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.
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NZ’s biggest ever climate meeting kicks off
Tue 14 Oct 2025
By Liz Kivi | The world's largest climate adaptation conference kicked off in Christchurch yesterday, with nearly 2000 attendees expected, making it potentially the biggest international climate meeting Aotearoa New Zealand will ever host.
New tool to map risk, plan climate adaptation
Tue 14 Oct 2025
Researchers from the University of Canterbury have unveiled a new platform that aims to help communities, councils and organisations navigate climate change and plan for future events.
Transpower tracks more than 100 new grid projects
Tue 14 Oct 2025
Transpower’s latest connection data show more than 100 generation, storage and load projects in its pipeline, reflecting the rapid pace of electrification across the country.
Govt releases updated emissions projections
Mon 13 Oct 2025
By Liz Kivi | The Ministry for the Environment has released updated emissions projections to 2050, which show significant differences to the Climate Change Commission's recent projections for the same period.
Northland builds momentum on climate resilience and adaptation
Mon 13 Oct 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Northland Regional Council’s Annual Report cites major gains in climate action – highlighting stronger flood resilience, an expanded Climate Resilient Communities Fund, and a region-wide adaptation strategy.
LNG and purchasing power
Mon 13 Oct 2025
Cabinet’s electricity reforms put two tools on the table to shore up energy security – leveraging the Crown’s purchasing power and advancing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import option, both aimed at tackling the dry-year shortfall when hydro lakes run low and prices spike.
SPECIAL BULLETIN: Govt weakens methane target
Sun 12 Oct 2025
By Liz Kivi | The government has ignored the Climate Change Commission’s advice to strengthen methane targets and has instead weakened them significantly.
Farmers face heightened solvency risks as climate changes: research
Fri 10 Oct 2025
By Pattrick Smellie | Increasingly volatile weather patterns, higher insurance costs driven by climate change risk and global financial volatility represent risks to New Zealand farmers’ capacity to service debt and remain solvent, according to new research by Christchurch-based research firm Kōmanawa Solutions.
Amnesty International calls for climate visas for Pacific peoples
Fri 10 Oct 2025
Amnesty International is calling on the government to offer dedicated humanitarian visas to Pacifica peoples displaced by climate change, and to urgently reform immigration policies to align with a rights-based approach to climate displacement.
Policy churn ‘bewildering and costly’: Commissioner urges cross-party fix for environmental management
Thu 9 Oct 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton warns that fragmented, stop–start policy and constant law reform are stalling progress on climate, freshwater and biodiversity.
