Emma Ricketts
@emmaricketts.bsky.social
Explainer reporter, Stuff
www.stuff.co.nz/authors/emma-ricketts
www.stuff.co.nz/authors/emma-ricketts
Reposted by Emma Ricketts
New: Climate Change Minister Simon Watts concedes the Government’s new methane target could result in outcomes not consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5C above preindustrial levels – a threshold mandated in New Zealand and international law.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/15/c...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/15/c...
Climate minister admits new target may breach global 1.5C goal
Climate Minister Simon Watts admitted the Government's new methane target may not be consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5C.
newsroom.co.nz
October 14, 2025 at 8:44 PM
New: Climate Change Minister Simon Watts concedes the Government’s new methane target could result in outcomes not consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5C above preindustrial levels – a threshold mandated in New Zealand and international law.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/15/c...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/15/c...
The last interview with Tory Whanau for now - I'll miss these, they're always lovely chats
October 14, 2025 at 3:03 AM
The last interview with Tory Whanau for now - I'll miss these, they're always lovely chats
It's been a few weeks of settling into my new round, turning 30 and waddling my way through some explainers (with a little local election coverage on the side). Here's a short 🧵 with some recents and some favourites!
October 12, 2025 at 11:09 PM
It's been a few weeks of settling into my new round, turning 30 and waddling my way through some explainers (with a little local election coverage on the side). Here's a short 🧵 with some recents and some favourites!
Finally found some time to pull together an explainer on the Māori ward referendums. Not a yarn for the top of the home page with everything going on this week, but I hope people find it when they need it 🙌🏻
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
What are Māori wards, and why will their fate be decided in the local elections?
Voting papers for this year’s elections are being sent out. Depending where you live, you might find a referendum about Māori wards in your ballot.
www.stuff.co.nz
September 12, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Finally found some time to pull together an explainer on the Māori ward referendums. Not a yarn for the top of the home page with everything going on this week, but I hope people find it when they need it 🙌🏻
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
Great prompt for an update here - starting this week I'm focusing on explainers and fact-checks for Stuff!
I'm still based in Wellington (with an unhealthy interest in local politics), but this is the sort of thing you'll be seeing most from me from now on 🙌🏻
I'm still based in Wellington (with an unhealthy interest in local politics), but this is the sort of thing you'll be seeing most from me from now on 🙌🏻
At the risk of fanboying... another banger explainer from Emma Ricketts, this time on nitrates in drinking water.
Wish we had more reporting like this; factual, in a decent amount of depth, but written engagingly and even-handedly as well.
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
Wish we had more reporting like this; factual, in a decent amount of depth, but written engagingly and even-handedly as well.
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
September 5, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Great prompt for an update here - starting this week I'm focusing on explainers and fact-checks for Stuff!
I'm still based in Wellington (with an unhealthy interest in local politics), but this is the sort of thing you'll be seeing most from me from now on 🙌🏻
I'm still based in Wellington (with an unhealthy interest in local politics), but this is the sort of thing you'll be seeing most from me from now on 🙌🏻
Reposted by Emma Ricketts
Huge.
UN's highest court finds countries can be held legally responsible for emissions www.rnz.co.nz/internationa...
UN's highest court finds countries can be held legally responsible for emissions www.rnz.co.nz/internationa...
UN's highest court finds countries can be held legally responsible for emissions
The landmark decision is the culmination of six years of advocacy and diplomatic manoeuvring which started with a group of Pacific university students in 2019.
www.rnz.co.nz
July 23, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Huge.
UN's highest court finds countries can be held legally responsible for emissions www.rnz.co.nz/internationa...
UN's highest court finds countries can be held legally responsible for emissions www.rnz.co.nz/internationa...
I pass these two Adelaide Road sites everyday on the bus, and often wondered why they're sitting empty when they're in such a good location. It took an OIA to get the info from Kāinga Ora, but good to get some clarity on their plan to sell.
The prime Wellington sites Kāinga Ora is selling off
The public housing provider plans plans to divest two undeveloped plots, and has just 42 new units in the pipeline for Wellington City.
share.google
July 9, 2025 at 9:30 PM
I pass these two Adelaide Road sites everyday on the bus, and often wondered why they're sitting empty when they're in such a good location. It took an OIA to get the info from Kāinga Ora, but good to get some clarity on their plan to sell.
Reposted by Emma Ricketts
“In fact, turnout in Wellington’s last local government election was 45.4%, higher than the national turnout of 42%. It was in Auckland’s last local government election where turnout was 35.4%.”
www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...
www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...
Luxon is ‘punching down on Wellington’, mayor says
Christopher Luxon made some comments about local government, and Wellington in particular, which its mayor Tory Whanau has rejected.
www.stuff.co.nz
May 28, 2025 at 6:11 AM
“In fact, turnout in Wellington’s last local government election was 45.4%, higher than the national turnout of 42%. It was in Auckland’s last local government election where turnout was 35.4%.”
www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...
www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...
Reposted by Emma Ricketts
When the carbon capture project doesn't deliver as planned
May 19, 2025 at 1:53 AM
When the carbon capture project doesn't deliver as planned
I love living in Wellington. Parts of the city are definitely struggling, but there are also areas that are so fun to be in ☕️🍻🍲 It was awesome to chat to some of the people behind the businesses and get their take on how they've been portrayed.
Stop using us to tell the story of ‘dying’ Wellington, hospo bosses say
Some Wellington restaurateurs say they’re tired of being the poster child for a struggling capital city.
www.stuff.co.nz
May 18, 2025 at 10:25 PM
I love living in Wellington. Parts of the city are definitely struggling, but there are also areas that are so fun to be in ☕️🍻🍲 It was awesome to chat to some of the people behind the businesses and get their take on how they've been portrayed.
The govt announced two bills to be passed under urgency this week. I thought one of them warranted a bit of explanation. Have a geez: www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3606...
Explained: Is the Government saying it’s OK to kill kiwi to build roads?
An amendment to the Wildlife Act will change how DOC permits work after a recent court decision put government projects in jeopardy.
www.stuff.co.nz
May 7, 2025 at 9:47 PM
The govt announced two bills to be passed under urgency this week. I thought one of them warranted a bit of explanation. Have a geez: www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3606...
Alright, it's time to actually post on this thing. I can't promise any form of consistency, but I can promise some banger Wellington stories. Read away.
And on that note I recently learned about fish passages. Can't stop reading so this won't be the last on the topic!
And on that note I recently learned about fish passages. Can't stop reading so this won't be the last on the topic!
Transmission Gully looks like it’s finished. It’s not
Among the things left undone on Transmission Gully, which has a number of resource consents outstanding, is providing passages for fish.
www.stuff.co.nz
April 23, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Alright, it's time to actually post on this thing. I can't promise any form of consistency, but I can promise some banger Wellington stories. Read away.
And on that note I recently learned about fish passages. Can't stop reading so this won't be the last on the topic!
And on that note I recently learned about fish passages. Can't stop reading so this won't be the last on the topic!
Reposted by Emma Ricketts
Excellent factual Explainer on this stuff from Emma Ricketts
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3606...
(see, great journos working for the stuff conglomerate!)
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3606...
(see, great journos working for the stuff conglomerate!)
The Wellington water situation (and some of this lame-o stuff), explained
The prime minister said Wellington councils are “pretty lame-o” for failing to submit a proposal for a 10-year regional deal.
www.stuff.co.nz
March 11, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Excellent factual Explainer on this stuff from Emma Ricketts
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3606...
(see, great journos working for the stuff conglomerate!)
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3606...
(see, great journos working for the stuff conglomerate!)