• Climate Commission warns New Zealand emissions targets at significant risk

• Arms Bill changes welcomed by licensed firearms owners

• Apple and Pear industry gathers in Queenstown for annual conference

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Climate Commission warns New Zealand emissions targets at significant risk

New Zealand is at significant risk of missing its climate change emissions targets, according to the Climate Change Commission's latest annual monitoring report — despite Prime Minister Christopher Luxon insisting the country remains on track.

The commission says the current emissions budget is under serious pressure and the subsequent one cannot be met with current plans and policies. It says the next twelve to twenty-four months are critical to correct course.

The Emissions Trading Scheme is identified as a key concern, with the commission saying it is not efficiently driving emissions reductions due to low market confidence and price volatility. Agriculture remains outside the ETS under current Government settings, with the focus instead on agri-tech investment to reduce methane.

The report does identify some positives — increased EV uptake, solar and time-of-use electricity charges among them. All major parties are proposing household solar policies ahead of November's election.

Arms Bill changes welcomed by licensed firearms owners

Licensed firearm owners say they have finally been heard, with the Government adopting a range of practical improvements to the Arms Bill following thousands of submissions to the Justice Select Committee.

Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says the changes remove unnecessary red tape, improve public safety and ensure the law functions as intended — in contrast to the rushed 2019 and 2020 reforms that she says treated licensed owners as villains while failing to reduce unlicensed criminal offending.

Key changes include extending multi-entry visitor licences to eighteen months — benefiting those returning annually for duck shooting, the roar or sporting competitions — and clarifying that museum workers do not require special endorsements to handle firearms in the course of their duties.

Gunsmiths will also have longer to process restricted firearms without additional permits.

Most of the bill comes into force September twenty-third, with remaining provisions by February 2028.

Apple and Pear industry gathers in Queenstown for annual conference

Growers, exporters, researchers and industry partners have descended on Queenstown for the New Zealand Apples and Pears Conference, with a packed first day covering research and development, biosecurity and the future of the sector.

NZAPI chief executive Danielle Adsett says the strong turnout reflects the industry's determination to keep building a world-class sector in an increasingly complex environment.

At the annual general meeting, directors Adrienne Sharp from T&G Global and Cameron Taylor from Taylor Corp were re-elected, with Ross Wilson from Sunpeach Orchard joining the board as a new director. Chair Andrew Gibbs acknowledged outgoing director and former chair Lesley Wilson for seven years of service.

Day two of the conference today features Agriculture and Trade Minister Todd McClay as keynote speaker, with sessions covering market access, biosecurity challenges and the wider economic and political environment facing New Zealand horticulture.