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
Big ag processors coy about govt changing climate policy
Today 10:30am
By Liz Kivi | While some economists are predicting that government backsliding on agricultural methane goals could hurt exporters’ access to premium markets, New Zealand’s major processors are remaining tight-lipped over the potential implications.
DOC trims costs and winds down jobs for nature
Today 10:30am
The Department of Conservation (DOC) is entering a new phase of tighter budgets and structural change as it winds down the pandemic-era Jobs for Nature programme and reshapes its operations to absorb long-term cost pressures.
Nation-building projects and the energy transition
Today 10:30am
By Ian Mason | COMMENT: Last month, the Labour Party announced its first key election policy: to create a ‘New Zealand Future Fund’ to deliver “lasting national value, stronger communities, lower costs, more resilient industries, and opportunities that keep talent and ideas in New Zealand”.
Cost gaps in Fast-Track law could silence environmental voices – EDS
Today 10:30am
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Environmental Defence Society is warning that flaws in the Fast-Track Approvals Act 2024 could shut out critical conservation input, after legal advice found key statutory bodies can’t recover costs for participating in the process and councils face uncertainty over which costs are covered.
Does NZ's 2035 NDC meet Paris Agreement obligations?
Fri 7 Nov 2025
By Christina Hood | COMMENT: New Zealand’s 2035 Paris Agreement Target needs strengthening, with multiple reasons the 51 to 55% emissions reduction target does not meet our obligations under the accord.
Why I’m not outraged at the Govt’s latest climate backsliding
Fri 7 Nov 2025
COMMENT: The Government’s latest climate rollbacks underline New Zealand’s long history of a lack of genuine desire to cut emissions, writes Geoff Bertram.
Govt gas expansion 'climate vandalism' – Greens
Fri 7 Nov 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Green Party has labelled the Government’s move to broaden the scope of its $200 million fossil gas investment fund as vandalism, accusing Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of breaking trust with New Zealanders.
NZ off-track for 2030 methane target
Thu 6 Nov 2025
By Liz Kivi | New Zealand is no longer on track to meet its 2030 methane target, according to the Ministry for the Environment.
Is climate law change a first nail in the coffin for Climate Commission?
Thu 6 Nov 2025
The Government’s sweeping overhaul of New Zealand’s climate laws has drawn sharp condemnation, with one expert predicting it's another step towards 'the beginning of the end' for the Climate Change Commission.
Govt climate policy set by vested interests to delay emissions cuts - Carr
Thu 6 Nov 2025
By Liz Kivi | Rod Carr, former Climate Change Commission chair, says the Government’s move to unlink the Emissions Trading Scheme from our international climate target to 2030 undermines the credibility of emissions pricing as a tool for climate action – and is yet another Coalition Government policy designed to benefit vested interests rather than ordinary New Zealanders.
