New Zealand: All stories
Carbon rise could cause cloud tipping point
28 Feb 2019
Climate scientists have confirmed a high-level hazard, a cloud tipping point, that could send global warming into a dramatic upwards spiral.
FLY FEAR: Fruit pest will enjoy warming climate
27 Feb 2019
The risk of Queensland fruit flies establishing in New Zealand is expecting to increase as the climate warms, threatening the country’s horticultural industry.
Look it up, minister tells West Coast council
27 Feb 2019
Climate minister James Shaw says he doesn’t intend explaining climate change to the West Coast Regional Council, which has expressed doubt about whether it is being caused by human activity.
More and more, scientists need backup of the volunteer army
27 Feb 2019
Research by citizen scientists is coming into its own, providing a critical tool for monitoring endangered species and documenting environmental changes sweeping the planet.
Report puts boardrooms on carbon liabilty notice
26 Feb 2019
The days of ignoring carbon prices and the risks associated with climate change are over, businesses are being told.
Insurers warn of slump in property prices
26 Feb 2019
Insurers say there is a risk of a climate change-related slump in property prices leading to financial turmoil.
Sustainability grows on private equity companies
26 Feb 2019
A new PwC survey has found that responsible investment and sustainable development are become more of a priority for private equity companies.
Nats make 'measured and reasonable' climate plan
25 Feb 2019
A National government might give fewer free carbon credits to trade-exposed industrial emitters but is unlikely to force a large-scale reduction in biological emissions from agriculture, according to a new paper.
Jesus might think again if he could see the Jordan today
25 Feb 2019
If Jesus were alive today, he might reconsider a baptism in the river Jordan - there’s a good chance he’d pick up an eye infection.
Global shipping inches forward on fuel rules
25 Feb 2019
The International Maritime Organisation inched forward last week on its promises to ban the use of heavy fuel oil in the Arctic and reduce black carbon emissions from ships.
Industrial plants see low carbon price as barrier
22 Feb 2019
Low carbon prices are stopping many large plants switching to low-emissions fuels, a report says.
Cullen report backs more environmental taxes
21 Feb 2019
Greater environmental taxes and strengthening of the Emissions Trading Scheme are on the way if the Government adopts recommendations from its Tax Working Group.
These mayors haven't signed climate declaration
21 Feb 2019
Twenty-three local body leaders haven’t signed the Local Government Leaders’ Declaration on Climate Change.
Bank opens for e-projects money
21 Feb 2019
Applications for the latest round of Government funding for low-carbon transport projects are open.
Coal giant Glencore to limit production
21 Feb 2019
Commodities giant Glencore has bowed to pressure from shareholders to limit coal production for environmental reasons.
Big companies might leave, warns oil sector
20 Feb 2019
Cutting carbon subsidies for trade-exposed heavy emitters could see large companies leave the country, says the oil and gas sector.
Renewable energy will be tops by 2040, says BP
20 Feb 2019
Renewable energy will be the world’s main source of power within two decades, according to BP.
MONEY MYSTERY: How much will this cost us?
19 Feb 2019
Treasury expects most emitters to pay the Government a carbon fee this year instead of surrendering carbon credits – and that will cost the country money.
Changing weather could make food less safe
19 Feb 2019
Governments must pay more attention to food safety, and address the issue in their action plans to tackle climate change, say officials and researchers.
Big businesses stand shy of 1.5deg commitment
18 Feb 2019
Two large New Zealand companies making commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions are still talking about keeping global heating below 2deg, not the 1.5deg scientists now say is the maximum the world can safely reach.
Has Coast got climate facts, Muller asks ministers
18 Feb 2019
Opposition climate spokesman Todd Muller wants to know if the Government has provided the West Coast Regional Council with evidence that human-induced climate change is real.
Farmers put climate worries on back burner
15 Feb 2019
Climate change and the Emissions Trading Scheme have fallen down the list of things worrying farmers.
Groundwater impact might take years
15 Feb 2019
While climate change makes dramatic changes to weather and ecosystems on the surface, the impact on the world’s groundwater is likely to be delayed, representing a challenge for future generations.
Emissions need multi-pronged action, says EDS
14 Feb 2019
The Emissions Trading Scheme alone will not drive the level of land-use change New Zealand will need to cut its greenhouse gas emissions, a new report says.
It's heating up on land ... and sea
14 Feb 2019
Droughts affecting in the top of the South Island and top and west of the North Island are spreading, and sea temperatures are increasing, scientists say.
Plastic waste our prime worry, survey shows
13 Feb 2019
New Zealanders are capable of making the society-wide changes needed to tackle climate change – but at the moment they’re more focused on getting rid of plastic waste.
Mâori want say in planting of marginal land
12 Feb 2019
PLANS TO TURN farms on steep country into forests could see the Government run foul of Mâori economic development plans.
ROD ORAM: Todd Muller's big year out
12 Feb 2019
National Party climate spokesperson Todd Muller has been reflecting on his year in the role.
Labs busy finding new ways to power the world
12 Feb 2019
Laboratories can make energy from greenhouse gases, power smartphones with their own radiation, and cut shipping costs naturally. And each could become reality.
OPINION: Stop feeling guilty and think of the future
12 Feb 2019
By MATTHEW ADAMS | The climate disaster future is increasingly becoming the present – and, as the evidence piles up, it is tempting to ask questions about its likely public reception.
Methane should be carbon neutral, says Niwa
11 Feb 2019
The Government’s top climate research organisation says New Zealand’s methane emissions from agriculture should be carbon-neutral.
Why solar generation will be a big player
11 Feb 2019
Solar electricity generation has a big part to play in New Zealand’s low-carbon energy future, says the operator of the national grid.
NZ tumbles down climate-action rankings
8 Feb 2019
New Zealand has fallen down the international rankings for action on climate change.
Ardern will go all out for low-carbon economy
8 Feb 2019
Transitioning to a low-carbon economy is at the top of the Government’s budget priorities this year.
Science races climate as ecosystems vanish
8 Feb 2019
The landscapes and climate in many parts of the world could be nearly unrecognizable by the end of the century if greenhouse gas emissions continue at their current pace, research suggests.
OPINION: Canberra is laughing at us
8 Feb 2019
By RICHARD FLANAGAN | Australian PrimeMinister Scott Morrison is trying to scare people about economic policy but seems blithely unaware people are already scared – about climate change.
Industrial power challenges ETS deal for farmers
7 Feb 2019
A Labour-New Zealand First coalition agreement clause that guarantees farmers they will not pay as much as other sectors for their greenhouse gas emissions – if anything at all - is being challenged by one of our biggest industrial companies.
Big Oil races to buy slice of e-car business
7 Feb 2019
For decades, oil and gas companies and utilities dismissed electric cars. Now, the old petroleum and power giants are muscling into the driver’s seat of the “new fuels” industry.
China is the big fish, says European ETS expert
5 Feb 2019
Linkages between emissions trading scheme in Europe and New Zealand are on the agenda – but it’s China that Europe is really interested in.
OPINION: The more we know, the worse it seems
5 Feb 2019
By MARK LYNAS |To get a full grasp of climate change, you need to take a geological perspective.
Ponds in your garden can fight climate change
5 Feb 2019
Ponds are good for more than just decorating the garden – they could be your best tool in fighting climate change.
How NZ could offer a home to hydrogen
4 Feb 2019
Carbon prices of $300 to $400 a tonne could make hydrogen viable in New Zealand for electricity generation, a new report says.
BP acts on shareholder demands
4 Feb 2019
BP will have to set out how its strategy and investments fit with targets to limit global temperature rise, under a new resolution.
OPINION: What a burning world tells us
4 Feb 2019
By DAVID WALLACE-WELLS | I was wilfully deluded until I began covering global warming. But extreme heat could transform the planet by 2100.
Second iwi wants inclusion of older forests
1 Feb 2019
Another major iwi is pushing for tradable carbon credits for a much wider range of forests – and says dairy farmers should be liable for emissions from their businesses.
Scientists find Scuba system can contain coal gases
1 Feb 2019
The chemical process used by Scuba divers can efficiently strip carbon dioxide out of the residue of coal-fired electricity generation, scientists say.
Coastal councils face billions in sea damage
31 Jan 2019
Billions of dollars worth of council-owned infrastructure is at risk from rising seas, says a new Local Government New Zealand report.
HEATWAVE COSTS: Dead fish and early grapes
31 Jan 2019
Last summer’s heatwave gave New Zealand its warmest summer and the warmest January on record. It lead to early grape harvests and the deaths of farmed fish.
Why we must have climate-smart farming
31 Jan 2019
Food shocks are becoming more frequent as the climate changes, prompting calls for “climate-smart” farming systems and the building up of global food reserves.
Someday soon, a tablecloth could charge our phones
31 Jan 2019
US scientists have created super-thin, bendy materials that pave the way for energy-harvesting covers ranging from tablecloths to giant wrappers for buildings.
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.
Victorian Hydrogen announces Southland urea fertiliser project using coal
Wed 22 Apr 2026
By Liz Kivi | Australian-based Victorian Hydrogen has announced it is developing a new 1.5 million-tonne-a-year urea fertiliser operation in Southland, which it will apply for under fast-track legislation.
