NZ imported more than a million tonnes of 'dirty' coal last year Wed, 14 Jul 2021, 10:27AM New Zealand's imported more than a million tonnes of 'dirty' coal from Indonesia only twice in the last 20 years - 2020 and 2006. (Photo / File) NZ imported more than a million tonnes of 'dirty' coal last year By Jordan Bond, RNZ In the same year that the Government declared a climate emergency, imports of an especially dirty type of coal from Indonesia topped a million tonnes for the first time since 2006. Last year, 235kg of overseas coal was imported for every New Zealander in order to power homes and businesses. This is also only imported coal; the country also produces coal domestically.