Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
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]
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 >>
Select Committee Report: No Let-Up In The Government’s War On Nature
Friday, 18 October 2024, 8:06 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The Select Committee report is extremely disappointing and shows it is in thrall to Ministers. The minority reports reveal more insights and that if enacted there is likely to be support for repeal when the government changes. More >>
Report Back On The Fast-track Approvals Bill Coming This Friday: What To Look For
Wednesday, 16 October 2024, 3:24 pm | Environmental Defence Society
“If the government is determined to proceed in spite of that overwhelming opposition, there are 3 key fixes needed to make the Bill less bad,” said EDS CEO Gary Taylor. More >>
EDS Delighted That Cabinet Agrees To Pass Hauraki Gulf Marine Protection
Sunday, 13 October 2024, 2:19 pm | Environmental Defence Society
In a small amendment, government will permit a limited ring-net fishery to continue in some areas for local supply, with a review after three years. This will help establish whether or not the activity is consistent with the overall biodiversity objectives ... More >>
Huge Number Of Projects To Be Fast-tracked; Some Good, Some Bad
Sunday, 6 October 2024, 4:20 pm | Environmental Defence Society
Overall, we’re blown away by the sheer volume of projects listed. We question how the Government intends to stand up enough qualified expert panels to process them in the timeframes indicated. More >>
Select Committee Adaptation Report Generally Positive But Lacks Detail
Tuesday, 1 October 2024, 3:56 pm | Environmental Defence Society
“The report is a good start and picks up on many of the design recommendations in EDS’s recent climate adaptation report. However it lacks detail on many important components of a new system,” said EDS Policy Director Raewyn Peart. More >>
Select Committee Recommendations On RM Amendment Bill Disappoint
Monday, 30 September 2024, 5:33 pm | Environmental Defence Society
Overall, the Bill represents a further unwinding of environmental protections with some minor concessions to submitters including EDS More >>
