Climate change: some bans banned as energy policy evolves

Climate change: some bans banned as energy policy evolves
Talk of a ban on new gas connections has stopped. (Image: Depositphotos)
Ian Llewellyn
The Emissions Reduction Plan shows an evolution in the government's thinking around energy policy, with talk around some bans dropped and a shift in focus.The Climate Change Commission floated the idea of banning new connections to gas infrastructure by 2025 and a ban on internal combustion car imports by 2035.Monday’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) instead talks about managing the phase-out of “fossil” gas which “presents short-term and long-term challenges, including balancing capital investment with declining foss...

More Economy

Economy contracts 0.9% in June quarter
Economy

Economy contracts 0.9% in June quarter

GDP has now fallen in 3 of the last 5 quarters.

Life insurance market shrinks
Finance Risky Business

Life insurance market shrinks

Foreign firms dominate as affordability, tax and access barriers stymie growth.

Seeking a faster, sharper ComCom
Economy

Seeking a faster, sharper ComCom

A ‘gold standard’ approach and siloed structure slow the ComCom down.

Court funding miss ‘undermines market confidence’
Finance

Court funding miss ‘undermines market confidence’

Plenary and Infrastructure NZ wrote to ministers over PPP ‘disappointment’.

Oliver Lewis 17 Sep 2025