New Zealand: All stories
NZ First introduces bill to fight 'woke banks'
11 Feb 2025
The supposed fight between NZ First and banks' lending policies enters another week, with a new Member's Bill hoping to prevent banks from refusing their services to businesses because of the current ESG framework.
New AI tool to map planted pine
11 Feb 2025
Using AI to map New Zealand's forests could give more accurate and up-to-date data which will benefit policy-makers and infrastructure investments, as well as climate change reporting systems, according to researchers.
Pulling out of Paris Agreement could impact trade: Watts
10 Feb 2025
Climate change minister Simon Watts has reiterated the government's commitment to its international climate pledge, following comments from ACT leader and future deputy Prime Minister David Seymour, who floated the idea of pulling out of the Paris Agreement.
NZ needs $20b to meet 2050 energy needs
7 Feb 2025
New Zealand will need a minimum of $20 billion to meet the country's energy needs in 2050, according to new research.
Exporters need to step up to meet new EU carbon tax requirements
7 Feb 2025
Kiwi exporters who invest in complying with the EU's carbon tax reporting will be at a competitive advantage, according to MFAT.
Commission calls for review of free carbon credits for big polluters
5 Feb 2025
The Climate Change Commission is recommending a review of free permits to big polluters under the ETS.
Researchers look to underground future for hydrogen
5 Feb 2025
Kiwi researchers are modelling the injection, storage and extraction of 10,000 tonnes of underground hydrogen at a natural gas storage site in Taranaki.
Foresters drop legal action over ETS fees
4 Feb 2025
Forestry minister Todd McClay has welcomed the sector's decision to drop legal action to fight new Emissions Trading Scheme fees.
Labour supports RMA reform bill for now
4 Feb 2025
The Government's bill making substantive changes to the Resource Management Act completed its first reading just before Christmas with Labour supporting it to select committee consideration.
FMA should expose 'greenwashing' investment funds - Coates
3 Feb 2025
If the Financial Markets Authority is serious about tackling greenwash, they should call out KiwiSaver and investment funds that claim to be ethical while investing in the worst fossil fuel companies, says Mindful Money's Barry Coates.
Adding coal to 'critical' minerals list makes NZ a global outlier
3 Feb 2025
The government's addition of coal to its list of 'critical' minerals goes against its own scientists' advice, and puts New Zealand out of step with trading partners, such as Australia.
Work begins on NZ's biggest solar farm
3 Feb 2025
Construction is set to begin on New Zealand's biggest solar farm, the Tauhei Solar Farm project, in the Waikato.
'Disappointing' new climate target 'shockingly unambitious'
31 Jan 2025
Lawyers say it's 'highly questionable' whether the government's new climate target for 2035 meets requirements, while European politicians have started questioning New Zealand's climate commitments in light of trade deals.
Mining strategy resurrecting 'same terrible idea' - Greens
31 Jan 2025
Resources Minister Shane Jones' new minerals strategy and critical minerals list have been met with criticism, with opponents questioning the long-term implications for both the economy and the environment.
Disagreement over gene tech bill at first reading
31 Jan 2025
A bill reforming the gene technology regime was opposed by all opposition parties when it received its first reading late last year, setting the tone for what will be a controversial environmental issue.
Media round-up
31 Jan 2025
In our weekly round-up of climate coverage in local media: Fonterra gets caught up in misinformation around use of feed additive Bovaer and two Wellington communities want to become the first carbon-neutral suburbs in the world.
New bill could criminalise climate protests
30 Jan 2025
A new bill before parliament could criminalise peaceful climate protests, with critics saying the 'absurd' bill is an attempt to match repressive anti-protest laws in the UK and Australia.
Govt poised to reveal next climate target
30 Jan 2025
The government is set to announce New Zealand's next international climate target, the NDC for 2030-2035, tonight after the market closes.
Kiwi researchers use AI to better predict wildfires
30 Jan 2025
Kiwi and Aussie researchers have developed a new machine learning model that could help predict fires based on real-time weather data.
NZ banks coy about Net Zero Banking Alliance, reject Fed Farmers 'cartel' claims
29 Jan 2025
By Shannon Williams | New Zealand banks won't say whether they will follow several overseas banks in quitting the Net Zero Banking Alliance.
Tough at the top at Toitū?
29 Jan 2025
By Liz Kivi | The announcement of a new chief executive for Toitū represents the third time the role has changed hands in just over five years, raising questions about high turnover at the government's carbon and environmental certifier.
Logging train revival to help 'deteriorating' Napier-Taihape road
29 Jan 2025
By Linda Hall, Local Democracy Reporter | Logging trains are back on the tracks running five days a week on the Napier-Palmerston North line to Napier Port, taking trucks off the 'deteriorating' Napier-Taihape Rd.
Offshore energy bill gets almost full support
28 Jan 2025
The Offshore Renewable Energy Bill received general support in Parliament when it received its first reading late last year.
Activist plans to take climate inaction case against govt to Supreme Court
27 Jan 2025
Veteran activist Mike Smith plans to appeal a court decision that dismissed his case, which argues the government is breaking the law by failing to take adequate action on climate change.
Govt 'tone deaf' on mining conservation land
27 Jan 2025
Forest & Bird says the Government's support of expanding mining on public conservation land is an "assault" and cause for alarm.
Science reforms could further erode climate expertise
24 Jan 2025
Foresters have welcomed the government’s sweeping science reforms, but leading climate scientist James Renwick fears a further erosion of expertise from the research sector.
Media round-up
24 Jan 2025
In our weekly round-up of climate coverage in local media: Critics say a plan to put pine trees on DOC land is half-baked; a new study has found microplastics in compost; and an expert says it's not too late to rein in further warming as 2024 is confirmed as the warmest year on record.
Simon Watts named energy minister
23 Jan 2025
Climate change minister Simon Watts has also been named energy minister in Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s cabinet reshuffle.
Meri Kirihimete
20 Dec 2024
This is our final issue for the year as the Carbon News team takes a break over the summer holidays. We’ll be back with more crucial climate coverage from New Zealand and around the world from January 23.
NZ’s dairy industry faces an uncertain future – its fate now lies in its ability to adapt
20 Dec 2024
New Zealand’s dairy sector faces an uncertain future due to several challenges, including water pollution, high emissions, animal welfare concerns and market volatility.
Waitangi Tribunal kicks off inquiry into climate change policy
20 Dec 2024
By Liz Kivi | The Crown has contributed to worsening the climate crisis as well as exacerbating impacts on Māori communities, a Waitangi Tribunal panel heard this week.
Govt will 'fiddle the numbers' on climate target: Carr
20 Dec 2024
Climate Change Commissioner Rod Carr is predicting the government will use 'creative accounting' to minimise the amount of offshore mitigation it needs to buy, which is currently estimated to cost billions.
Will NZ walk away from the Paris Agreement?
20 Dec 2024
By Geoff Bertram | COMMENT: Unless the government can find very cheap offshore mitigation, the temptation to walk away from its Paris Agreement obligations may well be too strong to resist for a coalition government focused on fiscal austerity.
How to cut your transport emissions - and get there faster
20 Dec 2024
By Emily Mabin Sutton | OPINION: What do two lime trees, a 30kg duffel bag, a full supermarket shop and a deck chair have in common?
Climate change, 1990s style. What have we learned?
20 Dec 2024
By Robert McLachlan | COMMENT: In 1992 Statistics NZ called cars one of the biggest threats to the global environment. Thirty two years later New Zealand still has one of the highest rates of car ownership in the world.
NZ submits first Paris Agreement progress report
19 Dec 2024
New Zealand has submitted its first report to the UN on how the country is tracking towards its international climate target to 2030 under the Paris Agreement.
Siloed thinking hindering solutions to climate, health, and food crises – report
19 Dec 2024
'Siloed thinking' is holding back solutions to biodiversity, human health, climate change, water, and food security, according to a new report.
NZ’s government may ask the public to underwrite the risk of fossil fuel exploration – this could be unlawful
19 Dec 2024
By Nathan Cooper, University of Waikato | After reversing the ban on new offshore oil and gas exploration permits, New Zealand’s coalition government is now considering whether to share the risks of exploration with the fossil fuel industry.
Govt confirms new ETS forestry fees
18 Dec 2024
The Government has confirmed new fees for forestry in the Emissions Trading Scheme, which will start from January 2025.
Fast-track bill passes third reading
18 Dec 2024
Yesterday saw a flurry of pre-Christmas lawmaking in Parliament that could have far-reaching impacts for climate and environment, with the controversial fast-track bill set to become law, as well as bills on offshore renewable energy and gene technology being read for the first time.
DOC in hot water over marine species protection
18 Dec 2024
The High Court has found the Department of Conservation has acted unlawfully for decades by failing to implement its own legislation to protect threatened marine species.
Fast-track law makes chaotic progress
17 Dec 2024
The Fast-Track Approvals Bill made somewhat chaotic progress towards becoming law last week after a committee stage dominated by many amendments and a furious procedural debate.
Hydrogen plan won’t reduce emissions: expert
16 Dec 2024
The government is using its new hydrogen action plan as an opportunity to weaken regulations that are “inconvenient” to the fossil fuel industry, according to an energy transition expert.
Govt to shake up climate-related disclosures regime
16 Dec 2024
The Government is proposing a raft of changes to New Zealand’s capital markets regime, including exploring changes to the climate-related disclosures regime and KiwiSaver settings.
Govt's choice of climate leadership criticised as ‘Trumpian’
13 Dec 2024
New climate-related appointments have been met with a mixed reaction from policy experts, with one predicting the appointments signal the government will eventually disestablish the Climate Change Commission.
NZGIF chair quits following SolarZero collapse
13 Dec 2024
NZ Green Investment Finance chair Cecilia Tarrant has resigned in the wake of the SolarZero debacle.
Australia vs NZ: How do climate disclosure regimes stack up?
13 Dec 2024
Australia’s mandatory climate reporting framework goes much further in scope than New Zealand’s equivalent disclosure requirements, according to a new report.
Media round-up
13 Dec 2024
In our weekly round-up of climate coverage in local media: Former Climate Change Commission chair Rod Carr says we can either get on with the low-carbon transition “or be overwhelmed by it," Fonterra dumps coal in bid to slash emissions, and the Greens try to rev up the climate debate.
Govt ferry plan puts climate change commitments at risk
12 Dec 2024
Opposition parties are among a chorus of voices criticising the government’s 'omnishambles' ferry announcement, saying it has created further uncertainty while setting the country up for more carbon emissions.
Cuts to science funding will hurt climate response
12 Dec 2024
Scientists and academics have slammed the government’s “horrifying” decision to cut humanities and social science funding, with some saying it will hinder the country’s ability to combat climate change.
Climate at the ballot box in local govt elections
Mon 15 Sep 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Climate action as well as anti-climate stances are both the subject of promises at this year's local government elections, with pledges to focus on resilience to extreme weather events widely supported, while plans for cutting emissions have been countered by promises to block such action, as voting papers hit mailboxes last week.
Watts not considering removing electricity from ETS
Tue 16 Sep 2025
Energy and Climate Change Minister, Simon Watts, says he is “not currently considering” removing electricity generation from the Emissions Trading Scheme, as proposed by NZ First Minister Shane Jones.
International scientists slam NZ govt's proposed approach to methane
13 Aug 2025
New Zealand's proposed approach to methane emissions has again been attacked by international climate scientists, with a new study saying the attempt to redefine climate target-setting by livestock-exporting countries undermines the transition to a sustainable and equitable food system
Vector hits emissions reduction goal five years early
5 Sep 2025
By Liz Kivi | Auckland lines company Vector has met its 2030 emissions reduction reduction target five years early, more than halving its direct emissions, and crediting innovation and a laser-focus for its success in a hard-to-abate sector.
NZ needs to be part of a regional SAF strategy: Z, Air NZ
9 Sep 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | New Zealand needs to be part of a regional strategic approach to sourcing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with domestic production less the aim than ensuring access to the fuel from one of a number of strategically positioned bio-refineries around the world.
Indigenous forest 'islands' could help transition exotic plantations to native bush
Thu 11 Sep 2025
Native forest 'islands' within exotic plantations might be the key to transitioning plantations from exotic to Indigenous, according to new research.
'Non-negotiable' – EU carbon pricing to hit Kiwi exporters, expert warns
Thu 11 Sep 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | High carbon exports will inevitably face a high carbon tax at the EU border, possibly in the next five years, and high methane agricultural products might not be exempt, an international expert told a local audience yesterday.
