New Zealand: All stories
Climate implications of quarterly action plan?
9 Apr 2025
While the government's second quarterly action plan for 2025 doesn't make much - if any - mention of climate, several items on the checklist could impact emissions, including plans for legislation to limit farm-to-forestry conversions in the ETS, decisions on scaling up a biodiversity credit market, and moving all vehicles to Road User Charges instead of petrol taxes.
'Sobering' state of NZ environment
8 Apr 2025
Mounting environmental pressures across the country could cause serious consequences for people’s health, housing, livelihoods, and overall quality of life, a new report reveals.
Avoiding a repeat of winter 2025
8 Apr 2025
An analysis predicts that there is a strong probability the electricity sector will get through this winter without any generation shortfalls and avoid the wholesale price excesses of last year - if all goes to plan and diesel is not required for extended periods.
Biofuels key to food security and shipping resilience for NZ
7 Apr 2025
By Shannon Williams | Aotearoa New Zealand's reliance on imported fossil fuels poses significant risks for food security and shipping resilience in the face of global catastrophes, according to experts speaking at a recent webinar on biofuel self-sufficiency.
New satellite data shows NZ’s major cities are sinking – meaning rising seas will affect them sooner
7 Apr 2025
Jesse Kearse, Kyoto University | Rising seas are already affecting coastal communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. On a global average, the sea level is now 18 centimetres higher than it was in 1900, and the annual rate of increase has been accelerating to currently 4.4 millimetres per year.
Govt plan for forestry on Crown land raises questions for the Emissions Trading Scheme
4 Apr 2025
By Liz Kivi | The government’s latest plan for carbon forestry includes a large chunk of planting on Crown land, with 155,000 hectares of exotic forestry projected to enter the Emissions Trading Scheme by 2042.
Aspiring Materials opens critical minerals pilot production plant
4 Apr 2025
Cleantech startup Aspiring Materials opened a pilot processing plant for critical minerals in Ōtautahi Christchurch last week.
Media round-up
4 Apr 2025
In our weekly round-up of climate coverage in local media: Europe is heading towards an emissions tax on dairy imports; Auckland Transport stops measuring emissions cuts; and Stuff asks if the Paris Agreement is over.
Risky business – banks must consider climate risks, commissioner says
3 Apr 2025
Banks considering climate risks is prudent business practice, not just environmental activism, according to Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton.
Dunedin initiative to tackle flooding problems
3 Apr 2025
Public consultation is now open on Dunedin City Council and Otago Regional Council's South Dunedin Future initiative, which looks at ways the region can respond to climate change and flooding problems in South Dunedin.
Meridian set to build its first solar farm as Genesis stockpiles coal
2 Apr 2025
Meridian Energy is set to start construction on its 130MW Ruakākā Solar Farm south of Whangārei in August 2025, with the project receiving a final investment decision and construction approval from the Meridian Board.
Hotter and deeper: how NZ’s plan to drill for ‘supercritical’ geothermal energy holds promise and risk
2 Apr 2025
By David Dempsey, University of Canterbury | New Zealand’s North Island features a number of geothermal systems, several of which are used to generate some 1,000 MegaWatts of electricity. But deeper down there may be even more potential.
Peters unveils plans for rail-enabled interisland ferries
1 Apr 2025
Two new rail-enabled ferries will arrive by the end of 2029, but the costs remain under wraps.
Contact to appeal Southland wind farm rejection
1 Apr 2025
Contact Energy says it will appeal the Southland Wind Farm consent rejection and reapply under the new Fast-Track consent process.
Court of Appeal rejects case against Climate Commission
31 Mar 2025
The Court of Appeal has dismissed a case against the Climate Change Commission and former climate minister James Shaw, which argued that New Zealand has adopted climate targets that are too weak.
NZ must move faster on emissions – Reddy
31 Mar 2025
New Climate Change Commission chair Dame Patsy Reddy says the 1.5% global warming target is approaching more quickly than people thought, and the problem is worse than anyone expected.
Economy and climate go hand in hand – minister
31 Mar 2025
Growing our economy and reducing climate emissions go hand in hand, says Minister of Climate Change Simon Watts.
Govt releases detail on ETS forestry restrictions
28 Mar 2025
The government has released more detail on new restrictions for farm conversions to exotic forestry in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which foresters say will prevent another planting boom.
Extreme weather could lead to financial disaster for ordinary New Zealanders
28 Mar 2025
A rise in extreme weather events due to climate change could result in financial disaster for many New Zealanders, according to a credit risk consultancy.
Is NZ heading towards another energy crunch?
28 Mar 2025
The major gentailers all put forward positive cases at last week’s Downstream conference that they had done all they could to avert a potential energy shortage this winter.
Media round-up
28 Mar 2025
In our weekly round-up of climate coverage in local media: Rail is still considered crucial to Canterbury's future, climate risk is being left of company balance sheets, and NZ climate forecasts rely on the system Trump is dismantling.
New bill to block climate litigation ‘constitutional overreach’ - lawyers
27 Mar 2025
Climate and environmental advocates have slammed a National MP’s bill that would block people suing companies for climate damage.
Govt doubles smelter’s carbon subsidy against official advice
27 Mar 2025
By Shannon Williams | The government has increased the New Zealand Aluminium Smelter's free carbon allowance, ignoring official advice to boost the subsidy by a lower amount.
Wind farm rejection will delay Aotearoa’s energy transition
26 Mar 2025
Contact Energy's proposed wind farm in Southland has been rejected, a move the New Zealand Wind Energy Association (NZWEA) says will delay the country's transition to renewable energy.
Govt unveils RMA overhaul
25 Mar 2025
By Shannon Williams | The government has unveiled its blueprint for reform of the resource management system, and while parts of it have been welcomed, critics say it is a "hostile takeover of nature".
Energy sector faces complex affordability and security issues
25 Mar 2025
Energy affordability and security of supply were the key themes of the Downstream conference in Christchurch last week.
Floodplain grazing phase-out on cards
25 Mar 2025
By Emily Ireland, Local Democracy Reporter| Grazing on 576 hectares of regional-council owned flood protection land in Wairarapa could be heavily reduced in favour of emissions-friendly activities.
Declining concern over climate change
24 Mar 2025
Public concern over climate change has dipped steadily since reaching an all-time high following the events of Cyclone Gabrielle, according to the latest Ipsos poll.
Reserve Bank wins international award for work on climate-related risk
24 Mar 2025
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand - Te Pūtea Matua scooped two awards at this year’s Central Banking awards, including one for its “pioneering” work on climate stress testing.
Carbon credit deal to provide windfall for Maori landowners
21 Mar 2025
By Moana Ellis, Local Democracy Reporting | An isolated Maori Land Trust in the central North Island has sealed a groundbreaking carbon credit deal, securing millions for its 4000 owners and tens of thousands of beneficiaries.
If NZ wants to decarbonise energy, we need to know which renewables deliver the best payback
21 Mar 2025
By Alan Brent and Isabella Pimentel Pincelli | A national energy strategy for Aotearoa New Zealand was meant to be ready at the end of last year. As it stands, we're still waiting for a cohesive, all-encompassing plan to meet the country's energy demand today and in the future.
Media round-up
21 Mar 2025
In our weekly round-up of climate coverage in local media: Most New Zealanders support meeting our international climate target through a mix of domestic and offshore action; three figures paint a bleak picture of climate reality; and will removing Maori rights clear the way for an attack on the natural world?
'Our world is melting'
20 Mar 2025
Signs of human-induced climate change reached new heights in 2024, with some of the consequences irreversible over hundreds if not thousands of years, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organisation.
Renters stand to gain the most from efficient energy use: EECA
19 Mar 2025
Research on how New Zealanders view and use energy in their homes shows a significant difference between homeowners and renters.
Kiwi companies bought carbon credits from projects now under scrutiny for fraud
18 Mar 2025
Fonterra and Toitu are among New Zealand organisations caught up in an international carbon credits scandal, whose alleged instigator is facing multi-million dollar fraud charges in the US.
NZ, India touch on climate and energy at leaders' meeting
18 Mar 2025
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi detailed plans for further cooperation between the two countries across a range of areas including climate and energy during their meeting in New Delhi this week.
Govt calls for tenders to improve remote sensing for carbon storage
18 Mar 2025
The government has issued a request for proposals to help it improve how carbon stored in forests can be measured by remote-sensing.
Trans-Tasman cable: Thinking big or a waste of time?
17 Mar 2025
Plans to build a $12 billion cable linking the Australian and New Zealand electricity markets are certainly ambitious.
Genesis signs second biomass agreement
17 Mar 2025
Genesis Energy has signed another preliminary agreement with a potential biomass supplier to replace coal for Huntly power station.
South Dunedin's climate response will cost billions - report
14 Mar 2025
Half of South Dunedin buildings are at risk of rainfall flooding now, and this will rise to almost 70% by 2100.
Govt dumps climate-friendly waste policies
14 Mar 2025
The government has quietly dropped several waste policies, one of which was set to cut 45,000 tonnes of CO2e from methane emissions by 2035.
Decreasing industrial demand 'alarming' - major electricity users
14 Mar 2025
The Major Electricity Users group says a drop in electricity demand from industrial is 'alarming' - and the latest data also shows a worrying lack of firming generation.
Media round-up
14 Mar 2025
In our weekly round-up of climate coverage in local media: Victoria University law students take oil exploration case to Supreme Court; politicians ponder incentives for offshore windfarms; and Greenpeace accuses methane panel of only listening to vested interests.
Govt scrubs climate considerations from procurement rules
13 Mar 2025
The government is consulting on changes which scrap any reference to climate considerations from rules government agencies must follow when tendering contracts.
Greenpeace accuses govt of weakening environmental protections to gain trade advantage
13 Mar 2025
The government's Infrastructure Investment Summit kicked off today, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon opening the summit with a clear message - "New Zealand is open for business".
Electricity Authority backs six initiatives to power the energy transition
12 Mar 2025
The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko is providing enhanced regulatory support to six initiatives through its Power Innovation Pathway to accelerate Aotearoa New Zealand's energy transition, it announced yesterday.
NIWA offers hope for hydro
11 Mar 2025
Niwa has offered a glimmer of hope that the current extreme dry spell could be broken this autumn.
Climate protester found not guilty
11 Mar 2025
"No outcome from this trial changes the fact we're on track for 3-4 degrees."
Will congestion charging reduce Auckland's emissions?
10 Mar 2025
A bill that could cut congestion in Auckland along with transport emissions passed its first reading in parliament last week.
Demand reduction deal as hydro lakes drop
10 Mar 2025
The electricity sector's preparations for a potential energy shortage this winter have continued with Meridian and Tiwai Point aluminium smelter agreeing for it to reduce demand.
Debanking debate heats up as deadline looms for submissions on NZ First bill
Tue 1 Jul 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The debate over so-called “woke banking” is back in the spotlight as the deadline approaches for public input on NZ First’s Debanking Bill.
SolarZero liquidation complex - but sale possible
Tue 1 Jul 2025
It will likely take a long time to sort out the complexities around the liquidation of SolarZero, with a series of claims against the company adding to the myriad complexities in arrangements set up to manage its contracts and obligations.
Flurry of govt announcements at Fieldays
12 Jun 2025
The government has come up with a solar energy package for farms, a new grass-fed certification scheme for meat and dairy, and a supplier agreement for carpets in new state homes - all part of the annual flurry of politicians’ Fieldays announcements.
Mangroves' overlooked climate role
Mon 30 Jun 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | New Zealand’s mangrove forests are pulling tens of thousands of tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere each year, yet their climate benefits remain unrecognised in national emissions reporting.
How flying can be a climate solution
16 Jun 2025
By Paul Callister and Robert McLachlan - Planetary Ecology | How can aviation contribute to tackling climate change when no practicable technology-based solutions are on the horizon?
Bill to limit farm-to-forest conversions passes first reading
Fri 27 Jun 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The government's bill aiming to limit farm-to-forestry conversions in the Emissions Trading Scheme passed its first reading in Parliament this week, however concerns were raised over rushing it through under urgency, with less than two weeks allowed for public submissions.
IRD will stop using wetland destruction in ‘how-to’ for claiming expenses
Fri 27 Jun 2025
By Liz Kivi | Environmental organisation Forest & Bird has welcomed the Inland Revenue’s decision to stop using wetland destruction as an example of a tax-deductible agricultural expense in future guidance.
