Budget undermines climate and environmental research, say scientists
23 May 2025
By Shannon Williams
Scientists are criticising the 2025 budget for sidelining environmental and hazard research, warning that deep cuts to core programmes reflect a growing shift towards profit-driven science at the expense of public safety and climate resilience.
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.
