New Zealand: All stories
Price collapse causes 20% loss for carbon fund
29 May 2023
Carbon prices collapsed at the end of 2022, causing more than 20% loss to Salt Management’s carbon fund in the 12 months to March.
Transpower softens up the public for blackouts
29 May 2023
Transpower has increased its level of public warnings about the possibility of rolling blackouts this winter, as its other work raises a few alarm bells about coming winters if demand growth exceeds forecasts and expected new generation does not eventuate as planned.
INFINZ award-winning report uncovers potential ESG greenwashing
26 May 2023
The Institute of Finance Professionals in NZ (INFINZ) awards recognise innovation and excellence in New Zealand's financial sector ecosystem and is the leading program for the industry.
Best by the rest...
26 May 2023
In our weekly round-up of the best climate coverage in local media: 'Regenerative' agriculture could save farms and the planet, students say; officials look at a carbon dividend; and how the cost of living crisis could be harming the planet as well as your pocket.
NZ ag lobby revives alternative methane measure push
25 May 2023
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is ramping up the lobby in favour of changing the way NZ measures agricultural methane emissions in the lead-up to COP28.
Climate change: most significant threat to Pacific lives and livelihoods
24 May 2023
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins this week met with Cook Islands Prime Minister, Mark Brown. The leaders met in Papua New Guinea to discuss the ongoing recovery from the impacts of COVID-19.
Five solar projects to benefit 89 households
23 May 2023
Five community-level energy projects will soon provide renewable and more affordable energy to eighty-nine households.
Govt, NZ Steel to take action towards a low emissions economy
22 May 2023
The government will invest up to $140 million to subsidise one of the country’s largest greenhouse gas emitters, making it New Zealand’s biggest decarbonisation plan to date.
NZ ETS consultation launched
22 May 2023
The NZ government announced a four week consultation on proposals to update “unit limits and price control settings for the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)”.
Government account green hydrogen rebate as part of Budget 2023
19 May 2023
The Government cements its long term commitment to green hydrogen playing an intrinsic role in New Zealand’s low emissions future with the Budget announcement of $100 million being set aside for the introduction of a green hydrogen rebate, with $32.5 m allocated for the first four years.
Offsetting and carbon neutral claims in the dock
19 May 2023
By Ann Smith | COMMENT: Over the past few months, The Guardian has published five or more articles questioning the integrity of carbon offset projects that have been certified by well-known international organisations that issue carbon credits.
Best by the rest...
19 May 2023
In our weekly round-up of the best climate coverage in local media: Homegrown carbon store was halved by $500,000 a year; controversial Waimate energy plant proceeds to consenting process; and are NZ's marine heatwaves a warning to the world?
NZ sovereign funds to run rule over major NZ companies’ climate disclosures
18 May 2023
New Zealand’s Crown Financial Institutions (CFIs), the country’s largest investment funds, are stepping up their engagement with NZ companies over their climate change ambitions and new reporting obligations.
First marae goes electric with EV charger
17 May 2023
Penu (Rongo-i-te-Kai) Marae in Ruatoria is the first marae in Tairāwhiti, and possibly anywhere, to install an EV charger.
The case for green growth
17 May 2023
By Robert McLachlan | COMMENT: Addressing the global ecological crisis is absolutely critical to a safe future for humanity, for civilisation, and for the poor remnants of the natural world. It’s the number one issue of our time and, given our poor track record so far, likely to remain so. The question is, what to do about it.
Government departments reduce emissions
16 May 2023
Thirty-nine core government departments have reduced their emissions by 19% in the first year of annual reporting.
Growth; green, black or de-?
16 May 2023
By Mike Joy | COMMENT: For the last few centuries growth driven by fossil fuels (black growth) pushed humankind into overshoot exceeding most biophysical boundaries, so we are now faced with multiple existential crises. What are our future options?
Land Use Inquiry does not safeguard against climate change: Forestry owners
15 May 2023
The Forest Owners Association says the Ministerial Inquiry into Land Use will not safeguard forest owners against the long-term impacts of climate change.
Seeing REDD
15 May 2023
By Ann Smith | COMMENT: A REDD+ carbon offset project in Southland was the subject of negative press last week. However the project’s aim of preserving indigenous forest is critically important in the fight against climate change.
Tech festival focuses on climate and sustainability
15 May 2023
New Zealand's largest technology and innovation festival, on this week, features multiple events with a focus on climate and sustainability.
Select committee waters down bill designed to balance profit with environmental and social outcomes
12 May 2023
A private members bill that could have seen the climate recognised as a stakeholder in private companies has been watered down at select committee.
Best by the rest...
12 May 2023
In our weekly round-up of the best climate coverage in local media: Questions around carbon offsets; the devastating effects of cyclones on native species; and will New Zealand be faced with another embarrassing and unwanted “award” at COP28?
Research breakthrough in predicting extreme rainfall
11 May 2023
Scientists from Canterbury University have made a breakthrough in predicting heavy rainfall, with new research aiming to provide earlier warnings of extreme weather events - now becoming increasingly common because of climate change.
World near positive 'tipping point' on climate solutions: expert
11 May 2023
With climate-enhanced droughts, heatwaves and fires ravaging three continents and the threat of a new surge in global warming, the world urgently needs to ramp-up solutions for slashing carbon pollution. But which solutions are most critical?
Government in the dock over ETS decisions
10 May 2023
Lawyers for Climate Action New Zealand (LCANZI) has filed high court proceedings challenging Cabinet’s rejection of the Climate Change Commission’s advice on the emissions trading scheme settings.
Legal conference in Auckland as climate litigation heats up
10 May 2023
In the week New Zealand lawyers announced they were taking the government to court over its ETS decision, jurists and legal academics from around the world have flown into Auckland for a conference on climate litigation.
Green Investment Finance gets $300m govt boost
10 May 2023
In a pre-budget announcement yesterday, Climate Change minister James Shaw said New Zealand Green Investment Finance will receive an additional $300 million in investment capital from the government.
Almost half the planet predicted to enter new climate zones by 2100
10 May 2023
Our planet is teetering on the edge of several tipping points that once passed, will topple into a cascade of ecological changes.
KiwiSaver contributions to deforestation on the up
9 May 2023
Over the past year New Zealand investments in companies involved in the destruction of rainforests has almost doubled from $38 million to $68 million.
Kiwi companies finalists in international clean energy programme
9 May 2023
Kiwi businesses Cogo and Grid Share are both through to the first round of a multi-million dollar international clean energy programme based in Portugal.
Agriculture minister attends US/UAE sponsored summit
8 May 2023
Agriculture minister Damien O’Connor is in Washington DC attending the Agricultural Innovation Mission for Climate Summit organised by the US and the United Arab Emirates.
Climate breakdown is happening now and we're stepping up: Restore Passenger Rail
8 May 2023
By Rosemary Penwarden - Restore Passenger Rail spokesperson | Why are Restore Passenger Rail supporters annoying lots of ordinary Wellington commuters by sitting peacefully on the road in random places holding “Restore Passenger Rail” banners?
Climate crisis could bring new crops – and blights – to NZ
5 May 2023
Invasive plant-destroying insects, weeds, and diseases will increasingly challenge New Zealand’s borders as global heating makes our plants and ecosystems more vulnerable, according to a new report.
Meat lobby report slams forestry role in ETS
5 May 2023
A report commissioned by New Zealand Beef + Lamb has unsurprisingly found that the full inclusion of forestry offsetting in the ETS is out of step with other cap and trade systems internationally and is hindering New Zealand’s efforts to decarbonise.
Best by the rest...
5 May 2023
In our weekly round-up of the best climate coverage in local media: Government plans to cap climate pollution from new buildings; Why was a staff member from NZ’s highest emitting company asked to design a major government climate scheme? And veteran journalist John Campbell argues for investing in trains.
Electric vehicle imports accelerate
4 May 2023
Imports of fully electric vehicles have more than doubled in value, according to new data from Stats NZ.
Haere rā to unhealthy hospital coal boilers
4 May 2023
Coal boilers will be a thing of the past in nation’s hospitals and tertiary institutions by the end of 2025.
Life in ocean ‘twilight zone' at risk from warming
4 May 2023
Global warming could curtail life in the so-called twilight zone by as much as 40% by the end of the century, according to new research.
Market indifferent to commission’s advice
3 May 2023
By Jeremy Rose | Last Wednesday, journalists covering the release of the Climate Change Commission’s draft advice on the second emissions plan had to surrender their cellphones during a seven-and-a-half hour lock-up, and were under a strict embargo to coincide with the closing of the secondary carbon market.
Climate and biodiversity researcher wins PM’s science award
3 May 2023
A Canterbury University researcher working to forecast how climate change might affect biodiversity has won the Prime Minister’s award for an emerging scientist.
Bay of Plenty launches online carbon footprint tool
3 May 2023
Bay of Plenty councils have joined forces to launch “FutureFit,” an online carbon tracking tool to help people determine their carbon footprint and set climate-friendly goals.
Government changes Clean Car scheme
2 May 2023
The government is changing its Clean Car programme by adjusting the rebates for zero emissions imports, making the threshold stricter for eligible vehicles, and increasing fees for higher emitting vehicles.
Wellington communities to prepare for climate change events
2 May 2023
The Wellington City Council is starting a consultation process that will see communities at high risk of severe weather events developing their own adaptation plans.
Global ocean temperatures spike to record levels as El Niño nears
2 May 2023
Since mid-March, the world’s oceans have been hotter than at anytime since at least 1982, raising concerns among some climate experts about accelerated warming.
Soybean crops can take advantage of climate change to increase productivity
2 May 2023
As the climate continues to warm, atmospheric drying — the reduction of the amount of water the air can hold — is becoming a major concern for crop producers around the world.
Only 10 countries meeting basic needs of citizens in a sustainable way
2 May 2023
Just 10 countries are meeting the basic needs of their citizens in a sustainable way, according to a new study that looks at the water use and carbon emissions of 178 nations.
Carbon dioxide peaks over New Zealand
1 May 2023
Last Tuesday, NIWA’s CO2 reading at the Baring Head clean air station near Wellington reached an all-time high of 418.5 parts per million (ppm) - well above the “safe” level of 350 ppm that could keep warming below 1.5 degrees C.
Orbiting methane 'speed cameras' are catching polluters in the act
1 May 2023
Think of them as speed cameras, but for methane. Just like roadside instruments used to identify drivers breaking traffic rules, new powerful satellites are starting to catch oil and gas operators releasing the planet-warming gas into the atmosphere.
Fishing sector to report emissions in the next three years
28 Apr 2023
The Government has released a draft plan to “transform the fishing sector,” aiming for businesses to report their carbon emissions and take action to reduce them in the next three years.
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
Wed 27 Aug 2025
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
Wed 27 Aug 2025
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.
