Ahead of world leaders' climate change talks in Paris, thousands of New Zealanders have taken to the streets asking for a meaningful result.
The People's Climate March - a worldwide event - took place on Saturday, with organisers claiming thousands took part in 35 New Zealand centres - the smallest being on Raoul Island, where the island's entire population of seven turned out.
At least 3000 marched down Auckland's Queen Street and an estimated 7000 marched in Wellington, according to reports.
"Instead of seizing the opportunities from moving to a low-carbon future, the New Zealand government is lagging behind its people and the world by taking a weak target to Paris and refusing to take real action on climate change," says Auckland march convenor Kristin Gilles.
New Zealand could do a lot more, she said.
The People's Climate March NZ 2015 has the backing of 27 groups, including Greenpeace, Oxfam, WWF, Unicef NZ, environmentalist groups and unions.
New Zealand is taking a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 to the Paris talks.
The United Nations climate change conference starts in Paris on Monday with hopes for a legally binding agreement on climate change.
"The government should listen to the thousands of New Zealanders who took to the streets today and come up with a stronger, more ambitious plan for reducing climate pollution," said co-leader James Shaw.
However, Prime Minister John Key says the 30 per cent reduction is credible.
"But I think we need to do more if and when we can find solutions to that agricultural portion, and I'm absolutely confident we will.
"The scientists who are working on it tell me they're getting closer, and there's a lot of money being thrown at that."
Agriculture contributes 48 per cent of New Zealand's carbon emissions.
