Govt rules out support for Gisborne storm transition plan
Thu 29 Jan 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams
The Government has ruled out providing financial support for Gisborne District Council’s long-term storm and land-use transition plan, despite mounting evidence that poor land use is intensifying the impacts of extreme weather across Tairāwhiti and other regions.
Story copyright © Carbon News 2026
Govt updates emissions plan to blow past legislated target
Thu 29 Jan 2026
By Liz Kivi | The Government has updated its emissions reduction plan, with agricultural emissions now set to blow past the legislated 2030 target.
New Auckland alliance to accelerate nature regeneration
Thu 29 Jan 2026
Auckland Council alongside the Sustainable Business Network have launched the Tāmaki Taiao Alliance, a new collaboration designed to accelerate nature regeneration at scale across Tāmaki Makaurau.
Court rejects challenge to Minister and Commission over climate targets
Wed 28 Jan 2026
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.
Govt weighs LNG backstop as gas decline accelerates
Wed 28 Jan 2026
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?
Wed 28 Jan 2026
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.
