Media round-up
10 Apr 2026
In our round-up of climate coverage in local media: Past fuel price spikes failed to shift Kiwis out of their cars with signs suggesting it’s happening again, a 'she’ll be right' attitude is not enough in a climate crisis, and should forestry be listed as critical in the government's national fuel plan?
The government has boxed itself in over fuel saving strategies – but there is a way out
By Timothy Welch, The Conversation
While the government works to reassure New Zealanders that fuel stocks are stable, the numbers tell an uncomfortable story: the country has about 27 days of onshore cover for petrol and 17 days of diesel.
As fuel prices soar, Kiwis keep driving at all costs (paywalled)
By Kevin Norquay, The Post
Past petrol price increases failed to get Kiwis out of their cars, and all indications are we are on repeat – with traffic numbers staying firm as hospitality and retailers feel the pain.
Forestry industry unsure if it's included in national fuel plan
Morning Report
RNZA forestry group wants the industry to be listed as critical in the government's national fuel plan, saying it's crucial to regional economies and supports other key sectors.
NZ cannot keep offering a cold shoulder to climate change
By John Drummond, ODT
OPINION: She’ll be right is not enough in a climate crisis.
Environmental Law Initiative unmoved by attempt to curb judicial reviews
By Andrew Bevin, Newsroom
The charity behind a string of successful judicial reviews says a 20-working day timeframe for fisheries reviews leans towards a wider crackdown on the role of the courts.
Aviation oil shock: Rising prices and cancelled flights as jet fuel hits US$200 a barrel (paywalled)
By Paul Callister and Robert McLachlan, The Post
OPINION: The sudden rise in the price of oil and the prospect of shortages has led many people to reflect on how we can cut back on oil for transport. How can this be done fairly, and with the least disruption? And how did we get into this situation?
Hungary hit 25% electricity from solar in 5 years. NZ’s official plan gets us to 4.3% in 2035. That’s a choice and policy failure
By Duane Fernandes, Linkedin
This article breakdowns what drove this in Hungary and what it could mean for NZ to be on a similar trajectory.
Pothole killer – how trains can save the climate and our highways
By Kasey McDonnell, Welly Climate Nerd
Every pothole can be traced back to a transport system that chooses to use roads for things they’re not suitable for.
A carbon Catch-22: The risks of racing into climate change solutions
By Alexia Russell, The Detail, RNZ
A company that says it has a startling solution to carbon storage wants New Zealand to make rule changes so it can forge ahead.
Accusations of ‘energy scalping’ if retailers pocket battery rebates
By Marc Daalder, Newsroom
A new scheme provides cash when households export power to the grid at peak times, but some retailers are hanging on to the money.
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NZ Govt’s move to halt climate litigation under international scrutiny
Tue 19 May 2026
By Liz Kivi | Local and international NGOs have signed an open letter calling on the Government to reconsider its decision to shield major emitters from legal liability for climate-related harm.
Hipkins pans LNG plan as ‘massive step backwards’
Tue 19 May 2026
By Liz Kivi | Labour leader Chris Hipkins has told a Queenstown audience that a Government he leads would not proceed with a planned LNG import terminal, if elected at November’s election.
Competition weak in key energy sectors says Commerce Commission
Tue 19 May 2026
The Commerce Commission says competition remains weak in New Zealand's electricity and gas sectors despite modest improvement across the wider economy, highlighting how difficult it is for new entrants to challenge established infrastructure players.
Biomass sector asks: where did the love go?
Mon 18 May 2026
By Pattrick Smellie | New Zealand has sufficient biomass in its plantation forests to replace natural gas for industrial process heat at lower costs than electrification, but is failing to get the attention it deserves, sector leaders say.
Urgent need to rethink tourism says expert
Mon 18 May 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The post-pandemic recovery has created an urgent need to rethink how tourism operates, who benefits from it, and how it impacts the social and environmental systems it depends on, according to new research.
Green building council calls for clean energy policies
Mon 18 May 2026
The New Zealand Green Building Council has released its 2026 election manifesto calling for policies to reduce energy waste in buildings, lower household and business energy costs, and improve New Zealand’s energy security.
Future big droughts may be worse than we think – NZ’s past shows why
Mon 18 May 2026
By Adam Brown, University of Waikato; Dave Frame, University of Canterbury, and Luke Harrington, University of Waikato | For an agricultural nation like New Zealand, severe drought is one of the most ominous consequences of a warming planet.
Labour condemns Govt plan to stop climate litigation
Fri 15 May 2026
By Liz Kivi | The Labour Party has slammed the Government’s move to block climate lawsuits against big emitters but won’t say if they would repeal the legislation if elected in November.
Mercury eyes $1b geothermal expansion near Taupō
Fri 15 May 2026
Mercury is planning the next phase of its geothermal expansion near Taupō, with two proposed projects carrying a potential investment of up to $1 billion and enough new renewable generation to power an additional 125,000 homes.
Why ‘greenhushing’ signals deeper issues with NZ’s climate risk reporting regime
Fri 15 May 2026
By Hang Pham, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington | Most of us are familiar with the concept of greenwashing: organisations exaggerating or overstating their environmental credentials. But in New Zealand, there are signs the country’s climate disclosure regime may inadvertently be driving a very different trend: not saying much at all.
