Court rejects challenge to Minister and Commission over climate targets
Today 11:30am
By Liz Kivi
The Supreme Court has rejected Lawyers for Climate Action’s bid to challenge the Climate Change Commission and former Climate Minister James Shaw over climate targets, ending a long-running case which had been working its way through the courts since 2021.
Story copyright © Carbon News 2026
Govt weighs LNG backstop as gas decline accelerates
Today 11:30am
Liquefied natural gas imports are moving from a back-pocket idea to an active procurement process, with ministers expected to make decisions soon on whether – and how – to add LNG as an emergency backstop for New Zealand’s tightening gas and electricity system.
NZ’s sodden January explained: what’s driven this month’s big wet?
Today 11:30am
By James Renwick, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington It has been a month of umbrellas rather than sunscreen across much of New Zealand, with persistent rain, low sunshine and deadly storms dominating headlines and daily life.
Shifting peak power use could save NZ $3 billion, report finds
Tue 27 Jan 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Almost a quarter of New Zealand’s peak electricity demand could be shifted to off-peak hours, saving the country $3 billion in power generation and infrastructure to meet peak demand, according to new analysis from EECA.
Govt consulting on further ETS fee cuts for foresters
Tue 27 Jan 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Government has moved to reduce compliance costs for forest owners, announcing a further cut to ETS registry charges and a new consultation on service fees, a move welcomed by forestry industry groups.
Energy and environment enters an election year pressure cooker
Tue 27 Jan 2026
Parliament resumes this week but the year ahead is already framed by the November 7 election.
Supreme Court mandates climate consideration in petroleum permitting
Mon 26 Jan 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Government must consider climate change when offering petroleum exploration permits, according to a recent ruling from the Supreme Court.
Financial sector must account for hard realities of climate change
Mon 26 Jan 2026
COMMENT: While the world’s largest asset manager ditching its $2 billion climate tech commitment to New Zealand is part of a greater walkback of climate finance, concerns about climate-related risk continue to shape present-day financial decisions, writes David Hall.
Hawke’s Bay weather response: What councils changed after Cyclone Gabrielle
Mon 26 Jan 2026
By Linda Hall, Local Democracy Reporter |Hawke’s Bay councils say preparation played a key role in responding to the latest devastating weather to strike the country.
Climate law change spanner in the works for Waitangi Tribunal Inquiry
19 Dec 2025
By Liz Kivi | The Government’s controversial changes to New Zealand’s legal framework for climate policy have thrown a spanner in the works for a long-running Waitangi Tribunal Inquiry into climate change.
