New Zealand: All stories
KiwiRail’s potential carbon savings sailing away: unions
30 Aug 2021
Two of the countries largest transport unions claim an “outdated” state-owned enterprise model has seen KiwiRail opt for second-best when it comes to the environment with the purchase of new hybrid-diesel ferries to ply the Cook Strait.
Renewable energy and coal use both up
27 Aug 2021
The good news is that New Zealand’s use of renewable energy hit an all-time high of 40% last year, the not so good news is that coal accounted for 5% of electricity production– its highest share since 2013.
Sweet taste of carbon neutrality
27 Aug 2021
Listed Manuka honey producer Comvita has committed itself to being carbon neutral by 2025 and carbon positive by 2030.
Questions, questions, questions….
26 Aug 2021
Climate change is the existential question of our age, so it’s hardly surprising it generates more than a few parliamentary written questions…. but too often those questions reveal more about the petty political point scoring of New Zealand politics than the climate emergency.
Emissions reduction consultation document on its way
25 Aug 2021
The government is set to launch a consultation document on its emission reduction plan, possibly as soon as next week.
Maersk spends £1bn on ‘carbon neutral’ container ships
25 Aug 2021
The world’s biggest shipping company is investing $1.4bn (£1bn) to speed up its switch to carbon neutral operations, ordering eight container vessels that can be fuelled by green methanol as well as traditional bunker fuel .
KiwiSaver funds slowly divesting from fossil fuels
24 Aug 2021
KiwiSaver funds’ investments in fossil fuel companies fell by $331 million in the six months to March, according to data released by ethical investment charity Mindful Money.
NZU price jumps on announced increase in CCR trigger price
23 Aug 2021
The price of NZUs broke through the $50 mark today for the first time on news that the government is increasing the Cost Containment Reserve trigger price to $70 next year.
Getting Wellington moving will save 1000 tonnes of CO2 per year
20 Aug 2021
Changes proposed for Wellington’s active and public transport systems are predicted to reduce CO2 emissions by 1000 tonnes a year by significantly increasing the uptake of public and active transport
Climate Change investors group throws weight behind mandatory reporting
19 Aug 2021
The Investor Group on Climate Change – which includes Australian and New Zealand funds with more than $3.2 trillion under management – says the number of investors making climate-related disclosures remains too low and mandatory reporting is required.
Swiss announce climate disclosure timeline
19 Aug 2021
The Swiss government on Wednesday joined a small number of rich countries that have set a timeline for major companies to disclose the risks they face from climate change.
Waste material from bauxite mining helps create climate-friendly cement
19 Aug 2021
A climate-friendly cement has been developed that produces up to two-thirds fewer carbon emissions during its production than conventional cement.
Carbon making good returns on the NZX
18 Aug 2021
New Zealand’s only carbon fund has more than trebled in size since the beginning of the year and is now worth close to $35 million.
Date set for Climate Commission court case
18 Aug 2021
The High Court will hear a case brought by Lawyers for Climate Action NZ objecting to the Climate Change Commission's recommendations to the Government at the end of February.
Public sector ill-prepared for climate change
17 Aug 2021
Eighty-five percent of public organisations responding to a Ministry for the Environment survey admitted to not documenting how climate change will impact their ability to carry out their functions.
Charging Kiwis the true cost of driving will get them out of their cars
17 Aug 2021
The Conversation: In light of last week’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report confirming human activity is “unequivocally” driving global warming, here’s a striking statistic: in Auckland, road transport modes are responsible for 35% of the city’s climate-altering emissions.
NZ could be at forefront of blue carbon market: report
16 Aug 2021
Government support is needed if New Zealand is to position itself at the forefront of an emerging market in seaweed-based environmental services including ‘blue carbon’, a report released today says.
NZUs set to cross the Rubicon
13 Aug 2021
The price of NZUs have been edging closer and closer to the $50 mark this week, with the spot price on both the Commtrade and Carbon Match secondary markets reaching $49.80 this morning.
Natural catastrophe losses hit $40 billion
13 Aug 2021
A deep winter freeze, hailstorms and wildfires led to natural catastrophe losses of $40 billion in the firsthalf of 2021, Swiss Re Institute’s preliminary estimates showed on Thursday.
Covid suppresses NZ's greenhouse gases
12 Aug 2021
NEW ZEALAND'S greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were down 4.5% in the year ended March 2021, reflecting the impact of COVID-19 on the economy and society a year since restrictions began, Stats NZ said today.
Hutt City to switch to LED lights
12 Aug 2021
The Hutt City Council will replace its 14,200 streetlights with LEDs, introduce EVs for its rubbish and recycling service, and phase out natural gas at all its facilities under a just released Carbon Reduction Plan
First six months of rebate scheme to cost up to $57 million
11 Aug 2021
The Government estimates the first six months of its clean car rebate scheme will cost up to $57 million.
Speaker declines motion to debate IPCC report
11 Aug 2021
It may be, in the words of the UN Secretary-General, a “code red” alert for Planet Earth, but the speaker of the House yesterday declined a motion to debate the IPCC’s latest report.
Calls for greater solar uptake following power outage
11 Aug 2021
The Sustainable Energy Association and Greenpeace are both calling for more investment in solar energy following Monday night’s power outages.
Incentive for Dunedin businesses to go carbon zero
11 Aug 2021
Dunedin tourism businesses that measure their carbon emissions and achieve zero carbon status will be eligible to up to $1000 under a new Enterprise Dunedin scheme.
Cutting emissions with carbon reinforced concrete
10 Aug 2021
Leading expert Prof Manfred Curbach tells GCR how ‘carbon concrete’ cuts CO2 emissions by 50% and could spark construction’s sustainability revolution.
Could winter tomatoes and capsicums be facing carbon extinction?
9 Aug 2021
The production director of one of New Zealand’s largest capsicum producers says the hike in the cost of carbon is a contributing factor in the decision by an increasing number of growers to quit the industry.
Auckland Council sued over lack of emission reductions
9 Aug 2021
A coalition of climate and transport advocacy groups has filed Court proceedings against Auckland Transport and Auckland Council in relation to its recently adopted land transport plan.
Aotearoa on track for warmest winter on record
6 Aug 2021
New Zealand has just experienced its warmest June and July since records began in 1909 and - with one month to go - is on track for its second successive warmest winter on record.
Price of carbon driving forestry conversions
5 Aug 2021
Research commissioned by Beef + Lamb New Zealand has found that about 26,550 hectares of farmland has been sold to “carbon-only” entities since 2017.
New study into household energy use
5 Aug 2021
A collaboration between BRANZ and Stats NZ will see hundreds of homes assessed as part of a BRANZ study on energy use in New Zealand households.
Land of milk and fecal matter
4 Aug 2021
New Zealand's 6.5 million strong dairy herd’s fecal output is equivalent to that of 1.4 billion people – that’s one of the more startling facts in the six-part documentary Land of Milk and Money currently streaming on TVNZ on Demand
EV and SUV sales up
3 Aug 2021
The government's rebate scheme appears to have boosted sales of EVs - but the Ford Ranger remains the country's top-selling commercial vehicle and SUV sales are booming.
'Mindful Mondays' cuts Otago University's carbon emissions
3 Aug 2021
Otago University colleges have cut meat from their menus on Mondays saving about the same amount of carbon as getting 133 cars off the road annually.
NZ misses NDC report deadline
2 Aug 2021
New Zealand has missed the cutoff date to submit an updated Nationally Determined Contribution to the United Nations to be included in a synthesis report ahead of the COP26 meeting.
Genesis tilts towards renewables as it takes carbon hit
2 Aug 2021
Genesis Energy has announced a partnership with Tilt Renewables for a new wind farm in Northland on the same day as news breaks of the electricity and gas company taking a $53 million one-off hit on its earnings as a result of a dispute over liability for carbon emissions.
Greens join call for global Green New Deal
30 Jul 2021
Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and James Shaw are among a small group of politicians from around the world calling for a transformation of the global financial systems and massive public investment in new green infrastructure.
The largest flood flow ever measured
30 Jul 2021
NIWA media release - Flood flows on the Buller River this month were the largest of any river in Aotearoa New Zealand in almost 100 years, NIWA measurements show
Hydrogen makes business but not environmental sense: Krumdieck
29 Jul 2021
Shareholder profit rather than environmental sustainability is behind talk of using electricity currently powering the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter to produce hydrogen, professor of mechanical engineering Susan Krumdieck says.
New centre for sustainable finance launched
29 Jul 2021
Media Release - Toitû Tahua, the Centre for Sustainable Finance, was launched today to implement the Sustainable Finance Forum’s 2030 roadmap for a sustainable financial system.
Aggressive marketing drives popularity of utes
29 Jul 2021
The Conversation: “Explore your inner beast.” That was the slogan used last year to sell the Ford Ranger. At 2.4 tonnes, that’s a lot of “light” truck, but the stakes are rising. This year, the 3.5 tonne Ram 1500 “eats utes for breakfast”.
Scientists back matauranga Maori's role in climate research
28 Jul 2021
Matauranga Maori (traditional Maori knowledge) has a vital part to play in finding solutions to a myriad of urgent problems - including climate change - according to the New Zealand Association of Scientists.
ACC to appoint climate fund manager
27 Jul 2021
ACC is advertising for a manager for its Climate Change Impact Fund, which it says will, over time, have between $50 million to $100 million to invest.
Mussel shells could filter NZ waterways
27 Jul 2021
Waste mussel shells could become a low-tech, natural tool to filter pollutants from New Zealand waterways if field testing by University of Canterbury engineers proves successful.
G20 climate and energy ministers split over coal exit
27 Jul 2021
China, Russia and India are among countries resisting a timeline to phase out coal power generation, leaving it to leaders to resolve the impasse.
The true cost of the billionaire space race
27 Jul 2021
Scientists worry that growing numbers of rocket flights and the rise of space tourism could harm Earth's atmosphere and contribute to climate change.
Convert Marsden Point to produce bio-crude: Bioenergy Assoc
26 Jul 2021
The government is asleep at the wheel and should be pushing for the Marsden Point Refinery to be repurposed to produce bio-crude, the executive officer of the Bioenergy Association, Brian Cox, says.
Coal imports hit historical high; methane targets require 'scientific Hail Mary': RNZ
26 Jul 2021
Climate change is making a splash on RNZ this morning. The public broadcaster has published an in-depth report on methane, a report on coal imports hitting and all time high, and a story on a new on-line emissions tracking tool.
Climate change action will create millions of jobs
26 Jul 2021
Hitting global climate target could create eight million energy jobs mainly in the renewable energy sector, a new study says.
The future of energy is a symbiotic grid
26 Jul 2021
In a decade-long building boom of renewable energy, we’ve reached a milestone. There are now one billion watts of wind and solar installed across the world. That’s about half the capacity of all coal and three times that of all nuclear.
Local govt shake-up risks weakened environmental outcomes – Commissioner
Fri 27 Feb 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Government’s push to simplify local government is "deeply flawed" and has been launched without a clear understanding of which functions must remain regional, according to the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.
Govt plan to encourage new energy investment won’t cut costs for ordinary Kiwis
Thu 26 Feb 2026
By Liz Kivi | While gentailers and major energy users have welcomed the Government’s plan to leverage public sector demand to drive new energy projects, an expert says it is unlikely to reduce prices for ordinary people.
Govt's solar on farms initiative to cut costs, boost resilience
17 Feb 2026
Farms across Aotearoa will begin installing solar panels and battery systems as part of a government-backed demonstration programme designed to test whether on-farm renewable energy can reduce electricity costs and improve energy security for the food and fibre sector.
Annual emissions fell to lowest in 15 years in Sept 2025
5 Feb 2026
By Pattrick Smellie | New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions fell to their lowest annual total in the year to September 2025 since records began 2010, according to Statistics New Zealand data published this morning.
NZ’s EV uptake decelerates
23 Feb 2026
By Liz Kivi | New Zealand’s EV uptake is lagging behind other countries, with a huge drop in EV sales since 2023 bucking international trends, at the same time the Government contemplates abolishing its standard for clean cars entirely.
Tairāwhiti needs proper Govt support to heal the land – not empty announcements for political optics
Tue 24 Feb 2026
OPINION: The Government’s answer to Tairāwhiti’s severe erosion crisis – that the region apply for modest, contestable funding rounds – while rejecting the region's own land transition business case, leaves our long-term resilience hanging in the balance, writes Manu Caddie.
Kiwi startup takes on global plastic pollution
12 Feb 2026
A New Zealand startup is launching what it says is the world’s first plastic-free effervescent drink tablet, with the ambitious aim of eliminating bottled beverages to reduce global plastic pollution.
