New Zealand: All stories
Nelson backs ‘ambitious’ emissions target, but mayor nervous
26 May 2025
By Max Frethey, Local Democracy Reporter | Nelson’s mayor has been accused of “pouring cold water” on ambitious greenhouse gas emission targets proposed for the city.
New climate hazards report for Waikato region
26 May 2025
By Shannon Williams | A new hazards and risks report from Waikato Regional Council aims to help councils, iwi, businesses and communities in the region understand and respond to risks associated with climate change.
Cuts to climate finance put exports in jeopardy: Lawyers
23 May 2025
By Liz Kivi | The government has halved international climate finance, a move aid organisations describe as “devastating,” and which lawyers say could put our Paris Agreement commitments and export market access at risk.
Govt budgets $200m for would-be gas investors
23 May 2025
By Liz Kivi | Energy Resources Aotearoa has welcomed the government's plan to co-invest $200 million in fossil gas expansion, while environmental and climate groups have reacted with horror.
Budget undermines climate and environmental research, say scientists
23 May 2025
By Shannon Williams | Scientists are criticising the 2025 budget for sidelining environmental and hazard research, warning that deep cuts to core programmes reflect a growing shift towards profit-driven science at the expense of public safety and climate resilience.
Public transport woes for Canterbury’s big growth areas
23 May 2025
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter | It is back to the drawing board on proposed bus services in the Selwyn district as Canterbury's regional council struggles with growing demand and limited funds, chairperson Craig Pauling says.
Media round-up
23 May 2025
In our weekly round-up of climate coverage in local media: What is behind delays to a taxpayer-funded methane satellite? Is carbon capture a fossil fuel industry scam? and David Hall argues that efficient forms of energy are not "lesser evils."
NZ moving too slowly to decarbonise – former commission chair
22 May 2025
By Liz Kivi | New Zealand's energy transition is too slow and too controlled by vested interests, according to former Climate Change Commission chair Rod Carr.
Govt puts off reviewing carbon subsidies
22 May 2025
By Shannon Williams | The government is no longer considering changes to phase-out rates for millions of dollars worth of carbon subsidies to industrial polluters under the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Public distrust over electricity sector
22 May 2025
A poll found that nearly half of New Zealanders feel more concerned about their power bill than last year and believe breaking up the electricity gentailers could improve competition.
Fed Farmers ‘ready to go into battle’ over methane target
21 May 2025
Federated Farmers say they will never accept a 24% methane reduction target, and they are prepared to go into battle with the government over the issue.
Council delays forestry plan as national rules remain unclear
21 May 2025
Tairāwhiti’s forestry reforms are facing fresh delays, with Gisborne District Council now tying its plan changes to national direction that remains uncertain.
Opponents 'livid' over Taranaki seabed mining project fast-track application
20 May 2025
Opponents of the project have slammed the EPA's acceptance of Trans-Tasman Resources' fast-track application to mine 50 million tonnes of South Taranaki seabed every year.
Carbon price too low to fund carbon capture
20 May 2025
The government’s climate target to 2030 is at risk, after revelations that a carbon capture project which the government was relying on to deliver one third of its carbon reductions, might not go ahead.
Govt budgets $600 million for rail upgrades
20 May 2025
The government has announced $600 million for rail upgrades and renewals ahead of Budget 2025.
Flick flicked on
20 May 2025
There is a certain irony that one of the most vocal and public critics of the gentailers and the electricity market – Flick Electric – has been taken over by the largest gentailer – Meridian Energy.
Transpower will keep gas and carbon trading platform
19 May 2025
Transpower will continue to own and operate its gas and carbon trading platform emsTradepoint for the foreseeable future, it announced this morning.
Environmental groups call on PM to reject regulatory standards
19 May 2025
Four of Aotearoa New Zealand’s environmental organisations have issued a joint open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon urging him to reject the Regulatory Standards Bill in full.
Climate-denying farming groups attack govt’s methane strategy
16 May 2025
A trio of farming groups is claiming that a survey shows 95% of farmers have rejected the government’s methane strategy.
Nature is not an economic handbrake: Environmental Defence Society
16 May 2025
Nature is not a handbrake on economic growth – the two must go hand in hand, attendees heard on the final day of the Environmental Defence Society’s Dollars and Sense conference this week.
Green budget 'ludicrous la-la land' – govt
15 May 2025
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the budget was "clown show economics" and an "absolute circus".
Climate change will worsen existing threats to Hawke’s Bay
15 May 2025
Climate change is projected to substantially alter weather patterns and environmental conditions in the coming decades, with significant implications for the human, built and natural environments.
As insurance gets harder to buy, NZ has 3 choices for disaster recovery – and we keep choosing the worst one
15 May 2025
By Ilan Noy and Belinda Storey | The number of climate change-related extreme weather events is on the rise, making it harder for many people to buy affordable home insurance.
Greens promise to rapidly reduce emissions in new Green Budget
14 May 2025
By Shannon Williams | The Green Party has unveiled its alternative Green Budget, promising bold investments to tackle the climate crisis and deliver cleaner air, water, and soil.
Oceans Commission must have teeth – minister
14 May 2025
If an Oceans Commission were to be established under the government it would need genuine powers to make change, says Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Shane Jones.
Methanex closure comes early this year
14 May 2025
The almost-now-annual closure of Methanex has come earlier this year, giving more confidence that the electricity system will get through the winter without a fuel shortfall.
Forest & Bird slams govt’s biodiversity priorities
13 May 2025
The country’s biggest environmental organisation is questioning the government’s biodiversity strategy after the announcement yesterday that the government was moving to provide protected status to a feral pest.
Dismissals 'massive win' for climate movement
13 May 2025
The outstanding charges against 25 climate activists who disrupted traffic in Wellington have been dropped, a move the group calls a win for the climate movement.
Three-year flood map legal dispute ends in win for landowners
13 May 2025
By Alisha Evans, Local Democracy Reporter | Tauranga property owners have had a “significant win” after the council agreed to update flood maps, a developer says.
Govt needs to get moving to deliver international climate target says commission
12 May 2025
By Liz Kivi | The Climate Change Commission is warning that “time is running short” for the government to deliver on its international climate target.
Steady progress for Kāpiti Coast emission reduction
12 May 2025
Kāpiti Coast District Council's latest audit shows its 2023/24 emissions are down by 11% from the previous year.
Commissioner calls on govt to better manage economic risks of climate change
12 May 2025
Climate change is creating an inevitable liability for the government which needs to be understood and managed, according to the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.
Owning a green home could cut mortgage payback time by two years
9 May 2025
A green certified home plus a green mortgage and associated energy bill savings could save Kiwi families up to $98,800 over the course of their mortgage - the equivalent of being mortgage-free several years early, according to new research.
Most Kiwis anxious over extreme weather events
9 May 2025
More than half of all New Zealanders are worried about storms, heavy rainfall and flooding as New Zealand faces continued wild weather events.
New book searches for language to connect to the climate crisis
9 May 2025
Working with Māori communities on climate research for the Deep South National Science Challenge led to many of the stories in new book Slowing the Sun by essayist Nadine Hura.
Northland opens $600k Climate Resilient Communities Fund
9 May 2025
Northland Regional Council has opened applications to the Climate Resilient Communities Fund.
Media round-up
9 May 2025
In our weekly round-up of climate coverage in local media: When climate resilience meets resident resistance in Auckland; atmospheric and marine heatwaves in and around New Zealand are increasing climate extremes; and seaweed's climate superpowers.
First carbon credit scheme for early coal plant closures unveiled
9 May 2025
Proponents hope carbon markets can offer new funding for costly transition from coal to renewables. But concerns have been raised over the risk of low-integrity credits.
Govt pledges to slash building emissions
8 May 2025
The government is signing up to an international agreement aimed at decarbonising the building and construction sector in line with limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees.
Concern at new science appointments
8 May 2025
The prime minister's appointment of John Roche as chief science advisor has received a mixed response, with some experts saying the government has made it obvious it doesn't value science.
Ambitious goal for predator free 2050 within reach?
8 May 2025
A discussion document on the Predator Free 2050 programme says it has an ambitious goal to eradicate possums, rats and mustelids from our country, but that some of the programme’s goals are not currently plausible.
Farming lobby attacks ‘loopholes’ in carbon forestry limits
7 May 2025
Beef + Lamb New Zealand is urging the government to close what it says are loopholes in new guidance around limits on carbon forestry.
NZ could ditch 8 million fossil fuel machines right now to slash emissions
7 May 2025
The majority of the country’s ten million fossil fuel machines could be replaced cost-effectively with electric equivalents right now, new research from Rewiring Aotearoa has revealed.
Second council quits Hawke’s Bay climate committee
7 May 2025
By Linda Hall, Local Democracy Reporter | Wairoa District Council has pulled the plug on the Hawke’s Bay Climate Action Joint Committee after councillors questioned its value.
FMA exemption grants compliance relief to climate reporters
7 May 2025
The Financial Markets Authority has signed off on new exemptions giving climate-reporting entities a break from some of their compliance duties.
Microplastics found in every layer of the ocean – study
7 May 2025
A new study by New Zealand and international researchers shows microplastics in every layer of the ocean - enough to change the chemical fingerprint of ocean carbon.
Green Party plans to bring back industry decarbonisation fund
6 May 2025
The Greens want to bring back the Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry (GIDI) Fund and use it to kickstart sustainable forestry for building and fuel.
Northland flood defences pass first major rainfall test
6 May 2025
A small, flood-prone Northland community has withstood a 10-year rainfall event, thanks to new flood protection works led by Northland Regional Council.
Environmental Defence Society calls for law change on marine protected areas
6 May 2025
The Environmental Defence Society has outlined a plan for reforming marine protected areas law.
Govt releases proposals to fund biodiversity
5 May 2025
The government is looking for ways to increase revenue and non-government funding for biodiversity, and is consulting on proposals including developing a new revenue model for accessing public conservation areas, as well as a system for nature-based financial disclosures, reporting and investment.
Local council shakeup will weaken environmental protection, say critics
Wed 26 Nov 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Government’s sweeping overhaul of local councils threatens to erode hard-won environmental protections, warning that stripping regional councils of directly elected governance will weaken oversight of freshwater, biodiversity and land-use decisions.
‘Highly uncertain’ ETS hampers Genesis biomass plans
Fri 28 Nov 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | “Highly uncertain” New Zealand carbon prices and market settings are identified as a commercial threat by Genesis Energy to its planned use of biomass to replace coal and gas at its Huntly power station by 2028.
Marex invests in methane-busting biotech, hopes to kickstart NZ methane credits
Thu 27 Nov 2025
By Liz Kivi | NASDAQ-listed financial services group Marex has taken a minority stake in Ruminant Biotech, an Auckland-based agritech startup, with a view to kick-starting Marex’s methane-based carbon credits trading business in New Zealand.
Mounting emissions due to Government decisions
20 Nov 2025
By Liz Kivi | The Coalition Government’s climate policies have added a whopping 26 million tonnes of emissions out to 2030, according to new analysis of Government projections.
Christchurch Airport boasts world-first liquid-hydrogen refuelling for test aircraft
30 Oct 2025
By Liz Kivi | Local companies working on hydrogen-electric flight have made ‘a significant step forward’ in successfully filling aviation tanks with liquid hydrogen produced and stored on-site at an international airport for the first time.
Indigenous land cover shrinking as urban areas expand
Mon 24 Nov 2025
Indigenous land cover in Aotearoa New Zealand has continued its long-term decline, with new figures from Stats NZ revealing a further loss of native ecosystems as urban development and industrial activity increase.
Investors must support positive climate-tech
Fri 28 Nov 2025
OPINION: We need better leadership than the current ‘climate opportunism’ that is rife in the Beehive, and we need to back a marketplace that will make it happen, writes Rob Campbell.
