Latest Nature and Climate News

nature and climate

National caught sneaking unpopular conservation policies back into play

The Green Party says Luxon must categorically rule out the sale and disposal of public conservation land and any intention to put profits ahead of nature in conservation law, after the National Party quietly released its ‘blue-green’ manifesto this morning.The ‘Blue-Green’ policy, published online with no fanfare, quietly walks away from previous assurances by Luxon that his party had backed down from its unpopular conservation positions. “Today a critical line has been drawn for New Zealanders, a vote for the...

Posted at November 04, 2026 1:43 PM by Marama Davidson

nature and climate

Greens announce plans to protect the Hauraki Gulf

The Green Party has announced its plan to protect the Hauraki Gulf, including closing Luxon’s carve-outs for commercial fishers, phasing out bottom trawling and protecting 30% of it by 2030.“Everyone loves the Hauraki Gulf. We’re supposed to protect and look after the things we love. The Greens will ensure Tīkapa Moana is restored now, flourishing for generations to come,” says Green Party Co-leader and MP for Auckland Central Chlöe Swarbrick. “New Zealanders deserve to drink, fish and swim in their...

Posted at October 06, 2026 11:35 AM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

National must come clean on climate

This morning the Prime Minister walked back his Trade Minister blaming the Greens, and is now blaming journalists, over an official complaint laid at the European Union over his Government breaching the EU-NZ Trade Agreement.“Luxon's Government is blaming everyone else for the consequences of their own decisions to shred climate action, instead of looking in the mirror and doing the right thing,” says Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. “The Greens have spent the entire term of Parliament warning about the...

Posted at October 02, 2026 1:45 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

RMA replacement laws pass today, usher in new era of harm to the environment

The Green Party says the worst parts of the new laws replacing core environmental legislation were copied and pasted from industry lobbying documents, and will allow untold harm to human health and the environment.“With the passing of these bills, Aotearoa is in a new era of environmental exploitation at the hands of polluting industries,” says Green Party Environment spokesperson Lan Pham. “At a time when half of our rivers are too polluted to swim in, ocean fisheries like tarakihi are...

Posted at September 23, 2026 11:43 AM by Lan Pham

nature and climate

Greens commit to undoing attacks on conservation and environment laws

The Green Party has announced at the March for Nature in Auckland that, if elected, it will ensure that conservation land is managed for nature, not for profit, and that there are strong limits on activity that might harm the wider environment.“Today, people from across Aotearoa have stood up yet again against the Coalition Government's attacks on nature and public conservation land. The Green Party is marching with them because corporate interests should never come at the expense of our...

Posted at September 19, 2026 2:59 PM by Marama Davidson

nature and climate

Docs show new anti-enviro laws copy pasted from Big Polluter wish lists

The Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill will go to their third readings this week. These are the laws replacing New Zealand’s foundational environmental law, the Resource Management Act (RMA).Changes to the bills that appear to have come straight from industry lobby groups include critical wording on climate impacts, pollution limits, resource use limits, and environmental health, while including special provisions for specific industries, and reducing public input opportunities. This occurred despite repeated official advice, and independent expert warnings. “Let...

Posted at September 14, 2026 8:39 AM by Marama Davidson

nature and climate

Public pressure on Conservation Amendment Bill forces roll back but meaningless as worst elements still remain

Public pressure has forced the Coalition Government to roll back parts of the Conservation Amendment Bill, but changes are essentially meaningless when the remaining clauses could still have disastrous ramifications, says the Green Party. “While we welcome the Select Committee’s decision to abandon the controversial conservation land exchange and disposal provisions, New Zealanders should remain extremely concerned about the ‘squeeze any economic value at any cost’ approach of the economic clauses in the Bill,” says Green Party environment spokesperson Lan Pham. ...

Posted at September 03, 2026 3:52 PM by Lan Pham

nature and climate

Methanex closing eliminates any arguable case for LNG Terminal

The Green Party says Methanex closing shuts the door on any arguable reason for the Government to build an LNG import terminal, and is calling on the Government to cancel its plans."It's time for the Government to cancel their plans to use $1 billion of taxpayer money to underwrite the LNG import facility," says Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. "Methanex leaving takes the country's largest gas user out of the market and frees up gas supply through to the end...

Posted at September 02, 2026 11:27 AM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Luxon Government off track to meet almost all climate targets

The Climate Commission has today warned that unless we get a serious Government willing to take real action in the next 12 to 24 months, we are at risk of missing almost all of our climate targets.“Christopher Luxon came to power and shredded climate action, meaning we’re now off track to meet almost all of our climate targets. This isn’t about numbers on a page. This is about people’s lives and livelihoods," says Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. “New Zealanders...

Posted at July 22, 2026 1:35 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick