Sustainability news, views and insights | | | |
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Happy New Year Welcome back from the team at SBC. We hope you enjoyed a restful summer break. Our thoughts go out to all those affected by the devastating impacts of the recent severe weather. With a national election ahead, 2026 is shaping up to be an important year for sustainability in Aotearoa New Zealand. We look forward to working with you and, as always, encourage you to get in touch with all your upcoming sustainability news and updates.
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Sustainability professionals, we want to hear from you! |
The 2026 Sustainability Professionals Survey is live, and we are inviting all eligible professionals to take part. The 7th annual survey has been launched by Oxygen Consulting, in partnership with SBC, AUT, and SBN. Open from 2 Feb–2 Mar to people currently working in NZ who have sustainability as part of or all of their role. Take the survey.
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Advances in New Zealand’s Modern Slavery Legislation | The Modern Slavery and Worker Exploitation Bill will head straight to Parliament thanks to united support from both of our major political parties. The proposed Bill will require large organisations (over NZD 100 million in revenue) to publicly report on modern slavery risks, incidents and complaints. Read more from DLA Piper here. | | | |
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NZICC awarded Qualmark Gold |
The New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) is celebrating its achievement of Qualmark Gold, the highest accreditation under Qualmark’s Sustainable Tourism Business criteria. The Venue, set to open on Feb 11, received the award following an independent assessment recognising its approach to sustainability and visitor experience.
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Reflecting on the devastating impact of the summer’s recent severe weather, Director of Oxygen Consulting Sarah Holden explores why empowered, community-led adaptation is now essential in this new article. The piece discusses what’s already working on the ground, and what needs to change if Aotearoa New Zealand is serious about building resilience to climate risk. Read more here. | | | |
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Understanding flexible electricity potential – EECA |
A new report by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) highlights a potential $3 billion opportunity to make better use of existing electricity networks through distributed flexibility. The report highlights how supporting households and businesses to change when they use power could contribute to a more affordable and secure energy system.
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SBC is delighted to welcome Connie Maddock to the team as our new Digital Communications Advisor. Connie moved to New Zealand from the UK late last year, most recently working as Marketing Executive for facilities management organisation Vertas Group Limited (winner of the 2025 King's Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development). | | | |
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Toitū’s Explainer series: 10 principles of low-carbon business growth |
Future-ready businesses are those that can grow without increasing emissions. Toitū’s latest Explainer outlines 10 common principles for decoupling growth from carbon, helping you capture near-term and long-term advantages. Learn how to embed low-carbon growth into your business strategy, read the Explainer.
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Is your sustainability strategy ready for 2026? | Predicting what comes next in sustainability is not guesswork. It is grounded in experience. thinkstep-anz works closely with organisations across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, providing insight into what is changing and what to prepare for. Sustainability outlook 2026 outlines the key shifts ahead and the practical steps businesses can take now. | | | |
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Ministry for the Environment (Wellington/Hybrid) Team Leader
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NEW: Beyond climate disclosures: Gearing up for action and progress Online | 25 February - 18 March 2026
The Sustainable Business Council and Climate Leaders Coalition have partnered with Deloitte to help you navigate a path through the voluntary disclosure landscape. The workshop will provide a practical comparison of NZCS1, ASRS S1/S2, and IFRS S1/S2, highlighting the key decision points to help determine the framework that best fits your organisation. The workshop will unpack the standards and feature commentary from Deloitte, and from current reporters on their adopted standards, and their experiences. | |
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NEW: Predictions for sustainability 2026 - Join the conversation Online | 11 February 2026 | 3:00 – 3:30pm
As organisations look toward 2026, expectations around credibility, data and impact are rising fast. Join thinkstep-anz CEO Barbara Nebel, Impact Director Nicole Sullivan and Technical Director Jeff Vickers for an open and forward-looking discussion on what is emerging and what it means for boards, leaders and decision-makers. | |
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NEW: Digital Sustainability: Reducing Technology-Based Emissions and Driving Enterprise Value Online | 19 February 2026 | 3:30 – 4pm
Enterprise technology is generating an increasing amount of emissions as data use, AI adoption and energy demands soar. This session explores why digital sustainability is now an ESG risk and how leaders can respond, with practical insights into improving reporting and managing the growth of IT emissions and AI. | |
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NEW: Sustainability & Climate Reporting Conference Online | 24 February 2026 | 8:45 – 5:00pm
The Framework for Reporting Climate-related Financial Disclosures has been in force for a year, understand your obligations for related measuring and reporting. Dive into the technical aspects of transparent sustainability and climate reporting. While climate and carbon remain key, the event will explore all ESG dimensions, including biodiversity and social impact. Speakers include SBC’s Chief Executive Mike Burrell. | |
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NEW: Masterclass: How to steer clear of greenwashing Online | 5 March 2026 | 1:00 – 2:30pm
Can your sustainability claims stand up to scrutiny? With regulators, investors and consumers in New Zealand and Australia paying closer attention, credible communication matters more than ever. Join this 90-minute online masterclass to understand greenwashing and greenhushing, navigate the rules around environmental claims and learn how to communicate progress clearly, accurately and with confidence. | |
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Please send Pānui stories (50 words plus square image) or event listings (100 words plus banner image) to sbccomms@businessnz.org.nz by Wednesday 12pm. | | | |
See guidelines around SBC's expectations of member communications and transparency here. | | | |
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