New Zealand’s renewable energy supply reaches record high
MBIE has released the latest Energy in New Zealand report, providing a comprehensive overview of the country’s energy production and consumption in 2024.
Greatest ever protection for Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana
The Government has moved a step closer to nearly tripling marine protection for the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana that will help restore precious biodiversity while enabling New Zealanders to benefit for generations.
International treaty on plastic pollution update
Talks to develop an international treaty on plastic pollution did not reach a consensus as negotiations came to an end on 15 August 2025.
Auckland Council to consider draft rules to boost flood protections and housing
Draft changes to Auckland’s planning rules to better protect people and property from floods and other hazards, while enabling more homes near transport and jobs, will be considered by the Auckland Council’s Policy and Planning Committee on 21 August.
Funding to strengthen Māori climate resilience and create economic benefits
Funding for a solar farm at Te Karaka will keep critical services running during extreme weather events and provide long-term economic benefits for the community.
Government delivers major building system reform
The Government has agreed to change the building and construction sector’s liability settings from joint and several liability to proportionate liability and is making it easier for Building Consent Authorities (BCA) to voluntarily consolidate their functions.
Help shape MfE’s Long-term Insights Briefing on building resilience to hazards
The draft briefing shares information on New Zealand’s hazard landscape and the forces that shape it. It also outlines the challenges of resilience-building and opportunities for action.
Towards an international treaty on plastic pollution
Aotearoa New Zealand continues to contribute to global efforts to address plastic pollution through the development of an international treaty.
Ambitious course set for NZ’s geothermal potential
Doubling geothermal energy by 2040 is part of an ambitious new draft strategy to unlock New Zealand’s geothermal potential.
RMA national direction freshwater and primary sector submissions - PCE
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has made a series of submissions on the RMA national direction packages. In this submission he provided feedback on proposed amendments to the primary sector and freshwater packages.
Lessons can be learnt from Canada’s emphasis on infrastructure delivery - Infrastructure NZ
Canada delivers a new hospital or healthcare facility every six months.
Infrastructure New Zealand Chief Executive Nick Leggett says “That’s not a dream; that’s consistent delivery over a couple of decades and a lesson New Zealand needs to learn.”
New planning tool tests how zoning changes can reduce future flood risk
A new land-use model, funded by the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake, gives planners a powerful new way to explore and test how different policy and investment decisions could reduce flood risk—before putting them into practice.