New Zealand: All stories
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.
"Sobering" report highlights climate impacts on NZ's marine environment
13 Oct 2022
A “sobering” new report highlighting marine heatwaves, acidifying oceans, sea level rise, and damaging storms, is a warning to reduce emissions faster, according to experts.
Climate and ESG important to tech sector employees
13 Oct 2022
New research reveals that 59% of tech sector candidates looking for new work say a company’s commitment to environmental sustainability influences their decision to accept a job offer.
NZ proposed agricultural greenhouse gas cuts a fraction of Ireland’s
12 Oct 2022
The farming lobby is huffing and puffing about the government’s tweaks to the He Eke Waka Noa agriculture emissions proposal but will be relieved that the plan’s aim to cut emissions by 10% on 2017 levels by 2030 are a fraction of the cuts imposed on Irish farmers earlier this year.
Emissions-reducing streetlights offer unexpected biodiversity gains
12 Oct 2022
As well as reducing carbon emissions, energy efficient streetlights could offer unexpected biodiversity benefits, according to new research by NIWA.
50% of Earth’s coral reefs face climate change threat by 2035
12 Oct 2022
Under a worst-case scenario, half of coral reef ecosystems worldwide will permanently face unsuitable conditions in just over a dozen years, if climate change continues unabated. That is one of the findings from new research published on October 11, in PLOS Biology by University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers. Unsuitable conditions will likely lead to the corals dying off and other marine life will struggle to survive due to disruptions in the food chain.
Farmers to benefit from sequestration from riparian and native vegetation
11 Oct 2022
Farmers are set to benefit from the CO2 sequestration from riparian and native vegetation, a government discussion document on agricultural emissions released today reveals.
Will new council deliver on Nelson’s urban greening strategy?
11 Oct 2022
Nelson City Council adopted a Draft Urban Greening Strategy at its final meeting last month, aiming to increase urban planting for its many benefits, which include offsetting emissions and decreasing climate change impacts.
Climate change and deforestation may drive tree-dwelling primates to the ground, large-scale study shows
11 Oct 2022
A large-scale study of 47 species of monkeys and lemurs has found that climate change and deforestation are driving these tree-dwelling animals to the ground, where they are at higher risk due to lack of preferred food and shelter, and may experience more negative interaction with humans and domestic animals.
Climate change threat to water infrastructure: experts
10 Oct 2022
Climate change poses a threat to Aotearoa New Zealand’s water infrastructure, with worsening flooding and damage to buried pipes a likely result, according to a civil systems engineering expert.
Concerns ETS changes could rapidly accelerate carbon price and risk ‘carbon leakage’
10 Oct 2022
The BusinessNZ Energy Council (BEC) says the Emissions Reduction Scheme should be left to do its job.
Rail protestors disrupt Wellington Motorway
10 Oct 2022
Three people have climbed a gantry above the Wellington Motorway near Bowen St with a large banner saying “Restore Passenger Rail”.
Seeing the forest for the trees: government to put brakes on planting exotics
7 Oct 2022
The government has announced consultation on how forests are managed, with a press release making it clear continuing the status quo – which it says would result in the over planting of permanent pine forests – isn’t an option.
Can’t plant our way to net zero: Upton
7 Oct 2022
Offsetting the emissions from a single dairy cow would require the planting of 0.6 hectares of pine forest, a new report from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has found.
Forest & Bird calls on government to ditch 100% renewable electricity goal
7 Oct 2022
Forest & Bird is calling on the government to rethink its goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2030.
Best by the rest...
7 Oct 2022
In our weekly round-up of the best local climate coverage: The majority of local election candidates have climate action at front of mind; a new research project aims to forecast risks to New Zealand as the world continues to heat; and while there's government assistance for those switching to EVs, e-bikes are yet to catch up.
Phantom forests: why ambitious tree planting projects are failing
7 Oct 2022
It was perhaps the most spectacular failed tree planting project ever. Certainly the fastest. On March 8, 2012, teams of village volunteers in Camarines Sur province on the Filipino island of Luzon sunk over a million mangrove seedlings into coastal mud in just an hour of frenzied activity.
Funding win for biotech startup aiming to reduce emissions with dairy alternatives
6 Oct 2022
Precision fermentation startup Daisy Lab is the first recipient of funding from a new initiative set up to reduce the failure rate of local social enterprises.
Catering company pioneers carbon labelling on menus
6 Oct 2022
By Isabella Cleary | An Auckland-based catering company is providing customers with a breakdown of the carbon footprint of every item on its menu - a first for New Zealand.
Hawke's Bay to develop emissions reduction plan
5 Oct 2022
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has voted to develop the region’s first emissions reduction plan, aiming to reach net zero by 2050.
Climate crisis will impact lake water quality and colour
5 Oct 2022
Global heating could see Aotearoa New Zealand’s iconic lakes lose their blue hue, as well as reducing fish and water quality, according to new research.
The world should fast track green energy. But not because of climate change
5 Oct 2022
A rapid transition to green energy is likely to save the world trillions of dollars compared to sticking with the current fossil fuel-based energy system, according to a new analysis.
NZUs down more than 10% on last month’s record high
4 Oct 2022
The price of NZUs on the secondary market have fallen more than 10% since hitting a high of $87.30 on the CommTrade platform in the lead up to last month’s ETS auction.
NIWA predicts strengthening marine heatwave
4 Oct 2022
Climate change is continuing to influence Aotearoa New Zealand’s weather, with NIWA warning the coming marine heatwave could rival last year’s high temperatures, and the marine sector “should monitor the system closely”.
Insurance Council urges local governments to focus on climate resilience
3 Oct 2022
As Kiwis cast their votes in local elections, the Insurance Council is calling on incoming councils to invest in climate resilience.
Labour confirms opposition to mining ban bill
3 Oct 2022
Labour has confirmed its caucus has agreed that MPs will not support a member’s bill banning new mines on the conservation estate and new coal mining anywhere.
Scientists hopeful tiny ocean zooplankton will help tell if climate change targets are met
3 Oct 2022
Scientists have found some of the smallest animals in the ocean are having a big impact in the fight against climate change.
How do you decide which candidates are truly climate friendly?
30 Sep 2022
By Jeremy Rose | Last month, Dunedin mayoral candidate Pamela Taylor declared herself in favour of increasing carbon emissions on the grounds it would stimulate plant growth.
South Canterbury waste-to-energy plant applies for consent
30 Sep 2022
The company planning a controversial waste-to-energy plant near Waimate in South Canterbury has lodged its consent application with Environment Canterbury and Waimate District Council.
Politicians need to ‘get over themselves’ to reduce emissions
Fri 24 Jul 2026
New Zealand needs to face up to two big areas of climate emissions: transport and agriculture, says climate policy expert Bronwyn Hayward.
Contact: New biodiversity goal may be 'highly problematic' for renewable projects
Fri 24 Jul 2026
By Oli Lewis | The goal of no net loss of indigenous biodiversity in the new resource management system may be highly problematic for renewable energy developments, Contact Energy says.
Study outlines methane-cutting options for NZ livestock
Tue 21 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Breeding, feed and forage strategies could play a key role in reducing methane emissions from New Zealand's grazing livestock, with researchers concluding that a combination of approaches will be needed to achieve meaningful cuts.
'Terrible result': Emissions barely budged in 2024
5 Jun 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions were virtually unchanged in 2024, falling by 0.03%, despite the economy shrinking by ten times that amount during the same period, according to new data.
Weakening Clean Car Standard would hurt EV uptake, industry warns
7 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Electric vehicle advocates say weakening the Clean Car Standard would reduce access to new EV models, undermining New Zealand's place in global supply chains and slowing the country's transition to lower-emissions transport.
Seymour ‘imploring’ council to go easy on foresters is abuse of authority: EDS
7 Jul 2026
By Liz Kivi | The Environmental Defence Society says that Regulation Minister David Seymour’s attempt to influence Gisborne District Council to ‘go easy’ on forestry companies in enforcing environmental laws is a clear abuse of ministerial authority.
Business leaders say climate report ‘wake-up call’ for NZ
Thu 23 Jul 2026
By Liz Kivi | CEO-led organisations representing 42% of GDP are calling the Climate Change Commission’s latest report “a significant wake-up call for New Zealand.”
