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Pandering, polluting, unprincipled – and popular

7 May 2008

Political considerations driving the wrong choices
Image: wiffim69
Political considerations driving the wrong choices

ANALYSIS – The Government yesterday gave control over New Zealand’s transport fuel emissions to the offshore oil markets.

In the name of protecting motorists from petrol rice rises, for which they will be grateful, though not perhaps enough to move their votes, the Government’s move to postpone the day when fuel users face the price for their emissions has left many of its principles – and many major questions - in its wake:


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Story copyright © Carbon News 2008

Related Topics:   Agriculture Emissions trading Greenhouse Effect Politics Tax Transport

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New Zealand
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NZ's opportunity: low carbon, secure energy, high growth

Tue 31 Mar 2026

By Pattrick Smellie | The New Zealand economy could more than double in size by 2050 by pursuing secure, affordable electricity using local renewable and low-carbon sources and allowing the Emissions Trading Scheme to work properly, says a major new report.

Fuel shock pushes buyers back toward EVs

Tue 31 Mar 2026

Surging fuel prices are pushing some New Zealand buyers back toward electric vehicles and hybrids, as households respond to the oil shock by trying to cut their exposure to petrol.

FMA to ease conditions for green bond issues

Tue 31 Mar 2026

By Pattrick Smellie | Green, social and sustainability-linked bonds will face lower disclosure requirements and regulatory costs under a class exemption newly granted by the Financial Markets Authority.

Wellington planting nears one million trees

Mon 30 Mar 2026

By Shannon Morris-Williams | Greater Wellington’s parks restoration programme will hit one million native trees this year, with the first dams to rewet peat wetlands in Queen Elizabeth Park now completed after a years-long effort to bring these ecosystems – and their carbon sequestering superpowers – back to life.

NZ First targets regional share of mining royalties

Mon 30 Mar 2026

By Shannon Morris-Williams | New Zealand First has proposed returning 50% of mining royalties to regional communities, saying that too much of the value from resource extraction is currently flowing to Wellington.

Flooded road in Northland

‘Stop burning fossil fuels’ pleads scientist as extreme rain causes floods yet again

Fri 27 Mar 2026

Northland and Auckland have again been lashed by heavy rain, with hundreds of people evacuated last night because of extensive flooding in the Far North, and some areas hit by more than a month's average rainfall in just 24 hours.

Tuvalu prioritises climate change in agreement with NZ

Fri 27 Mar 2026

By Liz Kivi | New Zealand has pledged an additional $20 million to climate resilience work in Tuvalu, more than doubling Aotearoa's aid to the tiny island nation in the current financial year.

Emergency Management and Recovery Associate Minister Chris Penk

Gisborne $29.7m recovery funding bid awaits Government decision

Fri 27 Mar 2026

By Zita Campbell, Local Democracy Reporter | Gisborne leaders are awaiting the Government’s response to a $29.7 million funding bid for a joint agency/iwi-led recovery plan after January’s severe weather event.

Media round-up

Fri 27 Mar 2026

In our round-up of climate coverage in local media: Northland Civil Defence teams are assessing the damage after the latest storm, bids are sought for oil and gas search off the South Island coast, and should New Zealand be reporting climate stats every day?

Opportunity Party candidates (from left to right): Jessica Hammond, deputy leader Daniel Eb, leader Qiulae Wong, and Kayla Kingdon-Bebb.

WWF boss joins Opportunity Party with centrist climate pitch

Thu 26 Mar 2026

By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Opportunity Party has unveiled its first slate of candidates ahead of November's election, including World Wildlife Fund Aotearoa chief executive Kayla Kingdon-Bebb, as the party positions itself as a 'centrist environmental force' ahead of the election.

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