New Zealand’s Ministry for the Environment has selected Xpansiv, an infrastructure provider for global energy transition markets, to operate the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS) auctions.
Beginning with the September 2026 auction, the process will be conducted via Xpansiv CBL, the firm’s established transaction platform for carbon, electricity, and fuel markets. The contract is set to run through December 2030, with an option for the Ministry to extend the agreement until the end of 2035.
The NZ ETS auctions serve as the primary mechanism for the New Zealand Government to sell New Zealand Units (NZUs) into the market. By facilitating competitive bidding, the auctions are essential for accurate price discovery and maintaining market discipline.
To protect against sudden price shocks, the auction framework includes several safeguards, such as a minimum price floor and a cost containment reserve. Xpansiv’s role will be to ensure these mechanisms operate within a secure, resilient, and transparent infrastructure.
“New Zealand’s ETS auctions are a cornerstone of efficient and disciplined market operations,” said Russell Karas, Senior Vice President at Xpansiv. “Our focus is to deliver reliable, secure auction operations and a smooth participant experience.”
The selection by the Ministry for the Environment reinforces Xpansiv’s status as a key infrastructure provider for government-led environmental markets. The company already manages a diverse portfolio of auctions and transactions for major global entities, including the Korea Exchange (KRX) and Macao International Carbon Emission Exchange (MEX).
This partnership marks another milestone in the expansion of Xpansiv’s comprehensive energy transition platform, which supports a growing network of corporate, utility, and non-profit relationships aimed at facilitating the global shift toward decarbonisation.
