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Environmental Defence Society
EDS speaks for the environment. It has influence.
Since 1971, EDS has been driving environmental protection in Aotearoa New Zealand
through law and policy change. That's why it's one of this country's most influential non-
profit organisations when it comes to achieving better environmental outcomes.
EDS has expertise in key disciplines including law, planning, landscape and science. It
operates as a policy think-tank, a litigation advocate, and a collaborator – bringing together
the private and public sectors for constructive engagement.
EDS runs conferences and seminars on topical issues, including an annual Environmental
Summit and the Climate Change and Business Conference.
EDS is a registered charity and donations to it are tax-deductible.
Environmental Defence Society - Latest News [Page 1]
Fisheries Bill Delay A Chance To Reset Fisheries Reform
Friday, 19 June 2026, 9:44 am | EDS
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has confirmed the Bill will not be reported back from Select Committee before voters head to the polls in November. More >>
Time To Give Hauraki Gulf Shellfish A Break: EDS Backs Tighter Harvesting Controls
Thursday, 11 June 2026, 4:02 pm | Environmental Defence Society
Auckland’s large and rapidly increasing population has meant that pressure on our inshore shellfish species has long been unsustainable. More >>
REMINDER: EDS Webinar: Vanishing Nature Revisited: Tuesday 16 June @ Midday
Wednesday, 10 June 2026, 11:29 am | EDS
Ten years on, this webinar reflects on the findings of Vanishing Nature and its recommendations, progress towards them and where much more effort is still needed. More >>
EDS 2026 Conference Session Spotlight: Institutions In The New System
Monday, 8 June 2026, 5:20 pm | Environmental Defence Society
This session at the EDS conference later this month will explore how institutional settings could best support a new system for managing and protecting our natural environment. More >>
New South Island Marine Reserves Finally Here
Tuesday, 2 June 2026, 12:36 pm | Environmental Defence Society
“It’s great to see positive progress with marine protection,” said EDS Policy Director Raewyn Peart. “We are hopeful the Te Umu Kōau Marine Reserve will soon join the network after a boundary reconsideration. More >>
EDS 2026 Conference: And What Of The New Resource Management System?
Tuesday, 2 June 2026, 10:19 am | Environmental Defence Society
While opinion on the bills varies widely, one thing seems certain: we will soon be operating in a new system that looks quite different from what we’ve got now. More >>
A Personal Message From Gary Taylor, CEO, Environmental Defence Society
Tuesday, 26 May 2026, 1:40 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The conference programme is replete with expert presentations that should inform, not least of which is the session on law-making and our constitution, which should be a real humdinger. More >>
EDS Welcomes Appointment Of New Director-General Of Conservation
Wednesday, 20 May 2026, 12:28 pm | Environmental Defence Society
“As a former CE of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Mr Chrisp understands the importance of the conservation estate, and the natural environment more generally, to New Zealand’s economic welfare." More >>
EDS Webinar: Vanishing Nature Revisited: Are We Facing The Biodiversity Crisis?
Tuesday, 19 May 2026, 5:51 pm | Environmental Defence Society
Ten years on, this webinar reflects on the findings of Vanishing Nature and its recommendations, progress towards them and where much more effort is still needed. More >>
EDS Warns Conservation Bill Puts Development First
Wednesday, 13 May 2026, 4:34 pm | Environmental Defence Society
EDS supports limited economic activity on conservation land where it is genuinely consistent with conservation objectives, noting that thousands of concessions already exist for tourism, recreation and infrastructure activities. More >>
EDS 2026 Conference Session Spotlight: Surviving Climate Breakdown
Wednesday, 6 May 2026, 12:00 pm | Environmental Defence Society
Land use also has a major impact on the severity of downstream impacts of weather events. Mature and healthy native forest provides the best protection for the country’s erodible soils and also retains water during high rainfall. More >>
EDS Urges MPs To Scrap The Fisheries Amendment Bill
Tuesday, 5 May 2026, 9:59 am | Environmental Defence Society
The Fisheries Amendment Bill does little to address the deep-seated problems in the system which EDS identified in its 2018 report ‘Voices from the Sea’. More >>
High Country At Risk As Government Opens Door To Development And Disposal
Friday, 24 April 2026, 5:43 pm | Environmental Defence Society
Activities enabled by the Bill are not defined, and there are no limits on their scale. More >>
Conference Topic Spotlight: Restoring Our Oceans And Fisheries
Tuesday, 14 April 2026, 1:52 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The Marine Reserves Act needs a speedy revamp so we can make faster progress with marine protection. It took over a decade to secure marine protection in the Hauraki Gulf after it was first proposed by the Sea Change collaborative process. More >>
EDS Says Fast-Track Gold Mine Poses Unacceptable Environmental Risks
Monday, 13 April 2026, 5:30 pm | Environmental Defence Society
“While the fast-track regime is designed to facilitate development, it does not justify approving projects with high environmental risk and insufficient information,” said EDS CEO Gary Taylor. More >>
EDS And Forest & Bird Join Forces To Challenge Stewardship Land Decisions
Wednesday, 8 April 2026, 4:19 pm | Environmental Defence Society
This is a very significant challenge involving a great deal of research and analysis, hence the 2 societies joining forces. More >>
EDS 2026 Conference Session Spotlight: Conservation Reform
Tuesday, 24 March 2026, 10:28 am | Environmental Defence Society
The Denniston Plateau was retained as stewardship land, notwithstanding calls for its protection as a Scientific Reserve. This means it remains open as a location for possible fast-track coal mining. More >>
Expert Panel Invites EDS To Comment On Bendigo Goldmine
Thursday, 12 March 2026, 5:57 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The project comprises four open pits and underground mining, associated processing infrastructure and a very large tailings dam in the Dunstan hills above the Clutha River in central Otago. More >>
Conference Session Spotlight: Indigenous Biodiversity Under The New System
Tuesday, 10 March 2026, 10:16 am | Environmental Defence Society
The Government’s proposed Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill will have significant implications for how indigenous biodiversity is protected, managed and restored. More >>
EDS Puts Environmental Lawmaking Under The Spotlight
Thursday, 26 February 2026, 11:27 am | Environmental Defence Society
The first report in the series, Freshwater ambushed, focuses on amendments to sections 70 and 107 of the Resource Management Act which weakened long-standing safeguards for aquatic life. More >>
