Media round-up
24 Oct 2025
In our round-up of climate coverage in local media: The Government planned to gut New Zealand's world-leading climate disclosure law - even as it bragged about it on the world stage; a new Indigenous climate adaptation network launches; and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts admits that the new methane target might breach the global 1.5C goal.
New Zealand guts climate policy it bragged about on the world stage
By Kirsty Johnston, RNZ
The government has gutted New Zealand's once world-leading climate disclosure law, just months after officials showcased it to the United Nations as evidence of "significant progress" on climate action.
Climate minister admits new target may breach global 1.5C goal
By Marc Daalder, Newsroom
Lawyers for Climate Action has accused the Government of breaching international law by knowingly setting a target inconsistent with the global warming goal.
Indigenous climate adaptation network launched in Ōtautahi
By, Te Aniwaniwa Paterson, Te Ao Māori News
Māori and Pasifika leaders are leading climate adaptation, guided by ancestral knowledge and Indigenous principles to build resilience and shape global solutions.
Antarctica's September weather driving current hot windy conditions
By Alexa Cook, RNZ
Antarctica's warm weather in September is driving the gale force winds and hot temperatures being felt across New Zealand this week.
Property fetish ducks climate responsibility
By Sasha Maher, Newsroom
We can’t continue to treat climate adaptation as a fiscal liability – it needs to be a transformative plan
Wairarapa vet helps bring pioneering climate care programme to NZ
By Deena Coster, The Post
A Wairarapa vet has been at the forefront of bringing a pioneering programme to New Zealand to help her colleagues get to grips with climate change.
Reality bites: Roads of National Significance will bankrupt the nation
Greater Auckland
The government’s mega-roads programme is now looking to cost an astonishing $40-50 billion, based on new documents released yesterday by the NZTA.
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Story copyright © Carbon News 2025
NZ ‘clearly’ breaching international law on climate – Vanuatu Climate Change Minister
Fri 12 Dec 2025
By Liz Kivi | Vanuatu’s Climate Change Minister, Ralph Regenvanu, says New Zealand restarting fossil fuel exploration and subsidies is an obvious breach of international law, exposing the country to international and domestic litigation.
Govt overhaul leaves the door open for coal mining on conservation land
Fri 12 Dec 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Government’s sweeping reclassification of thousands of hectares of publicly-owned conservation land has met with sharp criticism, with environmental groups saying the decision leaves vulnerable ecosystems exposed to mining and development.
Hydro increases overall renewable electricity generation in September quarter
Fri 12 Dec 2025
The September quarter saw 89.4% of all electricity generated from renewable sources, with hydro, geothermal and solar leading the charge, according to new data from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
Gentailers push back hard on Electricity Authority’s plan
Fri 12 Dec 2025
The four major generator-retailers have pushed back strongly against the Electricity Authority’s proposals to overhaul non-discrimination and price-consistency rules, arguing the proposed regime is built on “perceived risks” rather than evidence and could inadvertently raise retail electricity prices.
Govt consulting on Pacific Resilience Facility
Fri 12 Dec 2025
The Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee is calling for submissions on its international treaty examination of the Agreement to Establish the Pacific Resilience Facility.
Media round-up
Fri 12 Dec 2025
In our round-up of climate coverage in local media: Another offshore wind firm exits New Zealand over a clash with seabed mining; Fonterra falls behind on its climate goals as farm emissions remain flat; and the businesses trapped by the gas 'death spiral'.
What are the causes of recent record-high global temperatures?
Fri 12 Dec 2025
The past three years have been exceptionally warm globally.
Govt warned that scrapping ag emission pricing comes with risks
Thu 11 Dec 2025
By Liz Kivi | The Government’s move to halt plans for agricultural emissions pricing without replacing it with any other action will leave New Zealand facing a bigger gap to meet its third emissions budget, Environment ministry officials have warned.
Minister not concerned about potential economic impacts of ruling out offshore mitigation
Thu 11 Dec 2025
By Liz Kivi | Climate Change Minister Simon Watts isn’t worried that ruling out using offshore mitigation is effectively reneging from the Paris Agreement with potential to damage New Zealand’s economy and access to export markets.
Is Govt rushing through changes to climate framework to avoid litigation?
Thu 11 Dec 2025
By Liz Kivi | The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment says the Government’s motivation for proposed changes to the country’s climate framework law are unclear: “The only reason I can think of is one grounded in potential litigation risk.”
