NZ ETS unit settings and annual regulatory updates 2026

Results updated 5 Aug 2026

Decisions on Unit Settings and regulatory updates - 5 August 2026 

Decisions on unit settings for 2027 – 2031 and technical updates to ETS regulations have been made. 

See Annual updates to emission unit limits and price control settings (Ministry for the Environment)

Closed 12 Jul 2026

Opened 12 Jun 2026

Contact

ETSconsultation@mfe.govt.nz

Overview

The Government consulted on proposed updates to the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) settings and regulations.

The ETS is the Government’s main policy tool for reducing emissions by influencing long-term investment by businesses and industries in low emissions technology.  This means ETS policy settings are key to a stable and predictable ETS, and settings updates help ensure alignment to our domestic emissions reduction targets.

Regulation proposals include changes to default emissions factors for natural gas activities, geothermal activities and liquid fossil fuels; and how landfill organisations report their emissions under the ETS.

The proposals aim to make rules more workable, improve emissions counting accuracy, ensure ETS costs are fair and truly reflect emissions and encourage remediation of contaminated land.

Read the annual updates to NZ ETS limits and price control settings for units 2026 consultation document (PDF, 1.1MB)

Read the technical annex (PDF, 732KB)

Read the proposed changes to NZ ETS regulations 2026 consultation document (PDF, 826KB)