Celebrating 25 Years of Scoop
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]
Webinar: Climate Adaptation Act: Building A Durable Future
Friday, 19 July 2024, 10:23 am | EDS
Following on from our in-person launch in Auckland, we're pleased to be able to offer the presentation as an online event. More >>
EDS Launches Recommendations For Climate Adaptation Act
Thursday, 11 July 2024, 4:44 pm | EDS
Today EDS launched the final report of Phase 1 of its Climate Adaptation Project. Titled Design Recommendations for a Climate Adaptation Act the report sets out a package of statutory and institutional reforms to enable the country to successfully ... More >>
EDS Applauds Select Committee Report Confirming Hauraki Gulf Marine Protection
Thursday, 20 June 2024, 4:41 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The Committee has recommended that the Bill be passed with minor amendments. The bill will create 12 new high protection areas, 5 new seafloor protection areas and 2 extensions to existing marine reserves. More >>
Government Policies Failing Our Environment
Wednesday, 19 June 2024, 3:10 pm | Environmental Defence Society
A key theme that emerged from the discourse was that we shouldn’t silo our climate and biodiversity responses: we need to address them together and transition our energy systems without causing environmental harm. More >>
Leading Environmental Summit Kicks Off Next Week
Thursday, 6 June 2024, 8:52 am | Environmental Defence Society
The Environmental Defence Society’s leading environmental summit for 2024 kicks off in Ōtautahi Christchurch on Monday 10th – Wednesday 12th next week. More >>
War On Nature 2.0
Thursday, 23 May 2024, 6:47 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The Government’s war on nature enters its next phase today with the tabling of the Resource Management (Freshwater and Other Matters) Amendment Bill. More >>
Groundhog Day: New Book Shows History Is Repeating Itself
Sunday, 5 May 2024, 6:35 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The Environmental Defence Society (EDS) is this coming week launching a book titled Environmental Defenders: Fighting for Our Natural World which tells the story of the Society’s 50 years of operation since the early 1970s. More >>
Fast-track Approvals Bill Presents A Serious Risk To New Zealand Exporters
Sunday, 28 April 2024, 5:17 pm | Environmental Defence Society
“Our exporters should, therefore, be deeply concerned that the Fast-track Approvals Bill was not assessed for consistency with any of our free trade commitments prior to being introduced to the House,” says Gary Taylor, Chief Executive of the Environmental ... More >>
EDS Celebrates 50 Years With Book Launches In Auckland And Wellington
Monday, 22 April 2024, 4:37 pm | Environmental Defence Society
Environmental Defenders: Fighting for our natural world tells the story of how the law has been mobilised to protect some of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most precious places. Written by Raewyn Peart, EDS’s Policy Director, the book contains much ... More >>
EDS Highlights Reputational Risks Of Fast-track Inclusion
Sunday, 21 April 2024, 8:07 pm | Environmental Defence Society
“Make no mistake: this proposed legislation, with its Ministerial overreach and capacity for environmental harm, is extremely radical and controversial,” said EDS CEO Gary Taylor. More >>
EDS Calls For Fast-track Approvals Bill To Be Abandoned In Submission To Select Committee
Friday, 12 April 2024, 1:44 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The Environmental Defence Society (EDS) has filed its final substantive submission on the Fast-track Approvals Bill. More >>
EDS Releases Draft Submission On The Alarming Fast Track Approvals Bill
Friday, 15 March 2024, 4:58 pm | Environmental Defence Society
EDS has today released a first draft of its submission on the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Bill was introduced to Parliament on 7 March and has been referred to the Environment Select Committee. Submissions to the Select Committee close 19 April. ... More >>
Minister Tells Councils To Break The Law In Latest Attack On Our Environment
Thursday, 14 March 2024, 1:52 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The Associate Minister for the Environment, Hon Andrew Hoggard, has today told Councils to suspend further work on identifying Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) in their plans. “This is the latest in a rolling maul of attacks on the constitution and ... More >>
The Government’s War On Nature Goes Nuclear
Thursday, 7 March 2024, 1:41 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The government’s assault on the environment has stepped up several gears, with the introduction of a new fast track consenting law to Parliament today. This replaces the existing fast-track law which has been working well and reducing consenting times ... More >>
Another Missile Launched In Government’s War On Nature
Wednesday, 28 February 2024, 2:59 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The Government’s arrogant disregard for the natural world is again on display, this time threatening coastal waters and the ocean, as it plans to automatically extend the duration of all marine farm consents in the country. And it is giving ... More >>
Environmental Defence Society Lays Down Challenge To Bluegreens Forum At Waitangi
Saturday, 24 February 2024, 1:44 pm | Environmental Defence Society
By Gary Taylor, CEO of Environmental Defence Society Kia ora koutou Congratulations on yet another well-attended Bluegreens Forum. This is an excellent initiative and I’m pleased to have attended most of them. The Forum is an assembly of progressive ... More >>
It’s Not A Merry Christmas For The Environment
Thursday, 21 December 2023, 2:06 pm | Environmental Defence Society
Forest & Bird and the Environmental Defence Society are dismayed that the new Government has just rammed through a dramatic assault on Aotearoa New Zealand’s environment. The environmental protections that look after our special places have ... More >>
Environmental Defence Society releases its Briefings for Incoming Ministers
Sunday, 10 December 2023, 2:00 pm | Environmental Defence Society
EDS has today released its Briefings for Incoming Ministers in the new Coalition Government. The BIMs cover the following portfolio areas and Ministers: Hon Penny Simmonds, Minister for the Environment Hon Chris Bishop, Minister for Resource Management ... More >>
Memo To Incoming Government: Don’t Forget About The Environment
Tuesday, 14 November 2023, 5:19 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The Environmental Defence Society is calling on all parties to prioritise care for our country’s natural environment in their coalition agreements. “No government has a mandate to increase pollution or species extinctions in this country. But some ... More >>
Environment Policies Revealed
Thursday, 14 September 2023, 7:34 pm | Environmental Defence Society
Last Night’s EDS Political Debate generated some heat but also shed some light on party policies for the environment and conservation. Hosted by Auckland law firm Bell Gully and livestreamed to a large audience, Hon David Parker (Labour), Hon John More >>
