Climate
Can a sponge city really prevent flooding?
In the aftermath of Auckland's flooding, there's been plenty of talk about sponge cities - but what are they?
AudioClimate change making storms wetter, so how do we prepare?
The extraordinary flood event Auckland experienced on Friday night overwhelmed the city's stormwater network, killing four, and damaging homes, businesses and infrastructure.
Victoria University… Audio
Scientists observe warming seas for harmful algal blooms
Scientists believe rising sea temperatures may entice more harmful algal blooms from the sub-tropics to New Zealand's shores.
Leading academics join hands to oppose Tarras airport plan
Eleven of New Zealand's leading academics - including Dame Anne Salmond and professor Shaun Hendy - have signed an open letter calling for the plan to be scrapped.
West Coast kelp decline and marine heatwave under examination
The Department of Conservation is looking at the decline of 'old growth' kelp beds along the Coast Road and the effects of the marine heatwave on its five marine reserves on the West Coast.
Firefighters warn of high fire risk in South Island
Emergency services are tackling what remains of a large scrub fire burning in steep terrain near Murchison for a second day.
Authorities say the blaze on SH65 - the main inland route between… Audio
Grey District drought a challenge for coasters
Unfamiliar fine weather across the Grey District poses a challenge for West Coasters.
The council wants people to conserve water and warns it may have to implement water outages, as no significant… Audio
Climate change: Invest in technology that removes CO2 - report
Technology to remove the planet-warming greenhouse gas CO2 from our atmosphere must be urgently ramped up, leading climate experts say in a new report.
Kiwi scientists involved in drill to uncover secrets of Antarctica's past
New Zealand scientists are planning to drill nearly a kilometre through Antarctic ice and into the earth below.
Dr Marta Ribó: mapping the seafloor of Hunga Tonga
One year ago today Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai erupted, causing a devasting tsunami to reach the island. To help us better predict wave forms created by volcanic eruptions in future, a group of… Audio
Oil giant 'predicted climate change in 1970s'
Researchers claim to put a number on what Exxon knew about temperature rise as early as the 1970s.
Activists oppose choice of oil boss to lead COP28 talks
Climate activists are unhappy the head of one of the world's biggest oil companies has been chosen as president-designate of a key climate meeting.
'Squeezing a lot more into a short period of time': A year of intense rain bursts
Last year's record rain was "binge rainfall" - where a lot of rain falls in a short period of time, a Niwa weather forecaster says.
Mercury Bay Boating Club to be abandoned
The historic Mercury Bay Boating Club in Whitianga will have to be abandoned as the sea creeps to about three metres from the front of the clubhouse. It became famous in the late 1980s when the club… Audio
Whopping sea temps as severe marine heatwave hits
A severe marine heatwave is due to peak today with sea surface temperatures around the bottom of the South Island and Stewart Island expected to be a whopping four degrees or more above average. The… Audio
Philippines: 8 dead as floods disrupt Christmas celebrations
Philippine authorities say at least eight people have died after floods and heavy rains, as Christmas celebrations were disrupted for thousands forced to evacuate.
Pricing farm emissions can't lead to production cuts - council
The West Coast Regional Council has given "partial support" to some of the government's proposals - but has concerns.
Climate activist says govt locked in a compromised emissions pricing scheme
A climate activist furious with the government's watering down of the proposed emissions pricing scheme says he hopes for stronger environmental representation from the Te Pāti Māori and the Green… Audio
Federated Farmers still opposed to agriculture pricing scheme
Federated Farmers remains opposed to the government's Agricultural Emissions Reduction scheme, despite changes in its favour.
Following significant backlash from the sector, the government is setting… Audio
Climate change activists angered by emissions pricing plan
Climate change activists are furious with the government's changes to the Agricultural Emissions Pricing Plan.
Despite advice from the Climate Change Commission to base behavioural change on the… Audio
