New Zealand: All stories
Big Business backs cuts to industry emissions
21 Nov 2018
A coalition of business leaders known as the Energy Transitions Commission has backed proposals for radical changes to industries, including steel, cement, shipping and aviation, to cut their greenhouse gas emissions.
Fog, freezing cold, plague, hunger ... 536 was a shocker
21 Nov 2018
Ask medieval historian Michael McCormick what year was the worst to be alive, and he's got an answer: 536.
Academics call for emergency action
20 Nov 2018
One hundred and fifty New Zealand academics calling for “emergency” action on climate change say economic growth has to stop.
Stand by for multiple disasters, say experts
20 Nov 2018
Heatwaves, droughts, wildfire, storms, floods, sea-surges, food shortages and diseases – climate change could see communities hit by multiple disasters at once, scientists say.
Dead fish new power behind high-polluting cruise ships
20 Nov 2018
Waste fish parts will be used to power ships in a new initiative to use green energy for polluting cruise liners.
Scientists see new energy value in our forests
19 Nov 2018
Forestry’s value to New Zealand’s climate change effort is not in carbon storage but in powering the low-carbon economy, says our leading forest research institute.
Time to can meat and milk, says fish company
16 Nov 2018
The head of New Zealand’s largest fishing company is calling for strong action on climate change – including replacing meat and dairy products in people’s diets with fish.
NZ scientists work on safer batteries
16 Nov 2018
New Zealand researchers have created a new plant-based electrolyte that could be the key to making safer and more environmentally friendly batteries.
Blockchain takes politics out of carbon play
15 Nov 2018
Businesses will soon be able to price and trade carbon without the help of governments by using blockchain technology, says a social enterprise about to launch a new carbon platform.
FUNDING FUTURE: Why green will rule over brown
15 Nov 2018
Directors of companies in the “brown” economy might struggle to attract money as investors switch to the green economy, says Chapman Tripp.
EECA wants feedback on $14m energy fund
14 Nov 2018
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority is seeking feedback on its proposed $14 million energy levy-funded activities for next year.
Hydrogen is back in the energy picture
14 Nov 2018
As the price of renewable energy drops and storage technologies mature, hydrogen fuel is drawing fresh attention.
How we'll pay for National's mismanagement
12 Nov 2018
Climate mismanagement under the National government means New Zealand will have to use international carbon credits to meet its emissions reduction targets, says a leading carbon forestry executive.
New RMA will cover effects of climate change
9 Nov 2018
The Government’s overhaul of the Resource Management Act will include the way it deals with climate change.
Air NZ paves way for electric aircraft
9 Nov 2018
Air New Zealand is preparing the way to operate hybrid planes on its domestic regional routes.
Messed-up ozone layer is on the mend
9 Nov 2018
The entire ozone layer — even the highly damaged parts over the North Pole and South Pole — could be completely healed by 2060.
Shipowners could face tougher emissions rules
8 Nov 2018
Ships operating in New Zealand might soon be liable to tough new rules on air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Oil and gas exploration ban becomes law
8 Nov 2018
New oil and gas exploration is now banned from New Zealand’s waters and from most of its land.
OPINION: Attenborough has betrayed the living world
8 Nov 2018
BY GEORGE MONBIOT | By downplaying our environmental crisis, Sir David Attenborough's BBC films have generated complacency, confusion and ignorance.
Big hydropower dams unsustainable, says study
8 Nov 2018
Large-scale hydropower dams are unsustainable in the developing world, according toi new research.
Treasury likes bonds to reward tree-planting
7 Nov 2018
Environmental impact bonds encouraging the planting of native forests could help to cut New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions, Treasury says.
Bitcoin mining takes twice the effort
7 Nov 2018
The amount of energy required to mine one dollar’s worth of bitcoin is more than twice that required to mine the same value of copper, gold or platinum.
Meat farmers want two-pronged methane move
6 Nov 2018
Beef, lamb and deer farmers say they accept New Zealand’s methane emissions will have be cut – but not to net-zero.
OPINION: It would help if companies paid their taxes
6 Nov 2018
By WAYNE SWAN | Less fiscal revenue means less money for vital infrastructure and less money to prepare for the effects of natural disasters.
Nitrogen inhibitors could return to the farm
5 Nov 2018
Nitrogen inhibitors could be in use on New Zealand farms again by 2020, farmers say.
Exploration ban close to becoming law
5 Nov 2018
The Government’s partial ban on new oil and gas exploration could become law this week.
Waste Management boosts sustainability
5 Nov 2018
Waste Management is to make sustainable procurement a priority.
This crab could save your life - if humans don't wipe it out first
5 Nov 2018
The wellbeing of people might one day depend on a blue-blooded crab that looks like a cross between the facehugger from Alien and a gigantic louse.
You're dreaming, business lobby tells Govt
2 Nov 2018
Business New Zealand doesn’t support any of the Government’s proposed 2050 emissions reduction targets, saying they are based on wishful thinking and magic.
Buying credits last resort, say energy managers
1 Nov 2018
Buying international carbon credits to meet New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction commitments will be expensive and should be a last resort, the Government has been told.
Emissions failure will hurt farmers, says Fonterra
31 Oct 2018
A global failure to cut greenhouse gas emissions will see New Zealand farmers face demands for major production cuts, the world’s largest milk-producer is warning.
Govt backs electric trains on main trunk line
31 Oct 2018
Electric locomotives are to stay on the main trunk line.
MEATLESS MEAT: One major issue is what do we call it
31 Oct 2018
The debate around the regulation of cell-based meat has stepped up significantly with one of major issues being what to call the new product.
Don't do a Rogernomics, warns enviro chief
30 Oct 2018
Decarbonising the New Zealand economy cannot be a repeat of Rogernomics, says Environment Secretary Vicky Robertson.
Global effort to cut ship emissions stalls
30 Oct 2018
The International Maritime Organisation agreed this year to cut greenhouse gas emissions 50 per cent by 2050, but its members are struggling to agree on how to get there.
Compressed air could be our energy friend
30 Oct 2018
If energy storage were available at sufficiently low cost and high performance, renewable energy would rapidly displace all other generation forms.
Oil countries will have to change their ways
30 Oct 2018
A changing energy system is posing “critical questions” for many of the world’s largest oil and gas producing countries, the International Energy Agency says.
Emissions intensity drops, but a long way to go
29 Oct 2018
New Zealand’s emissions intensity has dropped 41 per cent since 1990, but the country still has a lot of work to do to cut carbon from the economy, a new report says.
Hydrogen offers hope for island dwellers
29 Oct 2018
Hydrogen power and renewable energy offer hope to islanders and others in remote communities who now have to rely on fossil fuels.
Exploration ban sound signal, says forum chair
26 Oct 2018
Changes to the Crown Minerals Act that will see most new oil and gas exploration banned are the type of signals businesses need, says one of the people heading a ground-breaking finance sector project.
Dealers get the word on electric vehicles
26 Oct 2018
Need help deciding whether or not to buy an electric vehicle?
Dyson to take vacuum cleaners to the next level - electric cars
26 Oct 2018
British vacuum cleaner king James Dyson is building an automotive factory in Singapore where his company will assemble its first electric car.
Group wants climate action to save native species
25 Oct 2018
Tougher resource management rules and incentives to store carbon in native forests are among just-released recommendations to protect New Zealand’s native species from climate change.
Offshore wind farms could tame hurricanes
25 Oct 2018
When high winds meet tall sails in the right place, something’s got to give. Offshore wind farms might lead to weakened hurricanes.
Pioneering carbon investment fund opens doors
24 Oct 2018
A carbon investment fund six years in the making is open for business.
NZ signs hydrogen agreement with Japan
24 Oct 2018
New Zealand and Japan are working together to transition away from a reliance on fossil fuels with the signing of an agreement on hydrogen, says energy minister Megan Woods.
Solar is here to stay, but where are the boats?
24 Oct 2018
There's nothing novel about vehicles using alternatives to the internal combustion engine, but solar and battery-powered boats are rarely in the conversation.
New power group takes aim at finance system
23 Oct 2018
Key companies and government officials are joining forces to prepare New Zealand’s financial system for the low-carbon economy.
TINY TRACTORS: Welcome to the rise of the robot farmer
23 Oct 2018
Tiny automated machines could soon take care of the entire growing process down on the farm. Fewer chemicals, more efficient – where’s the downside?
We're using more fossil fuels, says energy report
19 Oct 2018
New Zealand’s consumption of fossil fuels is climbing, new figures show.
Legislation to block climate lawsuits gets select committee green light
Fri 31 Jul 2026
By Liz Kivi | The Justice Select Committee has reported back on the Government’s controversial legislation to halt climate lawsuits, with the majority of the committee recommending passing it without amendment.
Batteries and flexible electricity use could save NZ $20b by 2050
Fri 31 Jul 2026
By Oli Lewis | Rapid expansion of batteries and flexible electricity use could save energy users between $5.4 billion and $20.8b through to 2050, new modelling suggests.
Study outlines methane-cutting options for NZ livestock
21 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Breeding, feed and forage strategies could play a key role in reducing methane emissions from New Zealand's grazing livestock, with researchers concluding that a combination of approaches will be needed to achieve meaningful cuts.
'Terrible result': Emissions barely budged in 2024
5 Jun 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions were virtually unchanged in 2024, falling by 0.03%, despite the economy shrinking by ten times that amount during the same period, according to new data.
Rail revival key to reducing transport emissions: new strategy
Thu 30 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Future is Rail has launched an election manifesto setting out a national strategy for the incoming Government to rebuild New Zealand's passenger and freight rail network, with proposals ranging from overnight train services to nationwide electrification.
National deer management strategy urgently needed to halt 'catastrophe' for native forests
Mon 27 Jul 2026
Scientists are calling for an urgent national deer management strategy, with deer numbers now at unsustainable levels and decimating native forests.
NZ Steel closes in on first heat from electric arc furnace
Thu 30 Jul 2026
By Oli Lewis | The first truckloads of scrap steel are being delivered to New Zealand Steel as the company works through the final stages of a significant emissions reduction project.
