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."
Taxpayer-funded climate satellite MethaneSAT finally reveals what's behind delays
By Eloise Gibson, RNZ
The group behind a taxpayer-funded methane satellite has finally revealed what is behind delays to a crucial milestone.
E-bikes for everyone: 3 NZ trials show people will make the switch – with the right support
By Caroline Shaw, Karen Witten and Simon Kingham, The Conversation
Anyone who uses city roads will know e-bikes have become increasingly popular in Aotearoa New Zealand. But we also know rising e-bike sales have been predominantly driven by financially well-off households.
No, it is not ‘evil’ to justify reducing energy consumption
By David Hall, Newsroom
The end goals of the global energy system are not so terrible that even more efficient forms of energy may be considered ‘lesser evils’
Greens must reject 'tokenism' to connect with marginalised communities – Chloe Swarbrick
By Richard Larsen, RNZ
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick says her party must confront the uncomfortable reality that it continues to struggle with support from lower-income New Zealanders, despite advocating policies aimed squarely at economic and social justice.
Whanganui politician crosses boundaries to stop seabed mine
By Craig Ashworth, Stuff
A Whanganui councillor has brought her campaign against seabed mining to local politicians in New Plymouth, saying their silence isn’t good enough.
By Rex Weyler, Greenpeace
Carbon capture has always been a fossil fuel industry scam, designed to distract and delay critical measures to cut emissions by phasing out coal, oil, and gas.
They said it couldn’t be done: Gene editing breakthrough preempts new law
By Fox Meyer, Newsroom
Scion reveal it’s field-testing the world’s first GMO pines, despite Government claims that our restrictive gene tech laws are suppressing such profitable research
The time is now: Working together to build a hydrogen future for Aotearoa
By Sir Stephen Tindall, The Post
OPINION: This month’s H2 2 ZERO Summit in Wellington couldn’t come at a more important moment.
Herbicide review bad for business, Harraways says
By Andrew Bevin, Newsroom
New Zealand’s only oat mill has submitted against a proposed hundredfold increase to the maximum limit of glyphosate in grains.
Budget 2025 – what on earth happened to New Zealand aid?
By Terence Wood, NZADD
What’s going to happen to New Zealand government aid? There’s good news and bad news.
print this story
‘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.
Govt's emissions ‘buffer’ an illusion with all NZ's carbon budgets off track
Fri 28 Nov 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Dr Christina Hood, head of consultancy Compass Climate, says the Government’s claim that New Zealand has a comfortable emissions “buffer” to absorb higher agricultural pollution is misleading, with projections showing emissions budgets are actually set to be missed in real terms.
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.
Media round-up
Fri 28 Nov 2025
In our round-up of climate coverage in local media: How the oil and gas industry helped rewrite New Zealand’s drilling rules, confusion reigns as the climate minister appears unaware of his own announcement, and the fierce battle over mining on Denniston Plateau.
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.
Govt must do the work to close gap to NZ’s Paris Agreement goal
Thu 27 Nov 2025
OPINION: New Zealand needs to wake up to the fact that under current policies we are not going to meet our international climate target and this comes with commercial and diplomatic consequences: risking our European and UK free trade agreements; risking carbon border charges; and threatening the reputation of our ‘clean and green’ export brand, writes Nigel Brunel.
Climate and carbon-removal researcher takes top honours at scientists' awards
Thu 27 Nov 2025
Dr Terry Isson has received the prestigious Beatrice Hill Tinsley Medal for research that is reshaping global understanding of Earth’s climate system and driving real-world carbon-removal solutions.
Revenue from oil royalties falls 40% as production collapses
Thu 27 Nov 2025
Government revenue from New Zealand’s oil, gas and minerals sector fell sharply in 2024–25 as petroleum production slumped across most fields, according to new Mining Industry Statistics from New Zealand Petroleum & Minerals.
Wilding pines threaten Kaikōura ranges in ‘looming catastrophe’
Thu 27 Nov 2025
Kira Carrington, Local Democracy Reporter | Wilding pines are threatening to make their way into the Kaikōura ranges, as their rampant spread sparks a renewed call for more central government funding.
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.
