Media round-up
15 Aug 2025
In our round-up of climate coverage in local media: Australia could be about to leapfrog New Zealand on climate targets; 'strangled' rivers are fighting back; and 10 rangatahi will join Aotearoa New Zealand’s delegation at the United Nations' major climate conference in Brazil.
Australia could be about to leapfrog NZ on climate targets
By Eloise Gibson, RNZ
A conservative Australian politician turned climate leader has told New Zealand ministers it is in their interests to do more on climate change.
We strangled our rivers; now they’re fighting back
By Marc Daalder, Newsroom
We forced New Zealand’s braided rivers into tiny channels so we could build our homes and farms in their riverbeds – now we’re seeing the consequences
Rangatahi chosen to speak on climate change at COP30 in Brazil
By Te Karere Reporters, 1News
A lack of young Māori voices at one of the world’s biggest conferences on climate change has led to a selection of 10 rangatahi to join Aotearoa New Zealand’s delegation heading to the UN Climate Change Conference for the first time.
Wilding pine problem at ‘tipping point’ in Southland
By Matthew Rosenberg, RNZ
Wild conifer trees are running rife in Southland with fears some areas could be overtaken in the next 30 years.
Homeowners face $200-plus hike in Natural Hazards Commission levy
By Jonathan Milne, Newsroom
David Seymour commiserates with ‘long-suffering taxpayer’, but the only alternative is the Government bailing out the Crown-owned quake and flood insurer when it’s bankrupted by the next big storm
Green fuel on the blue horizon
By Richard Rennie, Farmers Weekly
Scion scientists are developing means of getting biofuel from forests to power ships.
By Juha Saarinen, interest.co.nz
The coalition government is changing the way the public funds roading, by switching from taxing the most widely used fuel for cars, petrol, at the source, to drivers paying based on how much they drive.
Three of New Zealand's biggest emitters no longer have to reveal their climate impact
By Eloise Gibson, RNZ
Three of the country's biggest greenhouse gas emitters no longer have to reveal how much planet-heating gas they produce.
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New legislation to bar climate torts proves polarising for submitters
Fri 17 Jul 2026
By Liz Kivi | Opponents of legislation to block climate lawsuits say it could seriously damage investor confidence, while supporters of the same legislation argue that not passing it could be “devastating” for the New Zealand economy.
Climate adaptation plans welcomed, but funding remains the missing piece
Fri 17 Jul 2026
By Oli Lewis | Experts are welcoming a proposal to make climate adaptation planning mandatory, but warn the plans may be ineffective without clarity around who will pay to implement them.
Conservation bill could put development ahead of protection, commissioner warns
Fri 17 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton says the proposed law changes could give economic development greater weight than conservation, undermining the purpose of the Conservation Act.
Sustainable Business Council listed on submission supporting climate torts bar
Fri 17 Jul 2026
By Liz Kivi | Business New Zealand’s submission supporting legislation to block climate lawsuits raised eyebrows this week for listing the Sustainable Business Council as seemingly in support of the controversial law change.
The arms race to climate calamity
Fri 17 Jul 2026
COMMENT: Both Australia and New Zealand are justifying spending millions of dollars on high-end killing machines by hyping the so-called China threat, while downplaying the very real threat of climate change to the Pacific region, writes Jeremy Rose.
Media round-up
Fri 17 Jul 2026
In our round-up of climate coverage in local media: The Prime Minister’s Office asked Z Energy to hand-deliver climate law briefing, the official watchdog warns of ‘catastrophic consequences’ if the electricity sector can’t adapt to a rush of rooftop solar, and angry customers are complaining about SolarZero contracts.
Government running out of time to lock in LNG import terminal deal before election
Thu 16 Jul 2026
By Oli Lewis | Procurement for a floating LNG import terminal in Taranaki is well advanced, the Government says, but the clock is ticking to sign contracts before the election.
Pacific coral reefs face mounting climate threat – experts
Thu 16 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Coral reef scientists are warning that climate change is accelerating the decline of reef ecosystems across the Pacific, with rising ocean temperatures, marine heatwaves and sea-level rise threatening both biodiversity and the communities that depend on them.
Rich nations inflate climate finance as NZ urged to act
Thu 16 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Rich countries have overstated the value of climate finance delivered to developing nations by around US$100 billion in 2024, Oxfam says. The non-profit is urging New Zealand to increase its climate finance while applauding the country's strategy of allocating finance as grants rather than loans.
Climate law introduced requiring adaptation plans and reducing Commission's role
Wed 15 Jul 2026
By Oli Lewis | The Government has introduced legislation to amend the Climate Change Response Act (CCRA), which includes stripping the Climate Change Commission of one of its core roles, adds a new requirement for councils to produce adaptation plans for higher-risk areas, and updates ETS settings.
