New Zealand: All stories
Trade ministers from Africa, Latin America and Aotearoa join forces to form climate coalition
14 Jun 2022
The trade ministers of the European Union, Ecuador, Kenya and New Zealand have agreed to work jointly to forge an inclusive Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate.
He Waka Eke Noa all talk no action: NZIEF
13 Jun 2022
The NZ Institute of Forestry has declared last week’s He Waka Eke Noa emissions pricing proposal all talk and no action.
Infra Com hot on renewables, cool on Onslow
13 Jun 2022
By Ian Llewellyn - Energy & Environment | The Infrastructure Commission believes that New Zealand has more than enough natural renewable energy resources to power the country’s zero carbon emissions goals.
Transport minister off to Norway to check out EVs
13 Jun 2022
Transport minister Michael Wood is off to Norway today to attend the International Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exhibition in Oslo.
Offshore methane gas leak spotted from space
13 Jun 2022
Scientists have for the first time used satellite data to detect a major offshore leak of the potent greenhouse gas methane, according to peer-reviewed research.
Climate change looms large over indigenous biodiversity discussion document
10 Jun 2022
Climate change is repeatedly identified as one of the major threats to indigenous biodiversity in a government discussion document launched yesterday.
Renewable generation up from last year
10 Jun 2022
Increasing hydro and wind generation pushed renewables to 83% of generation in the first three months of 2022, 4.5% higher than the same period last year.
Best by the rest...
10 Jun 2022
In our weekly round-up of the best climate coverage in the local media: Climate change driving extreme autumn weather; the view from Tuvalu on the climate crisis; and how the government broke its own climate rules to subsidise airlines.
Climate Change Commission backs incentivising farmers to cut emissions
9 Jun 2022
The Climate Change Commission has told the government that financial assistance should be used to encourage farmers to invest in low emission practices.
HWEN: Experts and lobby groups react
9 Jun 2022
A climate change expert says He Waka Eke Noa’s recommendations for pricing agricultural emissions, released yesterday, are surprisingly unambitious, and there appears to be “a significant gap” in the reductions needed to meet government targets.
HWEN proposes burp levy with proceeds recycled to agricultural research
8 Jun 2022
He Waka Eke Noa, the Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership, is proposing a farm-level split gas levy as its preferred alternative to pricing agriculture emissions through the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Auckland Council approves Climate Action Budget
8 Jun 2022
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff’s Climate Action Budget was approved yesterday, with a clear majority of councillors supporting it at a Finance and Performance Committee meeting.
Waiheke Island leading the charge with EV uptake
7 Jun 2022
By Liz Kivi | Tiny Waiheke Island, with its resident population of 9500 people, is speeding ahead with the transition to electric vehicles (EVs).
Gas pipeline decision leaves their future open ended
7 Jun 2022
By Ian Llewellyn - Energy and Environment | The Commerce Commission’s decision to tone down its approach to the future of gas pipeline businesses reflects that Government policy in the area is still developing and the possibility the infrastructure may have a use beyond the demise of natural gas.
Post-1989 forest ETS registrations skyrocket
3 Jun 2022
Applications to register post-1989 forest grew by more than 400% from 296 in the last quarter of 2021 to 1304 in the first quarter of 2022.
Global consumers demanding a low emissions economy: Stuart Nash
3 Jun 2022
Minister for economic and regional development Stuart Nash says manufacturers shouldn’t underestimate the power of global consumers and their desire for truly sustainable goods.
Sustainability expo to showcase Wellington’s climate-conscious initiatives
3 Jun 2022
The Sustainability Trust is hosting a sustainability expo at Parliament on Wednesday, showcasing eco- and climate-friendly Wellington organisations.
Best by the rest...
3 Jun 2022
In our weekly round-up of the best climate coverage in the local media: The farming lobby split over climate policy; the Reserve Bank takes on fuel prices; and Australia pledges climate action in the Pacific.
Reserve Bank seeks feedback on climate change’s place in monetary policy
2 Jun 2022
The Reserve Bank is seeking feedback on whether climate change should be taken into account when setting interest rates.
Wetland regulations welcomed by industry, attacked by Forest and Bird
2 Jun 2022
Forest and Bird says the government’s announcement that it will allow coal mining and other industries to operate on remaining wetlands is disastrous for the climate and biodiversity.
Auckland's billion-dollar climate budget
2 Jun 2022
Auckland Council's billion-dollar package to help tackle the climate crisis is a step closer, with the proposed annual budget for 2022-2023 released yesterday.
Record methane spike boosts heat trapped by greenhouse gases
2 Jun 2022
Greenhouse gases trapped 49 percent more heat in 2021 than in 1990, as emissions continued to rise rapidly, according to NOAA.
Cities need new types of pavement capable of absorbing a flood. This team has a customized recipe
2 Jun 2022
Climate change is altering rainfall patterns, making storms more intense in many locations. Meanwhile, more people are moving to cities around the world. The combination of those two trends adds up to an increased risk of urban flooding.
Pacific Island climate change mitigation could benefit from new cold war
1 Jun 2022
The US and New Zealand have committed themselves to supporting Pacific Island countries combat climate change in a joint statement released following a meeting between president Joe Biden and prime minister Jacinda Ardern in the White House yesterday.
Canterbury cuts its planting programme
1 Jun 2022
Canterbury’s regional council is cutting nearly $3 million from its planting programme, almost two-thirds of the planned spend over 2 years, in a bid to reduce a predicted 24% rate rise.
Climate change is happening faster than expected, study shows
1 Jun 2022
Climate change is accelerating so quickly that the southern hemisphere is already experiencing intense winter storms originally predicted for 2080, says an Israeli research team.
Switching to plant-based cheese can reduce carbon emissions by 50% compared to the dairy version
1 Jun 2022
A life cycle evaluation used to determine environmental impacts, including indicators for climate impact and land use, has revealed that ordinary cheese is a major cause of carbon emissions.
Ministry consults on delay to improve insulation
31 May 2022
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is consulting on a proposal to push out requirements to better insulate new houses by six months.
China's Carbon Emission Allowance price at $8.76/mtCO2e
31 May 2022
The daily weighted average price of a Carbon Emission Allowance, or CEA, under China's national carbon market was at Yuan 59/mtCO2e (US$8.76/mtCO2e) on May 27, and weekly trade volume totaled 551,351 mtCO2e, according to data from Shanghai Environment and Energy Exchange, or SEEE.
Public transport missing from NZ California climate MOC
30 May 2022
The New Zealand California climate change memorandum of cooperation, signed over the weekend, makes no mention of public transport unlike an earlier deal between Japan and California.
11,000 litres of water to make one litre of milk? New questions about the freshwater impact of NZ dairy farming
30 May 2022
By Mike Joy - The Conversation | Water scarcity and water pollution are increasingly critical global issues. Water scarcity is driven not only by shortages of water, but also by rendering water unusable through pollution. New Zealand is no exception to these trends.
Questions asked over why NZ shuns carbon capture
30 May 2022
By Ian Llewellyn - editor Energy & Environment | Energy research centre Ara Ake says there needs to be an examination on whether New Zealand should use carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) as part of the arsenal to meet climate change targets.
Green Building Council slams insulation delay
27 May 2022
The Green Building Council has slammed government plans to delay improving new home insulation, just days after the measures were unveiled in the emissions reduction plan last week.
Kiwi carbon tracking company growing to meet international demand
27 May 2022
By Liz Kivi | A Kiwi fintec company, which tracks users’ individual carbon footprints, is predicting international demand will see them nearly double their staff in the next year.
Taranaki protest against seismic survey to be held tomorrow
27 May 2022
A rally is being held at Waitara Marine Park to protest the resumption of seismic testing for oil and gas tomorrow afternoon.
Best by the rest...
27 May 2022
In our weekly round-up of the best climate coverage in the local media: How will the country meet emissions budgets? Different approaches to mode shift; and the disastrous effects of rising sea temperatures are already being felt.
Australia’s first carbon credit ETF excludes NZUs from mix
26 May 2022
Australia’s first carbon credit ETF, announced this week, won't be including NZUs in the mix as its limiting itself to the four most actively traded and largest carbon markets.
Partnership aims to decarbonise NZ fleet
26 May 2022
Electric vehicle financer Carbn Group is joining forces with New Zealand fintech PowerFinance, in a partnership they say will accelerate Aotearoa’s transition to sustainable transport.
Are EV range limitations a technological problem…or a psychological one?
26 May 2022
Giving people individualized information about how an electric car’s range matches up with their driving habits makes people more willing to buy an electric vehicle, according to a new study.
Price of NZUs edging higher
25 May 2022
The price of NZUs on the spot market has edged past the $77 mark this week for the first time since the middle of last month.
Government investment to boost coastal shipping
25 May 2022
The New Zealand Shipping Federation has welcomed a $30 million government boost to coastal shipping, which will lead to lower emissions per ton of freight compared to road and rail.
Redwood could help NZ reach net-zero: Scion
24 May 2022
Redwood could be a carbon capture hero for New Zealand, sequestering double the amount of CO2 captured by pine in some areas, according to new research.
Environment committee calls for submissions
24 May 2022
The Environment Committee Komiti Taiao is inviting public submissions on the government’s emissions budgets and Emissions Reduction Plan.
Kiwi founded company aiming to shake up global carbon markets
23 May 2022
By Liz Kivi | A Kiwi founded tech company, launched last month, is aiming to revolutionise the global carbon market with new technology that can accurately measure emissions in real-time and is much cheaper than current methods.
Shift to whole of energy system targets confirmed
23 May 2022
By Ian Llewellyn - editor Energy and Environment | The government’s shift to considering the energy system as a whole rather than focussing solely on getting electricity generation to 100% renewable by 2030 was confirmed by the Emissions Reduction Plan released last week.
International commision votes to allow use of more climate-friendly refrigerants
23 May 2022
A secretive vote in the arcane and Byzantine world of international safety standards late last month may lead to a dramatic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from home heating and cooling systems in the coming years.
Budget disappoints public transport advocates
20 May 2022
By Jeremy Rose | Last weekend I caught the train out to Waikanae, cycled down to Paekakariki and then jumped back on a train to Wellington. All up it cost me just $10 – cheaper and a lot more pleasant than taking the car.
Waka Kotahi $15 million innovation fund aims to cut emissions
20 May 2022
Waka Kotahi has launched a $15 million innovation fund aimed at reducing emissions, encouraging mode shift, and making the provision of transport more equitable.
Best by the rest...
20 May 2022
In our Weekly round-up of the best climate coverage in the local media: academics respond to first Emissions Reduction Plan, blue carbon, wind and thermal touted as solutions to the climate crisis, and tax the rich to save the planet.
For wetland plants, sea-level rise stamps out benefits of higher carbon dioxide
20 May 2022
Wetlands across the globe are in danger of drowning from rising seas. But for decades, scientists held out hope that another aspect of climate change—rising carbon dioxide (CO2)—could trigger extra plant growth, enabling coastal wetlands to grow fast enough to outpace sea-level rise. That helpful side effect is disappearing, they discovered in a new study published May 18.
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.
