New Zealand: All stories
Cement producers developing climate plan
11 Jul 2018
Cement makers who run one of the world's biggest industries - and are a leading producer of greenhouse gas emissions - might finally be making moves to combat climate change.
Smarter renewables open up new markets
11 Jul 2018
The need to stop global warming in its tracks has spurred the growth of two smarter renewables that are helping to reshape the electricity industry.
GAS GROWTH: The answer lies in feedback loops
10 Jul 2018
Greenhouse gases escaping from wetlands and permafrost could slash the world’s carbon budget by nearly a quarter, scientists say.
Next Beetle will be electric with four doors
10 Jul 2018
Volkswagen's next Beetle will be a completely new, all-electric model with four doors.
Super fund joins in global pressure on companies
9 Jul 2018
New Zealand’s $39 billion public retirement fund is among major investors applying renewed pressure to carbon-intensive industries.
Here’s where 3m EV batteries will go when they retire ...
9 Jul 2018
The first batches of batteries from electric and hybrid vehicles are hitting retirement age ... yet they aren’t bound for landfills.
We don't want to be like Australia, says Vector
6 Jul 2018
One of the 53 big companies stepping up to publicly support the Zero Carbon Bill says it doesn’t want New Zealand’s climate policy to end up like that of Australia.
Climate change security threat, says defence minister
6 Jul 2018
Climate change threatens New Zealand’s security, says defence minister Ron Mark.
LUNAR LAW: Does Moon hold key to Earth’s energy needs?
6 Jul 2018
Using giant kites, blades and paddles, and mimicking pogo sticks, blowholes and even the human heart, groups around the world are on the cusp of harnessing the colossal power of the oceans.
Shaw schedules carbon talks with China
5 Jul 2018
Climate minister James Shaw is bound for China next week for talks on climate change and developing closer carbon markets.
Meridian predicts carbon price as high as $200
4 Jul 2018
Electricity company Meridian says it sees carbon prices rising as high as $200 a tonne.
Poll shows majority ready to act on emissions
3 Jul 2018
Two-thirds of New Zealanders are prepared to take action to cut greenhouse gas emissions – although half might require some level of personal interest to take action, a new poll suggests.
Protein’s secret function could boost solar tech
3 Jul 2018
Understanding how certain proteins deal with light absorption can inspire modern solar technology.
Check methane reporting, urges climate expert
2 Jul 2018
New Zealand should check the accuracy of its methane-reporting figures in the wake of revelations of possibly inaccurate reporting from natural gas production in the United States, says an expert in climate and energy.
New fuel from CO2 could slow climate change
2 Jul 2018
North American scientists might be one step nearer the dream solution to low-carbon energy, new fuel from CO2, if they can suck it straight from the air and convert it directly into gasoline, diesel or jet fuel.
A city in Oman has just posted our hottest low temperature
2 Jul 2018
Over a period of 24 hours last week, the temperature in the Oman city of Quriyat never dropped below 42.6deg, most likely the highest minimum temperature observed on Earth.
We can use organic waste, says landfill operator
29 Jun 2018
Keeping organic waste out of rubbish dumps will double its carbon footprint and deny the country an important source of renewable energy, says the country’s largest landfill operator.
Airlines eye massive carbon handout
29 Jun 2018
Brazil and China are behind a push to allow billions of tonnes of old carbon credits to be used to offset future growth in pollution by airlines.
Musk's latest is a pickup truck that can carry a pickup truck
29 Jun 2018
TESLA CEO Elon Musk is talking about his plans for an over-sized electric ute. He calls the concept “a pickup truck that can carry a pickup truck”.
Big Business gets ready to back carbon neutrality
28 Jun 2018
Fifty-three of New Zealand’s biggest companies - including major players in the farming, forestry and fishing industries - appear to be ready to announce their support for the Zero Carbon Bill.
Methane revelations unlikely to affect NZ
28 Jun 2018
Revelations that methane emissions from natural gas production in the United States could be 60 per cent higher than officially acknowledged are unlikely to affect New Zealand, officials say.
Gas not answer to shipping problem, says study
28 Jun 2018
Europe has little to gain from trying to decarbonise the unwieldy shipping sector with liquefied natural gas, according to a new study.
Don't bet on the future of our cars being electric
27 Jun 2018
The future of low-emissions transport is not necessarily electric, car makers are telling the Government.
OPINION: Let's charge the high-emitting vehicles
27 Jun 2018
By Toyota NZ chief executive ALASTAIR DAVIS | The Productivity Commission’s draft on the move to a low-carbon emission economy through a Zero Carbon Act is a sound report on what lies ahead.
Get climate house in order, Trustpower tells Govt
26 Jun 2018
Energy company Trustpower says the Government needs to use “joined-up thinking” on climate change.
Self-drivers might make us more dependent on cars
26 Jun 2018
Lots of questions remain unanswered about how urban systems will work with the introduction of self-driving vehicles.
Government might aim for more carbon cuts
25 Jun 2018
The Government might increase New Zealand’s 2030 emissions reduction target.
Methane leaks throw doubt on role of natural gas
25 Jun 2018
Higher than expected levels of the potent short-lived climate pollutant raise questions about whether natural gas can be an effective bridge to lower emissions.
These days, Rio Tinto is a big fan of our ETS
22 Jun 2018
Pacific Aluminium – whose parent company Rio Tinto threatened to leave New Zealand if a carbon price was introduced – is now a fan of the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Hot summer leads to higher energy emissions
22 Jun 2018
New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions from energy were up in the first three months of this year compared to the same time last year – with record temperatures meaning less water was available for hydro-electric generation.
Seaweed scientist wins global acclaim
22 Jun 2018
Research into farming seaweed as a way of storing carbon has earned a New Zealand scientist international recognition.
The war on waste could make you wealthy
22 Jun 2018
The latest eco-drive has taken hold in middle-class heartlands in a way that this time it might just mean widespread, permanent changes to the ways we live and consume.
Why carbon neutral means cutting all gases
21 Jun 2018
Two of the three options in the Government’s Zero Carbon Bill discussion paper will not increase New Zealand’s current emissions reduction target, says a mathematician who has run the numbers.
Clean energy investment ‘must be 50% higher’
21 Jun 2018
An extra $460 billion a year needs to be invested in the low-carbon economy globally over the next 12 years to limit climate warming to 1.5deg, a new paper says.
Funds manager puts 84 global firms on notice
21 Jun 2018
London-based Legal & General, which has close to £1 trillion worth of assets under management, has released its latest assessment of how 84 global corporations are responding to the risks posed by climate change.
Norway eyes passenger flights after testing tiny electric plane
21 Jun 2018
Norway has tested a two-seater electric plane and predicted a start to passenger flights by 2025 if new aviation technologies match a green shift that has made Norwegians the world’s top buyers of electric cars.
Govt hears of value in overseas carbon credits
20 Jun 2018
Access to international carbon credits could lower the cost of decarbonising the economy, the Government has been told.
Our cities in the 30-year climate firing line
20 Jun 2018
New Zealanders are among the billions of city dwellers who will be hit by the impacts of climate change within three decades, a new report shows.
OPINION: If energy grew on trees
20 Jun 2018
By JONATHAN McKEOWN | It is always refreshing when structures and processes work as they were designed to. It’s an absolute triumph when it involves the public sector, an industry body and business.
20% of Nats don't want zero carbon, says survey
19 Jun 2018
One in five National Party supporters opposes the idea of New Zealand being carbon-neutral, a recent survey suggests.
Samsung commits to 100% renewable energy
19 Jun 2018
Samsung has become the latest international company to take the step towards obtaining 100 per cent of its energy from clean sources.
History says Bridges and Nats are talking hot air
18 Jun 2018
By publisher ADELIA HALLETT | Is Opposition Leader Simon Bridges’ offer to work with the Government on climate change policy worth any more than a dodgy hot-air carbon credit?
Slower cyclones will mean more damage
18 Jun 2018
Tropical cyclones are slowing down. Hurricanes have lost their hurry. Paradoxically, this is bad news: they have more time to work their mischief.
Billions of tonnes of CO2 safe underground, says report
18 Jun 2018
Storing billions of tonnes of CO2 underground would be a “safe and effective” way to help to limit the effects of climate change, a new study says.
Warming world will weaken rice nutrition
18 Jun 2018
Climate change will make rice less nutritious, putting millions of the world’s poor at risk, new studies show.
SIMON SAYS: We'll work for sensible solutions
15 Jun 2018
The National Party says it will work with the Government to establish a climate change commission.
Key report dangerously misleading, say Wise men
15 Jun 2018
A document likely to underpin the Government’s plans to decarbonise the economy is being called dangerously misleading.
Dow saves $120 million by investing in nature
15 Jun 2018
The Dow Chemical Company says it has saved $120 million over the past year from its ‘valuing nature’ project.
Trust ticks off benefits of higher carbon prices
14 Jun 2018
Carbon prices of $50 to $350 a tonne by 2020 will drive investments in low-emissions development of Maori land, creating jobs and alleviating poverty along the way, the Government is being told.
Climate change dust storms can kill
14 Jun 2018
The US Dust Bowl in the 1930s was one of the worst environmental disasters of the 20th century.
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.
