LNG: a rational choice compared to unpalatable alternatives
10 Feb 2026
By Pattrick Smellie
COMMENT: By deciding to underwrite the private construction of a liquefied natural gas import facility in Taranaki, the Government has made a rational choice in favour of energy security and affordability.
Story copyright © Carbon News 2026
GIDI-style help cheaper than LNG: MBIE
Mon 11 May 2026
By Pattrick Smellie | Officials advised ministers last July that the lowest-cost way to free up gas for use during dry winters was to assist industrial gas users to switch to electricity.
Govt launches solar red tape review to speed up installations
Fri 8 May 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Government has launched a review aimed at making residential and small-scale solar installations faster and easier, in a move Rewiring Aotearoa says could help cut costs and accelerate solar uptake across New Zealand.
Energy system debate to headline Electrify Queenstown
Thu 7 May 2026
A major political debate on the future of New Zealand’s energy system will take centre stage at Electrify Queenstown 2026, as policymakers and industry figures gather to map the country’s path toward electrification.
Methanexit: writing on the wall for NZ’s biggest gas user
6 May 2026
By Liz Kivi | New Zealand’s biggest fossil gas user, Methanex, is expected to stop production by the end of this year, with the company confirming its Motunui methanol operation won’t survive Māui gas field’s closure.
Ōmokoroa trial to test smarter power use
6 May 2026
Powerco and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority are launching a trial in Ōmokoroa, Bay of Plenty, to test how shifting electricity use away from peak times could ease pressure on the network and reduce costs.
Brown's LNG rethink proves short-lived
5 May 2026
Energy Minister Simeon Brown's suggestion that the Iran conflict had "changed everything" about New Zealand's approach to LNG imports appears to have been a brief departure rather than a shift in direction.
Māui closure notice narrows the buffer
4 May 2026
OMV New Zealand's notification that the Māui gas field will cease production by the end of 2026 has brought forward risks the industry had expected to emerge more gradually.
Paddocks to power: The rise of small-scale solar farms
1 May 2026
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter | A new, small-scale solar farm has been lit in North Canterbury.
Govt missing tricks to save fuel in crisis
30 Apr 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Government is being urged to shift its response to the fuel crisis away from short-term relief and towards measures that reduce demand, with public health experts warning it is missing an opportunity to boost energy security and lower household costs.
Energy uncertainty holding back investment – report
30 Apr 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Uncertainty around energy costs and supply is delaying investment decisions for New Zealand businesses, with new research showing firms would ramp up spending on growth, workforce capability and electrification if conditions were more stable.
