Climate disaster payouts already top $1 billion for 2023
22 Jun 2023
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| Above: Wairoa in northern Hawke's Bay after the Wairoa River burst its banks during Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo: Hawke's Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management Group |
Insurers have so far paid out $1.08 billion of an estimated $3.18 billion over 107,569 claims caused by the twin climate disasters of the Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods and Cyclone Gabrielle.
Red Stag boss questions $60m cement support as timber ETS reforms stall
Thu 23 Jul 2026
By Oli Lewis | The Government has granted $60 million to an emissions-intensive industry while dragging its feet on a proposal to allow firms making harvested wood products to earn carbon credits in the Emissions Trading Scheme, an industry leader says.
Govt brushes off 'damning' assessment of stalled emissions reductions
Thu 23 Jul 2026
By Liz Kivi | The Government is downplaying the Climate Change Commission’s “damning” report on the country’s stalled emission reductions, while experts say policy changes since the Coalition Government came into power are squarely to blame.
Businesses told to plan ahead as energy risks mount
Thu 23 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Switching to electricity and improving energy efficiency are becoming increasingly attractive investments in the face of rising costs – and companies can no longer afford a "business as usual" attitude to energy, according to a new report.
Only Genesis can invest in Huntly, Treasury told ministers
Thu 23 Jul 2026
Treasury backed Crown investment in Genesis Energy because only Genesis could invest in Huntly Power Station, but argued the company had no special claim on building more renewable generation.
Business leaders say climate report ‘wake-up call’ for NZ
Thu 23 Jul 2026
By Liz Kivi | CEO-led organisations representing 42% of GDP are calling the Climate Change Commission’s latest report “a significant wake-up call for New Zealand.”
West Coast council holds off on climate adaptation plan
Thu 23 Jul 2026
By Vihan Dalal, Local Democracy Reporter | The West Coast Regional Council is holding off on preparing a climate adaptation plan until a proposed law change advances further in Parliament.
Disappointment and shock as Govt strikes out iwi-council deals
Thu 23 Jul 2026
By Craig Ashworth, Local Democracy Reporter | The iwi that last week signed an environmental deal with Taranaki Regional Council is “deeply disappointed” the agreement won’t survive Government law changes.
NZ at risk of missing all its climate goals: Commission
Wed 22 Jul 2026
By Liz Kivi | Aotearoa New Zealand’s rate of emissions reduction needs to more than double, with progress stalling since 2024 after the Coalition Government took power, according to the latest report from the Climate Change Commission.
Resource management Bills 'not yet ready to be enacted', says Upton
Wed 22 Jul 2026
By Oli Lewis | The two Bills to replace the Resource Management Act are not ready to be enacted and there is no way of knowing how they will affect the environment, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment says.
Green Party takes ‘electric election’ up a notch
Tue 21 Jul 2026
By Liz Kivi | The Green Party is promising to cut power bills and establish a publicly owned company, ‘Kiwipower,’ to deliver affordable renewable energy.
