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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]
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 >>
EDS & Partners Urge Government To Accelerate Gross Emissions Reductions And Strengthen Incentives For Indigenous Forests
Tuesday, 15 August 2023, 12:37 pm | Environmental Defence Society
Government consultations on two key Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) reform opportunities closed on Friday. One considered whether (and if so, how) the ETS should prioritise gross emissions reductions whilst maintaining support for forestry removals. The ... More >>
EDS Applauds Announcement That Hauraki Gulf Marine Protection Proceeding
Wednesday, 9 August 2023, 11:54 am | Environmental Defence Society
The government today announced that 17 new marine protected areas and extensions to two existing marine reserves in the Hauraki Gulf will proceed. “I am absolutely delighted with today’s announcement confirming that we will finally see significantly ... More >>
Wildlife Laws Need Transformational Change
Thursday, 13 July 2023, 6:10 pm | Environmental Defence Society
EDS has released its working paper on the Wildlife Act 1953 as part of its wider project on options for reform of the conservation system. Co-authored by Dr Deidre Koolen-Bourke, Raewyn Peart and Shay Schlaepfer, the working paper canvasses key ... More >>
EDS Welcomes National Policy Statement For Indigenous Biodiversity (NPS IB)
Friday, 7 July 2023, 11:51 am | Environmental Defence Society
The National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity (NPS IB) has been approved by the Governor-General and will come into force on 4 August 2023. “This is a great step forward for protecting nature and has been many years in gestation,” said ... More >>
The Conservation Management Planning System Is Broken And Needs Urgent Overhaul
Sunday, 25 June 2023, 4:13 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The Environmental Defence Society (EDS) today released its review of the Conservation Management Planning System, which calls for urgent reform to deliver better conservation outcomes. Co-authored by Dr Deidre Koolen-Bourke, Raewyn Peart, Bronwyn Wilde and ... More >>
EDS Opposes Renewables Plan
Thursday, 1 June 2023, 9:17 am | Environmental Defence Society
EDS has lodged its submission on “ Strengthening National Direction on Renewable Electricity Generation and Electricity Transmission ”, a consultation document prepared by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment and the Ministry ... More >>
EDS Finds Significant Gaps In Current Law For Managed Retreat
Wednesday, 31 May 2023, 10:28 am | Environmental Defence Society
EDS has released its second working paper as part of its Aotearoa New Zealand’s Climate Change Adaptation Act: Building a Durable Future project. The project is focussed on developing recommendations for the content of the new Climate Adaptation ... More >>
EDS Endorses The Recommendations Of The Forestry Inquiry
Friday, 12 May 2023, 3:06 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The Report of the Ministerial Inquiry into land uses associated with the mobilisation of woody debris (including forestry slash) and sediment in Tairāwhiti/Gisborne District and Wairoa District was released today. EDS and others called for the Inquiry after ... More >>
EDS and Pure Advantage seek tightening of forest harvesting rules to prevent slash and sediment
Sunday, 9 April 2023, 11:56 am | Environmental Defence Society
The Environmental Defence Society and Pure Advantage have filed a joint submission to the Ministerial Inquiry into Land Use practices in Tairāwhiti and have called for sweeping changes to the regulations governing plantation forestry in New Zealand. ... More >>
EDS Releases Report On Environmental Advocacy; Calls For Creation Of An Environmental Defender’s Office
Thursday, 2 March 2023, 1:09 pm | Environmental Defence Society
EDS has published a new report titled Environmental Advocacy in a Future Resource Management System . Authored by EDS Policy Director Dr Greg Severinsen, the report investigates how advocacy could be improved as part of the reform process replacing ... More >>
Draft Hauraki Gulf Fisheries Plan Needs More Ambition
Tuesday, 28 February 2023, 2:49 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The Environmental Defence Society has lodged its submission on the draft Hauraki Gulf Fisheries Plan. “It’s great that the draft plan has finally seen the light of day. It’s been a very long time in the making, with more than six years passing ... More >>
EDS Lodges Its Final Submission On The Resource Management Reform Bills
Friday, 17 February 2023, 3:00 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The Environmental Defence Society has released its final submission on the Natural and Built Environment Bill (NBEB) and the Spatial Planning Bill (SPB). EDS had earlier released a draft submission and sought feedback from interested parties. “We have ... More >>
EDS Releases First Working Paper On Managed Retreat Law
Monday, 13 February 2023, 6:26 am | Environmental Defence Society
EDS has released its first working paper as part of its Aotearoa New Zealand’s Climate Change Adaptation Act: Building a Durable Future project. The project is focussed on developing recommendations for the content of the new Climate Adaptation ... More >>
Proposed Fisheries Sustainability Measures Are Positive But Need Strengthening
Wednesday, 8 February 2023, 7:53 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The Environmental Defence Society (EDS) has lodged submissions on proposed fisheries sustainability measures for Coromandel scallops, Northland spiny red rock lobster (CRA 1) and Tory Channel kina which affect management settings for these stocks. ... More >>
EDS Files Legal Proceedings Challenging The Lawfulness Of Plantation Forestry Regulations
Tuesday, 31 January 2023, 8:33 am | Environmental Defence Society
The Environmental Defence Society says that the National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry (NES-PF) are failing to protect the coastal marine environment from the significant adverse effects of sedimentation associated with plantation ... More >>
Make Your Submission On The Resource Management Reform Bills: What To Tell Our Lawmakers
Thursday, 19 January 2023, 5:59 am | Environmental Defence Society
Date: 25 January 2023 Time: 2.00pm - 3.00pm The Environmental Defence Society, with support from the Resource Management Law Association, is hosting an online workshop on the Natural and Built Environment Bill and the Spatial Planning Bill to assist ... More >>
EDS Calls For Minister Nash To Rethink An Inquiry Into Plantation Forestry
Monday, 16 January 2023, 3:04 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The Environmental Defence Society is calling on the Minister of Forestry, Hon Stuart Nash, to think again about the merits of an independent Inquiry into exotic forest planting and harvest methods. “On Morning Report today, Minister Nash said there ... More >>
EDS Calls For Formal Inquiry Into Forestry Practices Following East Coast Disaster
Thursday, 12 January 2023, 1:40 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The Environmental Defence Society says that the latest disaster on the East Coast needs a formal Commission of Inquiry into forestry practices. “We have seen yet again the consequences of inadequate controls over exotic plantation forestry operations, ... More >>
