New Zealand: All stories
Campaigners launch petition for half-price public transport
10 Nov 2022
Public transport campaigners have launched a petition calling on the government to permanently halve public transport prices.
Aotearoa stumps up cash for loss and damage in developing world
9 Nov 2022
New Zealand has pledged $20 million in funding for a dedicated loss and damages fund for developing countries.
Government announces delay to biofuels mandate
9 Nov 2022
The government is delaying the sustainable biofuels mandate by a year, as well as planning to give the Commerce Commission powers to intervene if fuel prices are high, in changes announced today.
New research to look at NZ’s poor uptake of solar
8 Nov 2022
NIWA scientist Yvonne Matthews has been awarded a Marsden Fund grant, worth $360,000 over three years, to research what drives people and communities to adopt solar cell technologies.
More than half a million hectares of forest now in ETS
7 Nov 2022
The Ministry for Primary Industries processed a record 37,753 hectares of forest land for the ETS in the month of October.
National leader on gas policy and climate change
7 Nov 2022
By Ian Llewellyn - Energy & Environment | With almost a year to the election, National leader Christopher Luxon has been giving some indications of his party’s policy including a return to more gas exploration and a different approach to pricing agriculture’s biological emissions.
Eight warmest years on record witness upsurge in climate change impacts
7 Nov 2022
The past eight years are on track to be the eight warmest on record, fuelled by ever-rising greenhouse gas concentrations and accumulated heat. Extreme heatwaves, drought and devastating flooding have affected millions and cost billions this year, according to the World Meteorological Organization’s provisional State of the Global Climate in 2022 report.
Kiwi banks fuelling climate crisis
4 Nov 2022
New Zealand’s banks are financing the climate crisis, with billions of dollars of Kiwis’ savings invested in coal, oil, and gas, according to climate activists 350 Aotearoa, who are calling on customers to pressure their banks to go fossil fuel free.
E-bike schemes for low income earners among Waka Kotahi grants
4 Nov 2022
Waka Kotahi has given $922,853 in grants to projects aiming to provide “under-served communities” with greater transport options.
Scientists look at biogas potential of partly digested grass
4 Nov 2022
Kiwi scientists are converting partly digested grass from the stomachs of slaughtered cattle into biogas, which they hope could be used to heat commercial greenhouses.
Best by the rest...
4 Nov 2022
In our weekly round-up of the best climate coverage in local media: Climate Change Minister James Shaw blames court delay for inaction on tougher climate pledge; could fermentation replace conventional farming to reduce NZ's emissions? and journalist Marc Daalder argues we shouldn't give up on limiting global heating to 1.5C.
One third of glaciers in World Heritage Sites will disappear by 2050: new study
4 Nov 2022
A third of all glaciers in World Heritage Sites are on course to melt away by 2050, according to new research.
Half Rutherford Fellowships awarded to climate research
3 Nov 2022
Climate research is a major focus for New Zealand’s foremost scientists, with six of this year’s twelve Rutherford fellowships awarded to climate-related projects, to the tune of $4.8 million.
$4 billion offshore windfarm for Taranaki
3 Nov 2022
A $4 billion offshore windfarm, 22 kilometres off the coast of Taranaki, will be up and operating by the end of the decade, a consortium led by Spain’s renewable developer BlueFloat Energy has announced.
More Kiwis working from home could save 400,000 tonnes of emissions a year: new report
3 Nov 2022
More people opting to work from home could result in 400,000 tonnes of carbon emission savings annually, a new study commissioned by Spark has revealed.
Climate change will produce more rainbows
3 Nov 2022
If you’ve ever been to Hawaii, you know it has an abundance of rainbows. And maybe it’s no surprise that researchers at the University of Hawaii at Manoa have been studying rainbows.
Government opens new round of $50 million fund to tackle plastic waste
2 Nov 2022
The Ministry for the Environment (MFE) has opened round two of its $50 million fund aimed at cutting plastic waste and reducing its environmental harm.
Inter-regional rail very popular with blokes called Andrew
1 Nov 2022
Nineteen of the 19 Andrews who made submissions to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the Future of Inter-Regional Passenger Rail in New Zealand are enthusiastic supporters of bringing back a comprehensive regional passenger rail network.
$10 million investment boosts huge increase in solar energy
31 Oct 2022
Purpose Capital Consortium has invested $10 million in Lodestone Energy, which is set to ramp up utility-scale solar agri-voltaics to increase New Zealand’s solar generation by eight times 2021 levels.
Major power companies accused of making super profits
31 Oct 2022
Green MP Julie Anne Genter cited the major power companies “super profits” as reason for changes to the tax system.
96% of humans feel global warming: study
31 Oct 2022
Whether they realized it or not, some 7.6 billion people - 96 percent of humanity - felt global warming's impact on temperatures over the last 12 months, researchers have said.
Te Pāti Māori calls on govt to commit to banning sea floor mining at home
28 Oct 2022
Te Pāti Māori have welcomed the government’s decision to back a moratorium on deep sea mining in international waters but says it needs to go further and ban mining in Aotearoa’s territorial waters.
NZ’s latest GHG figures confirm no sustained reduction in emissions
28 Oct 2022
Latest figures from Stats NZ confirm New Zealand’s gross greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have shown no sustained reductions compared with 2005.
Best by the rest...
28 Oct 2022
In our weekly round-up of the best local climate coverage: Environmental protests, including a first-hand account from a Wellington school teacher who was part of a group blocking Transmission Gully this week; a loophole in climate law means a steel mill in Auckland will keep burning coal for twenty more years; and a new report has outlined the growing case to invest in natural capital.
Greenhouse gases reach a new record
28 Oct 2022
The three main greenhouse gases hit record high levels in the atmosphere last year, the U.N. weather agency said Wednesday, calling it an "ominous" sign as war in Ukraine, rising costs of food and fuel, and other worries have elbowed in on longtime concerns about global warming in recent months.
Achieving 100% renewable electricity by 2030 would result in increased CO2 emissions: new report
27 Oct 2022
Reaching the Government’s target of 100% renewable electricity by 2030 could only be achieved with a significant increase in wholesale electricity prices, which would slow down electrifying the rest of the economy resulting in higher CO2 emissions, a new report says.
Where you live affects your view of climate crisis: survey
26 Oct 2022
A new survey shows where you live could affect your view of the climate crisis, with Wellington City dwellers more likely to be worried about climate change’s local impacts than people living in Dunedin, Hamilton, or Tauranga.
Hybrid power grid needed to integrate renewables: expert
25 Oct 2022
Aotearoa New Zealand’s power grid needs to change to cope with the rapid deployment of converter-based technology, such as EVs, battery storage systems, and solar PV generation, according to an electrical and electronic engineering expert.
National argues climate change ambitions put NZ at risk
25 Oct 2022
By Ian Llewellyn - Energy & Environment | National MPs are arguing that New Zealand will put its interests at risk if it attempts to move faster than the rest of the world on climate change issues.
GDP down, emissions up
21 Oct 2022
Decoupling GDP growth and greenhouse gas emissions is the holy grail of climate economists but nobody is going to be celebrating just released figures from Stats NZ, which show the two metrics heading in opposite directions.
$120 million up for grabs to reduce methane emissions
21 Oct 2022
The Ministry for the Environment is offering $120 million over two years for solutions to reduce emissions from organic waste, 94% of which are from biogenic methane.
Best by the rest...
21 Oct 2022
In our weekly round-up of the best local climate coverage: Where is all the funding for climate change agri-tech? Mount Ruapehu goes into voluntary administration as climate change takes its toll; and pacific activists team up ahead of COP27.
Most diseases worsened by climate change, new research reveals. Here’s what we can do about it
21 Oct 2022
The climate crisis will worsen most diseases, experts have warned - and could catalyse the next deadly pandemic
What would climate scientists do with $100 million
21 Oct 2022
Who’s best placed to decide which climate tech is most likely to help save the world — and therefore deserves the most funding? Climate scientists are top of the list.
Climate outcomes measurable - unlike most of $2.6 billion environmental spend
20 Oct 2022
Climate change is the only part of the government’s $2.6 billion environmental spend where there is a clear plan and measurable outcomes, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Simon Upton, says in a new report.
New Kāpiti mayor says climate change is top priority
20 Oct 2022
Kapiti Coast District Council’s new mayor says "putting a climate change lens” over all council business is her top priority, and has promised to create a Climate Change Committee to continue work already underway with the district’s Climate Emergency Action Plan.
Environment Committee calls for submissions on Climate Change Response Amendment Bill
20 Oct 2022
The Environment Committee is calling for submissions on the Climate Change Response (Extension of Penalty Transition for Forestry Activities with Low Volume Emissions Liabilities) Amendment Bill.
ETS carbon stockpile grows by nearly 8 million tonnes over past year
19 Oct 2022
The stockpile of carbon units in the ETS grew by close to 8 million NZUs from September 2021 to September 2022.
Aussie farmers oppose methane pledge because of NZ’s "dying towns"
19 Oct 2022
New South Wales farmers are citing New Zealand’s proposed farmgate greenhouse gas emissions pricing as a reason to oppose Australia signing the global methane pledge.
Ocean warming rates to quadruple by 2090 if climate change not mitigated: study
19 Oct 2022
A new comprehensive review of global ocean temperature data has allowed researchers to paint a clear picture of ocean warming since the 1950s, and predict future warming scenarios.
Planting boost for Wellington region
18 Oct 2022
More than 1.25 million plants found homes in the Wellington region during the past two winter planting seasons, with a plant put in the ground every four seconds of each working day, according to Greater Wellington.
Hydrofluorocarbons import cap lowered
18 Oct 2022
The Environmental Protection Authority has lowered import limits for hydrofluorocarbons, a group of greenhouse gases used in heat pumps, air conditioning and refrigeration.
Climate anxiety is spreading all over the planet
18 Oct 2022
If you’re feeling anxious about climate change, the common wisdom goes, there’s an antidote: Take action. Maybe you can alleviate your worries by doing something positive, like going to a protest, becoming an advocate for mass transit, or trying to get an environmental champion elected.
Forestry interests hit out at minister's comments
17 Oct 2022
Climate Change minister James Shaw’s comments that the government could become the exclusive purchaser of carbon forestry credits have been met with widespread backlash from forestry interests.
Government’s climate policy “bovine scatology”: Winston Peters
17 Oct 2022
Winston Peters condemned the government’s agriculture emissions policy as “bovine scatology -pure unadulterated bulldust,” at the New Zealand First conference over the weekend.
More players and more investment needed to reach 100% renewable electricity: Electricity Authority
17 Oct 2022
By Ian Llewellyn - Energy & Environment | The latest stage in the wholesale market review by the Electricity Authority finds that despite lingering doubts about the misuse of market power the best way forward is to encourage more investment, particularly from new players.
World needs to eat less meat: no two sides about it
17 Oct 2022
For years, the reality of climate change was presented in newspaper articles as an open debate. Coverage attempted to offer “both sides” a voice, including scientific experts alongside climate deniers (who often had financial interests in fossil fuels). That false balance has largely improved, with most media coverage on the topic acknowledging the role fossil fuels play in climate change.
Reserve Bank’s CO2 emissions jump by 18%
14 Oct 2022
The Reserve Bank’s carbon footprint jumped by 18% in the 2021/22 year to 8,034 tonnes CO2e.
Mangrove carbon sinks under threat from sea level rise
14 Oct 2022
Whether Aotearoa New Zealand’s wetlands can survive the threat of inevitable sea-level rise is a question NIWA scientists are asking, as they start a new monitoring project looking at Bay of Plenty estuaries.
Best by the rest...
14 Oct 2022
In our weekly round-up of the best local climate coverage: Stuff fact checks fossil fuel lobby claims; Newsroom crunches the numbers on the government's agricultural emissions proposal; and three unlikely activists have had their charges dropped in court in the name of climate change.
Green Party calls for national electrification plan
Mon 20 Apr 2026
By Liz Kivi | The Green Party is calling for a national plan to electrify homes, transport and industry using renewable energy, to reduce fossil fuel dependence in response to the Middle East crisis.
Going concern status flags depth of Methanex NZ's gas crisis
Tue 21 Apr 2026
Methanex's New Zealand operation is relying on financial support from its Canadian parent to remain a going concern after a second consecutive year of asset impairments left the business with negative equity.
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.
Climate pollution static but NZ still on track for first emissions budget, says MfE
Fri 17 Apr 2026
By Liz Kivi | New Zealand is still on track to meet its first emissions budget, according to the Ministry for the Environment, despite the pace of emissions reductions slowing to a standstill.
NZ’s latest push to roll out more EV chargers is a good thing – but can it go the distance?
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.
Wilding conifers continue to plague Southland
Fri 17 Apr 2026
By Matthew Rosenberg, Local Democracy Reporter | Fast-spreading conifer trees are causing headaches in Southland as inconsistent funding continues to hinder control efforts.
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.
