New Zealand: All stories
Gentailers take stock after winter energy crunch
25 Feb 2025
The half-year reporting season showed the different impacts of the difficult winter in 2024, with Contact and Genesis being the first to release results.
Carbon capture framework coming
24 Feb 2025
The government wants to bring carbon capture and storage into the Emissions Trading Scheme, with plans to introduce legislation for a Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage framework this year.
'Anti-woke' banking bill drawn from ballot
21 Feb 2025
NZ First's Private Member's Bill targeting so-called 'woke' banks refusing services to businesses for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reasons was drawn from the ballot yesterday afternoon and will be debated in Parliament.
Invasive pines triple seed supply to spread across Aotearoa
21 Feb 2025
Lodgepole pines, a major weed in Aotearoa, have three times more seeds here than in their native North America, according to new research.
Media round-up
21 Feb 2025
In our round-up of climate coverage in local media: NZ companies quietly abandon climate targets; are carbon taxes really to blame for INEOS ditching its All Blacks sponsorship? and Auckland Council looks at relocating flood-prone Kumeu.
Right to repair bill 'better than nothing' - expert
20 Feb 2025
A law change which could cut carbon emissions passed its first reading by a narrow margin in Parliament yesterday.
Kiwi climate solutions up for Earthshot Prize
20 Feb 2025
An ocean remediation project, a predator-free blueprint, cleaner greenhouses, and a company recovering metals from waste are all New Zealand-based nominees for one of five NZD$1.9m Earthshot Prizes.
Fonterra announces more cash for low-emission farmers
19 Feb 2025
Dairy co-operative Fonterra is introducing higher payments for farms that reduce on-farm emissions.
New Parliament buildings get highest rating for sustainable design
19 Feb 2025
Two new Parliament buildings, the Ballantrae Place Building and the Museum Street Building, have achieved 6 Green Star ratings - the highest sustainability rating - for their design.
Consultation on standard for measuring biogas and biomethane carbon intensity
19 Feb 2025
As biomethane and biogas become more common, New Zealand needs a consistent approach to measuring the carbon intensity of these fuels, according to the Bioenergy Association.
Genesis stocks up on coal
18 Feb 2025
Genesis Energy is prepared to burn up to 1.2 million tonnes of coal at Huntly Power Station this winter.
Plan to reduce climate risk reporting 'backward'
18 Feb 2025
Government plans to weaken the climate-related disclosures regime could damage the economy and disadvantage businesses, according to Lawyers for Climate Action.
Watts waves the regulatory stick at gentailers
18 Feb 2025
Energy Minister Simon Watts said the Government would not accept another repeat of last winter's events in the electricity market but stopped short of saying what ministers would do if it did happen again.
Govt unveils $30 million to support conservation tourism
18 Feb 2025
The Government will invest $30 million to fund more than a dozen projects to boost biodiversity and the tourist economy, a move the Green Party is calling an embarrassment.
Road lobbyists undermining climate policy: research
17 Feb 2025
Road lobbyists in New Zealand are using a well-known "playbook" of techniques to influence transport and climate policy decisions, undermining progress towards a sustainable transport system, according to new research.
Climate adaptation takes bigger chunk of govt spend
17 Feb 2025
Government spending on climate adaptation has jumped by $666 million, while other environmental spending dropped, according to estimates from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.
California fires warning for NZ - Insurer
14 Feb 2025
Tower Insurance says that a climate change adaptation framework is crucial for minimising the insurance gap and preventing New Zealanders experiencing the same anguish as in the wake of the recent California wildfires.
NZ govt's climate retreat makes international news
14 Feb 2025
Trump's "era of climate retreat" is already on show in New Zealand, according to New York-based Bloomberg news, in a story describing Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's green reversals as "climate pushback" 8,745 miles from Washington DC.
Pesticides worsen biodiversity crisis
14 Feb 2025
New Zealand needs to urgently move to alternative practices to reduce pesticide impacts on biodiversity and change the country's "completely outdated" regulatory framework, experts say.
Swedish company gets $4 million to help curb NZ livestock emissions
13 Feb 2025
Industry-government partnership AgriZeroNZ is investing about NZD $4.2 million in Agteria Biotech, a Swedish company aiming to slash global methane emissions from cattle.
Fast-track applications open
13 Feb 2025
Applications are now open for the fast-track approvals regime through a full-cost recovery system.
NZ's climate target 'wholly inadequate' to protect health
12 Feb 2025
A global organisation has slammed New Zealand's 2035 climate commitment, saying it shows limited mitigation ambition and fails to address health impacts.
Bluegreen leader on the outer
12 Feb 2025
The leader of National's Bluegreen caucus, Scott Simpson, has found himself out of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's favour.
Airbus delay signals turbulence for hydrogen-powered aviation
11 Feb 2025
A plan to decarbonise aviation in New Zealand is up in the air after airplane manufacturer Airbus announced significant delays for its development of hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft.
NZ First introduces bill to fight 'woke banks'
11 Feb 2025
The supposed fight between NZ First and banks' lending policies enters another week, with a new Member's Bill hoping to prevent banks from refusing their services to businesses because of the current ESG framework.
New AI tool to map planted pine
11 Feb 2025
Using AI to map New Zealand's forests could give more accurate and up-to-date data which will benefit policy-makers and infrastructure investments, as well as climate change reporting systems, according to researchers.
Pulling out of Paris Agreement could impact trade: Watts
10 Feb 2025
Climate change minister Simon Watts has reiterated the government's commitment to its international climate pledge, following comments from ACT leader and future deputy Prime Minister David Seymour, who floated the idea of pulling out of the Paris Agreement.
NZ needs $20b to meet 2050 energy needs
7 Feb 2025
New Zealand will need a minimum of $20 billion to meet the country's energy needs in 2050, according to new research.
Exporters need to step up to meet new EU carbon tax requirements
7 Feb 2025
Kiwi exporters who invest in complying with the EU's carbon tax reporting will be at a competitive advantage, according to MFAT.
Commission calls for review of free carbon credits for big polluters
5 Feb 2025
The Climate Change Commission is recommending a review of free permits to big polluters under the ETS.
Researchers look to underground future for hydrogen
5 Feb 2025
Kiwi researchers are modelling the injection, storage and extraction of 10,000 tonnes of underground hydrogen at a natural gas storage site in Taranaki.
Foresters drop legal action over ETS fees
4 Feb 2025
Forestry minister Todd McClay has welcomed the sector's decision to drop legal action to fight new Emissions Trading Scheme fees.
Labour supports RMA reform bill for now
4 Feb 2025
The Government's bill making substantive changes to the Resource Management Act completed its first reading just before Christmas with Labour supporting it to select committee consideration.
FMA should expose 'greenwashing' investment funds - Coates
3 Feb 2025
If the Financial Markets Authority is serious about tackling greenwash, they should call out KiwiSaver and investment funds that claim to be ethical while investing in the worst fossil fuel companies, says Mindful Money's Barry Coates.
Adding coal to 'critical' minerals list makes NZ a global outlier
3 Feb 2025
The government's addition of coal to its list of 'critical' minerals goes against its own scientists' advice, and puts New Zealand out of step with trading partners, such as Australia.
Work begins on NZ's biggest solar farm
3 Feb 2025
Construction is set to begin on New Zealand's biggest solar farm, the Tauhei Solar Farm project, in the Waikato.
'Disappointing' new climate target 'shockingly unambitious'
31 Jan 2025
Lawyers say it's 'highly questionable' whether the government's new climate target for 2035 meets requirements, while European politicians have started questioning New Zealand's climate commitments in light of trade deals.
Mining strategy resurrecting 'same terrible idea' - Greens
31 Jan 2025
Resources Minister Shane Jones' new minerals strategy and critical minerals list have been met with criticism, with opponents questioning the long-term implications for both the economy and the environment.
Disagreement over gene tech bill at first reading
31 Jan 2025
A bill reforming the gene technology regime was opposed by all opposition parties when it received its first reading late last year, setting the tone for what will be a controversial environmental issue.
Media round-up
31 Jan 2025
In our weekly round-up of climate coverage in local media: Fonterra gets caught up in misinformation around use of feed additive Bovaer and two Wellington communities want to become the first carbon-neutral suburbs in the world.
New bill could criminalise climate protests
30 Jan 2025
A new bill before parliament could criminalise peaceful climate protests, with critics saying the 'absurd' bill is an attempt to match repressive anti-protest laws in the UK and Australia.
Govt poised to reveal next climate target
30 Jan 2025
The government is set to announce New Zealand's next international climate target, the NDC for 2030-2035, tonight after the market closes.
Kiwi researchers use AI to better predict wildfires
30 Jan 2025
Kiwi and Aussie researchers have developed a new machine learning model that could help predict fires based on real-time weather data.
NZ banks coy about Net Zero Banking Alliance, reject Fed Farmers 'cartel' claims
29 Jan 2025
By Shannon Williams | New Zealand banks won't say whether they will follow several overseas banks in quitting the Net Zero Banking Alliance.
Tough at the top at Toitū?
29 Jan 2025
By Liz Kivi | The announcement of a new chief executive for Toitū represents the third time the role has changed hands in just over five years, raising questions about high turnover at the government's carbon and environmental certifier.
Logging train revival to help 'deteriorating' Napier-Taihape road
29 Jan 2025
By Linda Hall, Local Democracy Reporter | Logging trains are back on the tracks running five days a week on the Napier-Palmerston North line to Napier Port, taking trucks off the 'deteriorating' Napier-Taihape Rd.
Offshore energy bill gets almost full support
28 Jan 2025
The Offshore Renewable Energy Bill received general support in Parliament when it received its first reading late last year.
Activist plans to take climate inaction case against govt to Supreme Court
27 Jan 2025
Veteran activist Mike Smith plans to appeal a court decision that dismissed his case, which argues the government is breaking the law by failing to take adequate action on climate change.
Govt 'tone deaf' on mining conservation land
27 Jan 2025
Forest & Bird says the Government's support of expanding mining on public conservation land is an "assault" and cause for alarm.
Science reforms could further erode climate expertise
24 Jan 2025
Foresters have welcomed the government’s sweeping science reforms, but leading climate scientist James Renwick fears a further erosion of expertise from the research sector.
Green's anti-mining bill drawn from ballot
11 Apr 2025
The Green Party's Crown Minerals (Prohibition of Mining) Amendment Bill has been drawn from the ballot and will be debated in Parliament.
Winter’s tale of electricity market woes
17 Apr 2025
A study of last winter’s events in the electricity market has confirmed that the major players suffered from high prices, and there was little or no indication of them gaming the market with their wholesale pricing.
Fonterra linked to illegal deforestation, claims Greenpeace
5 Mar 2025
Dairy giant Fonterra's supply chain is linked with illegal deforestation, according to Greenpeace Aotearoa, after New Zealand's major importers of palm kernel have been found to be illegally operating palm plantations in Indonesia.
NZ's emissions fell 2% in 2023 - latest GHG inventory
15 Apr 2025
Aotearoa New Zealand’s gross greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 2% in 2023, according to the latest greenhouse gas inventory.
Govt announces plan for EV chargers
Mon 28 Apr 2025
The government has opted for a model based on the ultra-fast broadband rollout to boost electric vehicle charger numbers.
Commissioner calls for urgent reform of carbon forestry in ETS
10 Apr 2025
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment is calling on the Government to remove forestry from the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme, warning that the country’s flagship climate policy is entrenching risky land use decisions and undermining long-term emissions reductions.
Govt needs to look at alternatives to free pollution credits for industrial emitters: Commission
11 Apr 2025
The Climate Change Commission says there are “legitimate questions” about hundreds of millions of public money spent on free carbon credits for polluters, and the government should be looking at alternatives.
