Strong El Niño raises drought and wildfire concerns
Today 11:45am
By Shannon Morris-Williams
A newly declared El Niño is expected to bring drier conditions to parts of New Zealand over the coming months, increasing the risk of drought, water shortages and wildfires, while experts warn communities should prepare for potentially significant impacts.
Story copyright © Carbon News 2026
Offshore renewable energy bill passes, opening path for developers
Today 11:45am
By Oli Lewis | Feasibility permits for offshore wind developments could be issued within months after the Government passed a long-awaited law to establish a regulatory regime.
Ombudsman upholds complaint PM’s office ‘unreasonably withheld’ climate law briefing
Today 11:45am
By Liz Kivi | The Ombudsman has upheld a complaint that the Prime Minister’s office unreasonably held information, as Parliament is set to read – under urgency – the climate bill at the centre of the scandal.
High Court upholds forestry directors' environmental liability
Today 11:45am
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The High Court has dismissed appeals by a forestry company, its directors, and a landowner, against enforcement orders over environmental damage in a Gisborne forest, reinforcing that company directors can be personally liable for environmental breaches.
Conservation bill risks climate goals, lawyers say
Wed 1 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Lawyers for Climate Action NZ says the Government's plan to change the law to encourage economic development on conservation land could undermine New Zealand's climate goals by weakening the land's ability to store carbon, as well as allowing new sources of emissions such as mining.
A tale of two electricity systems as NZ and Australia roll out new cost-saving measures
Wed 1 Jul 2026
By Oli Lewis | New rules requiring electricity retailers to offer time-of-use pricing plans, where consumers can access lower-cost electricity at off-peak times, have come into effect.
Climate scientist wins 'emerging scientist' prize
Wed 1 Jul 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | University of Waikato scientist Luke Harrington has been awarded the Prime Minister's MacDiarmid Emerging Scientist Prize for developing new ways to measure how climate change is increasing the likelihood and intensity of extreme weather.
Upton warns of 'expensive mess' if catchments carved up
Wed 1 Jul 2026
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has warned the Government risks creating an "expensive mess" if it abolishes regional councils without first deciding which environmental functions must still be managed at catchment or regional scale.
Electric bus fleet coming as Go Bus loses Hawke’s Bay city routes to Tranzit
Wed 1 Jul 2026
By Linda Hall, Local Democracy Reporter | Go Bus will be gone on the urban streets of Hawke’s Bay next year as a fleet of all-electric buses takes over the runs.
Inaction on shipping decarbonisation could cost NZ up to $94b by 2050, report says
Tue 30 Jun 2026
By Oli Lewis | Failing to support and enable the decarbonisation of the shipping industry could result in losses of $17.5 billion to $94.4b to the New Zealand economy by 2050, according to a report from the Aotearoa Circle.
