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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]
Environment Court Confirms Indigenous Biodiversity Values In The Mackenzie Basin Are Deserving Of Bespoke Protection
Tuesday, 15 April 2025, 4:10 pm | EDS
EDS has been advocating for appropriate protection of the Basin’s special indigenous biodiversity and outstanding landscapes for years. This decision builds on our work, and that of others, and is another step closer to ensuring that the Basin’s high ... More >>
Fisheries Reforms Will Not Ensure Sustainability
Friday, 11 April 2025, 1:54 pm | Environmental Defence Society
Any changes to on-board cameras and landing and discard rules should not undermine the ability to monitor and verify self-reported catch data. Some of the proposals lack sufficient checks and balances and require further refinement. More >>
A One-day Symposium Focused On The Ocean - Monday 12 May 2025
Tuesday, 8 April 2025, 12:21 pm | EDS
Running on Monday 12 May, the day prior to our 2-day conference, the symposium will review some of the current and future challenges we are facing in managing our oceans well and potential responses. More >>
EDS Welcomes Closure Of The Inner Hauraki Gulf Rock Lobster Fishery
Tuesday, 25 March 2025, 6:42 pm | EDS
“It’s great to see Hon Minister Jones taking action to reduce fishing pressure on rock lobster populations in the inner Hauraki Gulf,” says EDS Chief Operating Officer Shay Schlaepfer. More >>
EDS Responds To RM Reform Announcement
Monday, 24 March 2025, 7:01 pm | EDS
The challenge now is to get the best possible outcome from the split Act model. We will be working closely with the Government over the course of this year to that end. We simply must have a more nuanced outcome from this process than from the Fast-track ... More >>
EDS Addresses Questions On Resource Management Reforms
Tuesday, 18 March 2025, 5:06 pm | EDS
The reports are part of EDS’s project on a Durable Resource Management System. The first report outlines the context in which reform is happening, while the second explores questions about the scope of the resource management system. More >>
Infrastructure Summit Should Prioritise Environmental Outcomes
Wednesday, 12 March 2025, 4:05 pm | Environmental Defence Society
New Zealanders want high environmental standards to be met. Despite the Government’s efforts to derail good environmental outcomes with the shameful Fast-track Approvals Act. More >>
Conservation Reform Needed But Proposed Changes Need Improvement
Thursday, 27 February 2025, 12:26 pm | Environmental Defence Society
EDS has undertaken extensive law and policy research on the conservation system. We look forward to working with the Government and Minister Potaka to ensure that reform of the conservation management planning system is done well. More >>
Some Good Conservation News
Monday, 17 February 2025, 6:04 pm | EDS
An additional $13 million will be invested in tourism infrastructure, including upgrading huts and resolving the backlog in Milford Sound concessions. More >>
Environmental Groups Clarify Qualities Of Stewardship Land In Meeting With Prime Minister
Sunday, 16 February 2025, 2:14 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The Minister of Conservation is expected to complete a review of some 644,000 ha of stewardship land on the West Coast later this year. More >>
Offshore Renewable Energy Bill Submission
Friday, 31 January 2025, 9:55 am | Environmental Defence Society
“Offshore renewables, including offshore wind farms, will be an important piece of the solution when it comes to decarbonising the electricity sector. They can have less environmental impact than onshore projects. If these effects are acceptable, ... More >>
2025: Slow Down And Get It Right
Monday, 20 January 2025, 5:58 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The reforms planned for 2025 are far more extensive and worrying. All national policy statements and environmental standards – the engine-room of our resource management system, that guide all development, are under threat. This is a wholesale rewrite of our regulatory environmental framework. More >>
Regulatory Standards Bill Should Be Stopped In Its Tracks
Monday, 13 January 2025, 10:50 am | Environmental Defence Society
The proposed Bill cuts across existing and soon-to-be-implemented frameworks, including Part 4 of the Legislation Act 2019, which is slated to come into force next year, and will make sensible improvements to regulation-making. More >>
Urgent Action Needed To Restore Degraded Marlborough Sounds
Tuesday, 17 December 2024, 2:40 pm | Environmental Defence Society
“The Marlborough Sounds is an iconic and unique marine area with an intricate web of marine inlets and islands that contain a wide diversity of marine life comprising one tenth of the nation’s entire coastline,” said EDS Policy Director and case ... More >>
Not Too Late To Fix Controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill
Monday, 9 December 2024, 3:02 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The Bill retains several significant flaws that collectively mean that if enacted in its present form would make it the worst environmental legislation in our history, with scope for bad projects with significant adverse impacts to get approved. More >>
EDS 2025 Conference: Registration Now Live!
Tuesday, 3 December 2024, 8:28 am | Environmental Defence Society
The oceans symposium on Monday 12 May 2025 is a full day dedicated to the ocean, where economic opportunities interface with nature in a highly dynamic way. The conference will take place on Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 May 2025. More >>
Marine Spatial Planning Is A Game-Changer
Monday, 2 December 2024, 10:54 am | Environmental Defence Society
“Marine spatial planning is commonplace overseas with over 120 countries and territories now having MSP in place. However, we have been slow to adopt the approach in this country,” said EDS Policy Director Raewyn Peart. More >>
Webinar: Restoring The Sea: The Role Of Marine Spatial Planning
Wednesday, 27 November 2024, 1:53 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The working paper is designed to promote constructive discussion on the role of MSP in Aotearoa New Zealand and how it can best be supported through national policy and legislation. More >>
Proposals To Modernise The Conservation System A Good Start
Friday, 15 November 2024, 8:53 am | EDS
“EDS has been arguing for some years that the conservation system is no longer fit for purpose, so this is a welcome first step towards modernising it,” said Environmental Defence Society Policy Director Raewyn Peart. More >>
Resource Management Reform: Cabinet Paper Released
Thursday, 24 October 2024, 8:54 pm | Environmental Defence Society
“Long-term spatial planning (out to 50 years) is on the table, which will help overcome our infrastructure deficit and housing shortage. Constraints mapping is also part of the picture, with Cabinet referencing natural hazards and public open ... More >>
