New Zealand: All stories
Around 10% of science grants go to climate related research
8 Sep 2021
In the midst of a self-declared climate emergency the government has committed around 10% of this year’s Endeavour Fund to projects tackling climate change.
Less than a third of transport spend goes to emission cutting initiatives
7 Sep 2021
Less than a third of the $24.3 billion being spent by the government on transport services and infrastructure over the next three years will go towards public transport, railways, and improvements to cycling and walking infrastructure.
Full frontal attack on dairy farming by oat milk producer
6 Sep 2021
Oat milk producer, Otis has today launched a fund to help farmers switch from dairy farming to growing oats.
Waikato University launches world’s first Bachelor of Climate Change degree
6 Sep 2021
Waikato University is claiming a world first with its launch of a new Bachelor of Climate Change degree on Friday.
Cataract surgery top target for reducing emissions in health care
6 Sep 2021
But Dr Jesse Gale, a Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Otago, Wellington, says reducing the carbon emissions of our most commonly-performed surgical procedure could also aid in the fight against climate change.
Foreign investment to speed up EV charging network roll out
3 Sep 2021
International energy trading company Mercuria has taken a 20% stake in ChargeNet – the country’s leading EV charging network.
NZU price soars despite CCR “safety valve”
2 Sep 2021
If the purpose of the Cost Containment Reserve is to act as “a safety valve” to prevent NZU prices going significantly above the trigger price – it doesn't appear to be working.
Wellington Regional Council looks forward to congestion charging
2 Sep 2021
The Greater Wellington Regional Council is calling on the government to make mode-shift, rather than EVS, the cornerstone of its transport decarbonisation strategy.
Almost a third of world’s tree species face extinction: report
2 Sep 2021
Almost a third of the world’s tree species are at risk of extinction, while hundreds are on the brink of being wiped out, according to a new report.
Climate Change Minister responds to ETS auction
1 Sep 2021
“The Government is committed to balancing out the additional units released today to ensure there is no overall impact on emissions released into the atmosphere," climate change minister James Shaw said in a statement today.
NZU price crashes through CCR
1 Sep 2021
THE third NZ ETS auction cleared at $53.85 today - the first time the cost containment reserve has been breached.
Are Auckland's floods climate change in action?
1 Sep 2021
Inevitably, when freak floods or wildfires strike a nation we ask, is it the result of climate change? The Science Media Centre has helpfully sought the views of the country's leading experts to help answer that question in relation to the floods in Auckland.
Jump in number of non-obligatory players entering ETS
31 Aug 2021
Nearly two thirds of bids in the last ETS auction in June came from entities that didn’t have compliance obligations.
10 YEARS AGO...
31 Aug 2021
Ten years ago, public health specialist Dr Rhys Jones warned the government was likely to face Treaty of Waitangi claims over its lack of action on climate change - the "defining public health issue of the century".
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.
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.
