Markets: All stories
Govt U-turn adopting Commission’s advice on ETS auction settings
26 Jul 2023
The government has adopted the Climate Change Commission’s advice on ETS auction settings from December, with a significantly higher floor price, lower auction volumes, and two-tiers of much higher prices for the cost containment reserve.
Carbon price bounces but how high will it go?
26 Jul 2023
Pundits are picking the government’s decision to adopt most of the Climate Change Commission’s ETS recommendations, rejected by Cabinet last year, will result in a sustained increase in the price of carbon. But few expect it to return to the $88.50 high of last November anytime soon.
Govt signals ETS announcement, market “drifting”
25 Jul 2023
The Ministry for the Environment has signalled it will make an announcement about the Emissions Trading Scheme tonight, after the market closes.
Carbon price jumps 30%
19 Jul 2023
The price of NZUs on the secondary market has rebounded since last week’s unexpected revelation that the government would be forced to change Emissions Trading Scheme settings.
Carbon stockpile down
19 Jul 2023
The “stockpile” of NZUs is down after the last surrender deadline, with emitters using primarily forestry or industrial allocation to meet their obligations under the ETS.
Carbon price crashes, “split market” developing
7 Jul 2023
The carbon price dropped to a two-year low this week, and insiders say a split market is developing, with lower prices for forestry-derived NZUs.
Carbon auction clearing price well below confidential reserve
1 May 2023
The last carbon auction clearing price was 30% lower than the spot price at the failed March 15 auction.
NZUs likely to be classified as financial instruments
23 Nov 2022
The Ministry for the Environment is consulting on whether NZUs should be treated as a financial instrument with agents, advisors and consultants subject to the Financial Markets Conduct regime.
CCR trigger price likely to get a boost next year
20 Jun 2022
With the Cost Containment Reserve fully depleted at last week’s second ETS auction of the year market commentators are picking the Climate Change Commission will advise the government to up the trigger price.
Big players snaffle up bulk of NZUs at auction
11 May 2022
The top five successful bidders at the last NZ ETS auction snaffled up 78% of the NZUs on offer.
Emissions Trading Register transactions up by more than 70% so far this year
5 May 2022
The number of transactions on the Emissions Trading Register jumped by 72% in the first four months of this year compared to the same period in 2021.
Carbon volatility makes tomorrow's auction hard to pick
15 Mar 2022
Last month, tomorrow's ETS auction seemed a foregone conclusion. The price of NZUs had hit an all time high of $86.25 and with a price containment reserve of just $70, the reserve's 7 million additional NZUs seemed certain to be snapped up.
Carbon correction
28 Feb 2022
After reaching a high of $86.25 on the spot market earlier this month, NZUs closed at $80.75 on Friday.
Are GDP growth and GHG emissions decoupling?
11 Feb 2022
Mathematician and climate blogger professor Robert McLachlan says a drop in industrial emissions during a period of economic growth, reported by Stats NZ yesterday, could be the start decarbonisation.
ANZ economist warns of price volatility in carbon market
8 Feb 2022
ANZ agricultural economist Susan Kilsby has warned that the price of carbon "could move sharply in either direction" in an in-depth backgrounder on New Zealand's carbon market.
Number of NZUs entering ETS could be cut
26 Jan 2022
The number of NZUs on offer could be reduced in the future to take account of the extra units entering the system through the cost containment reserve mechanism, climate change minister James Shaw says.
Carbon prices, long in the dumps, surge in U.S. and Europe
10 Dec 2021
Carbon bulls are on the ride.
London Stock Exchange aims to bring firms’ carbon claims ‘out into daylight’
10 Nov 2021
The London Stock Exchange is aiming to make funding for carbon reduction projects more transparent, introducing a new market that it says will help the industry to scale.
The carbon offset market could be worth $200 billion by 2050. But what is it?
19 Oct 2021
Companies and people who want to cancel out the impact of their emissions on the climate often turn to something called carbon offsetting.
Two players bought nearly 60% of NZUs on offer at last ETS auction
8 Oct 2021
Two of the 77 participants in September’s ETS auction snaffled up a combined 56.8% of the 11.75 million NZUs on offer – which included the 7 million extra units released when the $50 cost containment reserve was breached
Te Ao Maori inspires Netflix nature documentary
6 Jul 2021
The scientists behind a groundbreaking new book and Netflix documentary credit their time in New Zealand with an “awakening” on the importance of indigenous knowledge in preventing environmental catastrophe
NZU prices plateau before 2nd ETS auction
22 Jun 2021
Prices for NZUs have plateaued around the $41 mark in the lead up to tomorrow’s ETS auction.
NZ carbon price hits all time highs
15 Jun 2021
NZUs fixed at $40.50 on both CommTrade and Carbon Match yesterday, an all time high but still only about half of what's being paid for carbon credits Europe and the UK.
How voluntary offsets can help us meet our Paris promise
30 Mar 2021
New Zealand should have a two-pronged voluntary carbon-offsetting framework to boost climate change, a new report says.
Don't miss getting your emissions return in
29 Mar 2021
Anyone who miss this week’s deadline for Emissions Trading Scheme returns is risking stiff new penalties.
Carbon markets prove resilient to the coronavirus pandemic
25 Mar 2021
After the 2008 global financial crisis, the price of pollution permits on the European Union emissions trading system plummeted, hitting confidence in carbon markets as a lever for climate action.
Why we need a carbon club
25 Mar 2021
If the three biggest economies - China, the United States and the European Union - agree a carbon tax on imports, it will catalyse climate action globally, a new paper says.
Carbon holds up in wake of first auction
18 Mar 2021
Secondary carbon trading in New Zealand is reacting calmly to yesterday’s first auction of credits.
First carbon auction clears at $36
17 Mar 2021
The first Government auction of carbon credits today saw all 4.75 million NZUs sell at $36.
Super-registry to keep market honest
10 Mar 2021
A planned meta-registry will help stop double-dipping on carbon credits, its developer says.
New platform sets new record price
22 Feb 2021
THE COUNTRY’S newest carbon platform has done its first trade.
Sign up for first carbon auction now
18 Feb 2021
The Government’s new carbon-auctioning website is live.
Deadline set for auction collateral
16 Feb 2021
If you are planning on taking part in the country's first carbon auction, you have until March 10 to hand over your collateral.
MARKET LATESTl NZUs $39.10
10 Feb 2021
Spot NZUs opened at $38.60 bid and $39.60 offered on CommTrade this morning, after last fixing at $39.10.
Carbon hits new record-high
2 Feb 2021
Carbon prices are trading at record prices in the wake of the release of draft recommendations for the country's first carbon budgets.
$50 is not a price cap, says NZX
29 Jan 2021
Domestic carbon prices could go above $50 a tonne even if the new cost-containment reserve is triggered.
Auction platform passes first test
28 Jan 2021
New Zealand’s new carbon-auctioning seems to be working smoothly.
Auctioning system to be tested
13 Jan 2021
Simulated auctions of NZUs will be held on January 27 and 28 to test whether the country is ready for the new auctioning regime.
MARKEST LATEST: NZUs $37.62
23 Dec 2020
Spot NZUs opened at $37.50 bid and $37.75 offered on CommTrade this morning, after last fixing at $37.62.
Carbon continues its bull run
10 Dec 2020
Spot NZUs have hit $38 just two days after reaching $37, tempting sellers back into the market.
Carbon hits yet another high
9 Dec 2020
Carbon prices crashed through the $37.50 mark yesterday, closing at a record $37.55 on both CommTrade and Carbon Match.
Carbon prices keep climbing
8 Dec 2020
Carbon prices pushed higher again yesterday, making daily gains of 1.64 per cent on both major trading platforms.
Carbon on a barn-storming run
7 Dec 2020
Carbon prices are continuing their climb, recording gains of almost 50 per cent for the year.
Surging prices see carbon up 47% in a year
4 Dec 2020
Carbon prices continued their upward charge yesterday, gaining 25 cents to contribute to a phenomenal 47 per cent rise over a year.
Record price for NZ carbon
3 Dec 2020
New Zealand carbon prices have broken through a new price barrier, with spot NZUs now trading more than $1 above the fixed-price option.
Big prices but little supply in NZ carbon market
19 Nov 2020
Carbon prices are continuing to climb, with sellers now seeking up to $35.90 for spot NZUs.
Reluctant sellers push carbon to a new high
18 Nov 2020
Carbon prices are hitting new highs, with spot NZUs trading at $35.70 on CommTrade this morning.
US and Europe want our carbon credits
16 Nov 2020
International interest is growing in New Zealand’s carbon market as units hit record prices.
Carney calls for credible voluntary carbon market
12 Nov 2020
United Nations special envoy and former Bank of England Governor Mark Carney wants stronger quality control on voluntary carbon markets to meet growing business demand.
Carbon price steady after failed quarterly auction
Tue 16 Sep 2025
By Liz Kivi | The carbon price has continued to trade in its familiar moribund range in the high $50s following last week’s failed quarterly auction, with ample supply still trading on the secondary market at about $10 below this year’s $68 auction floor.
