zealand Business Roundtable has released a 15 February 2008 Treasury Report , discovered under the Official Information Act, which it and other business groups say shows the proposed ban on new baseload thermal power will impose uncessary costs.
Who's first up at ETS and thermal power ban bill hearings today
2 Apr 2008
Hearings into the Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill begin today before the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee.
New ceramics slash fuel costs, emissions
2 Apr 2008
New ceramic technology could cut commercial vehicle fuel costs and carbon emissions by as much as 20%, according to a study by Australia’s Murdoch University.
No timeframe on exploiting southern lignite fields
2 Apr 2008
Solid Energy (SE) is going to use its huge Otago-Southland lignite coal resource eventually – it’s just not sure when, according to the state-owned collier’s chairman, John Palmer.
IBM temporarily suspended from Federal procurement
2 Apr 2008
IBM has been temporarily suspended from participating in new business with U.S. Federal government agencies.
Clark, Rudd to jointly address Auckland climate change conference
2 Apr 2008
Both Helen Clark and Kevin Rudd are to address a major trans-Tasman climate change business conference to be held in Auckland.
Insolvency threatens Maori forest owners
1 Apr 2008
Some Maori owners of pre-1990 forest land are going to become technically insolvent the day the Government’s emissions trading scheme (ETS) comes into effect, according to the secretary of a Maori incorporation.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: ‘Conflicts? What conflicts?’ – John Palmer
1 Apr 2008
No conflicts or contradictions over the pending emissions trading scheme (ETS) arise from John Palmer’s chairmanship of both state-owned collier Solid Energy (SE) and mostly-state-owned airline Air New Zealand, he told Carbon News yesterday.
Air NZ backs ETS - but wants carbon price cap
1 Apr 2008
Air New Zealand chairman John Palmer can understand the opposition of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to aviation being included in global emissions trading schemes (ETSs), but agrees New Zealand’s should cover as much of the economy as possible.
Aquaflow makes crucial algae biofuel breakthroughs
1 Apr 2008
Two further major breakthroughs have been achieved by Blenheim-based Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation which has been working on world-leading technology to convert wild algae to biofuel.
NZ Windfarms increases stake in WindPower Maungatua
1 Apr 2008
Dunedin – WindPower Maungatua Ltd announced today that NZ Windfarms Limited has increased its 16.7 per cent shareholding in WindPower Maungatua to 50 per cent.
Mighty River Power committed to new geothermal development
1 Apr 2008
Mighty River Power Chair Carole Durbin has announced her board's commitment to support a new $450 million geothermal development proposed at Rotokawa, north of Taupo, with the final decision subject to completion of procurement contracts.
Latest Round Of UN Climate Talks to push Bali Roadmap to next stage
1 Apr 2008
Five days of United Nations-sponsored climate change talks, drawing 1,000 participants in Bangkok, Thailand, will try pushing forward the so-called “Bali Roadmap”.
Skids under government’s bio-fuels mandate
31 Mar 2008
It looks increasingly likely that the Labour-led Government’s mandate for petrol and diesel to contain 3.4% of bio-ingredients from July 1 will be shelved – possibly for as long as it takes to develop second-generation bio-fuels.
Air miles, buy-local campaigns “insidious, sinister”
31 Mar 2008
Air miles and buy-local campaigns are “insidious, even sinister” trade protectionist barriers set up under cover of the battle against climate change, former World Trade Organisation (WTO) director-general Mike Moore told Carbon News.
Parker pooh-poohs 50% power hike report
31 Mar 2008
Self-interest is behind warnings that the Government’s 10-year ban on the construction of thermal power stations will hike power prices 50%, Climate Change Minister David Parker says.
Bio-fuels threaten food catastrophe
31 Mar 2008
The world is now just two years away from a food catastrophe caused in part by diversion of land-use to feed cars rather than people, according to a leading Indian academic.
Australia leads way in sea-bed carbon storage
31 Mar 2008
Australia, a new convert to climate change environmentalism, hopes to lead the world in establishing a regulated carbon capture and storage regime, with the sea-bed being the key storage site.
OPINION - Mapp: No reason for local authorities to take over Vector
31 Mar 2008
By Wayne Mapp, MP The Herald on Sunday reported on a joint submission to the Royal By Commission on Auckland Governance, by Auckland Regional Council (ARC), Auckland City Council, Manukau City Council and Papakura City Council to take over ownership of Vector, the power lines company mostly located in Auckland and Manukau City.
Roger Kerr: Saving the Planet Must Not Cost the Earth
31 Mar 2008
By Roger Kerr, Business Roundtable Shortly a select committee of parliament will begin hearings on the bill to implement an emissions trading scheme (ETS).
GDP impact 1%, emissions reduced 20%, big emitters told
28 Mar 2008
The impact of New Zealand’s impending emissions trading scheme (ETS) will be 1% knocked off gross domestic product (GDP) and 20% off greenhouse gas emissions, a confidential briefing of business leaders was told in Wellington on Tuesday night.
Parker says Smith wrong on grand-parenting phase-out
28 Mar 2008
Climate Change Minister David Parker says National spokesperson Nick Smith is wrong to suggest that the European Union (EU) is going to continue grand-parenting its high-emitting industries after 2020.
Wraps off sequestration prototype
28 Mar 2008
The wraps are at last about to come off state-owned collier Solid Energy’s much-vaunted investment in carbon dioxide underground sequestration research.
Posnett defends bio-fuels' New Zealand role
28 Mar 2008
“A piece of legislation” is all that’s required to give bio-fuels a sustainable role in the New Zealand transport fuel mix, according to Dickon Posnett, the chairman of the newly-formed New Zealand Bio-fuels Manufacturers’ Association (BMA).
Thermal ban to send power bills soaring
28 Mar 2008
Power shortages, and energy bills soaring 50%, will be the outcome of the Government’s 10-year ban on new fossil fuel electricity generation plants, the Petroleum Exporting and Production Association of New Zealand (PEPANZ) said yesterday.
CARBON NEWS SERIES: Avoiding the major quality gap in emission certification
27 Mar 2008
Carbon News has revealed some companies run the risk of paying well for emissions measurement and certification – and falling short of developing world standards. They could also get stung in ETS emission audits.
Massive emission savings possible with supply chain changes
27 Mar 2008
As New Zealand businesses start measuring emissions and prepare to face a price on carbon, and new whole-of-supply chain carbon footprint concept could save big companies millions.
Call for emissions revenue to fund tax cuts
27 Mar 2008
Australia’s Opposition treasury spokesman last night urged the Kevin Rudd Labor Government to devolve the money it raises from carbon credits onto the states so they can eradicate a raft of inefficient taxes.
A cow of a campaign from the airlines
27 Mar 2008
IATA has launched a campaign opposing airlines' inclusion in the EU emissions trading scheme, on the basis airlines have fewer emissions than cows.
NSW weighs flogging the family silver
27 Mar 2008
A furore over whether New South Wales (NSW) should privatise its mostly coal-fired electricity generation capacity has erupted in the wake of Kevin Rudd’s federal Labor government announcing it will introduce an emissions trading scheme (ETS) in 2010.
Environment ministry straining under pressure of reforms and potential disestablishment
Today 11:00am
The ministry responsible for New Zealand’s most significant resource management reform in a generation is doing so under institutional strain, compressed timeframes, and an uncertain future – including its own potential disestablishment.
Pūkaki consent battle becomes proxy for system risk
Tue 14 Apr 2026
The fight over Lake Pūkaki is no longer just about a consent change. It has become a proxy for how much New Zealand is willing to pay for electricity system resilience – and how that price should be set.
Fonterra admits ‘100% grass-fed’ claim breached law in greenwashing row
2 Apr 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Fonterra has admitted its “100% New Zealand grass-fed” claims on Anchor butter were misleading and breached the law, settling a case brought by Greenpeace Aotearoa over packaging used between December 2023 and April 2025.
Annual emissions fell to lowest in 15 years in Sept 2025
5 Feb 2026
By Pattrick Smellie | New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions fell to their lowest annual total in the year to September 2025 since records began 2010, according to Statistics New Zealand data published this morning.
NZ’s latest push to roll out more EV chargers is a good thing – but can it go the distance?
Tue 14 Apr 2026
A $50 million plan to expand New Zealand’s public electric vehicle (EV) charging network marks another step toward a lower-emissions transport system.
Wellington planting nears one million trees
30 Mar 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Greater Wellington’s parks restoration programme will hit one million native trees this year, with the first dams to rewet peat wetlands in Queen Elizabeth Park now completed after a years-long effort to bring these ecosystems – and their carbon sequestering superpowers – back to life.
Businesses look for ways to cut costs in response to oil shock
1 Apr 2026
New Zealand’s small and medium-sized businesses are looking for ways to ease the pressure as global tensions see rising fossil fuel prices and diminishing supply, with decision-makers mulling measures including work-from-home polices and transport or logistics changes.
