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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 2]
EDS Proposes Drafting Changes To Fix New Resource Management Laws
Sunday, 22 February 2026, 4:03 pm | Environmental Defence Society
EDS has asked to appear before the Select Committee where it will outline its deep concerns and present its recommendations for practical solutions. More >>
EDS Seeks Funding Support To Ensure Independent Scrutiny Of Bendigo Gold Mine
Saturday, 14 February 2026, 3:17 pm | Environmental Defence Society
For this case, we have engaged senior counsel and independent specialists, including experts in economics, terrestrial ecology and freshwater. More >>
EDS Draft Submission On RM Replacement Bills Calls For Significant Changes
Monday, 9 February 2026, 8:29 pm | Environmental Defence Society
As well as releasing our draft submission, we are providing a template that should be useful to guide people through their individual submission preparations. More >>
Taranaki VTM Decision Shows The Fast-Track Act Can, Surprisingly, Work
Sunday, 8 February 2026, 3:27 pm | Environmental Defence Society
While the TTR decision is a draft, it so comprehensively rejects the applicant’s contentions on multiple counts that it’s hard to see that being reversed when the final decision is released. More >>
Rock Lobster Decision One Step Closer In Moving From Reef Collapse To Reef Recovery
Friday, 19 December 2025, 9:33 am | Environmental Defence Society
Large rock lobsters are the only species in Aotearoa known to prey on long-spined sea urchins – a subtropical species that can graze deeper than kina and has the capacity to wipe out entire kelp forests, including those beyond kina depth limits. More >>
Let’s Avoid Submission Writing At The Beach
Tuesday, 16 December 2025, 12:34 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The Natural Environment Bill and the Planning Bill were introduced last week, and the Environment Select Committee is expected to announce the closing date for submissions this week, said EDS CEO Gary Taylor. More >>
End Of Year Good News: South Island Marine Reserves Get The Go Ahead
Sunday, 14 December 2025, 6:46 pm | Environmental Defence Society
Marine protection is incredibly hard to achieve, so these substantial gains which have been in the works for over a decade, are fantastic to see. More >>
Stewardship Land Reclassification Leaves High-Value Ecological Areas Without Top-Tier Protection
Thursday, 11 December 2025, 1:20 pm | Environmental Defence Society
“To get an outcome is a significant step and it’s a credit to Minister Potaka that he has got this over the line in what is a challenging coalition government,” says Shay Schlaepfer EDS COO. More >>
Government Backs Down On Fast-Track Amendments
Wednesday, 10 December 2025, 3:20 pm | Environmental Defence Society
Our submission to the Select Committee clearly showed that Panels were exercising their discretion to invite comments judiciously, says Shay Schlaepfer, EDS Chief Operating Officer. More >>
RMA Replacement Bills Introduced – Fixes Are Needed
Tuesday, 9 December 2025, 1:55 pm | Environmental Defence Society
There are two Bills – a Natural Environment Bill and a Planning Bill – a split which marks an abrupt end to more than three decades of integrated environmental management under the RMA. More >>
Concern Over Local Government Reform Proposals
Wednesday, 26 November 2025, 8:12 am | Environmental Defence Society
Local government reform is needed. But shaking up regional governance while resource management reform is rolling out does create uncertainty and confusion about who does what in the new system. More >>
Please Submit On The Fast Track Approvals Amendment Bill
Wednesday, 12 November 2025, 8:18 am | Environmental Defence Society
This Bill is being rushed through with only a week for submissions. Please send in a submission and stand up for nature. The deadline is 17 Nov. More >>
EDS Releases Scathing Submission On Fast-Track Approvals Amendment Bill
Tuesday, 11 November 2025, 11:48 am | Environmental Defence Society
The Bill’s real effect is to give the Minister more influence in fast-track decisions, to gut environmental and public scrutiny and to impose unrealistic deadlines. More >>
EDS Warns Fast-Track Cost Recovery Regime Sidelines Environmental Input
Sunday, 9 November 2025, 4:51 pm | Environmental Defence Society
EDS urges the Government to extend cost-recovery rights to statutory conservation bodies and to confirm the role of councils in providing comments on individual applications. More >>
Fast-Track Amendment Bill Further Undermines Environment And Democracy
Tuesday, 4 November 2025, 2:46 pm | Environmental Defence Society
“And it gets worse. The Bill proposes to limit appeal rights to those that a panel must invite comments from." More >>
EDS’s Advocacy Lands Marine Protection As Decision Made To Ban Bottom Contact Fishing Methods
Friday, 10 October 2025, 10:45 am | EDS
Regional councils have a clear responsibility under the Resource Management Act to control the effects of these fishing activities on the environment to maintain indigenous biodiversity. More >>
Webinar: Pathway To Oceans Reform
Wednesday, 8 October 2025, 11:34 am | EDS
The webinar will be presented by the report’s author EDS Policy Director, Raewyn Peart. More >>
EDS Welcomes Passage Of Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill
Tuesday, 7 October 2025, 5:46 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The legislation will increase areas of high protection in the Gulf from just 0.3% to approximately 6%, establish new seafloor protection areas and expand existing marine reserves. More >>
Bay Of Islands Treasures Under Threat – New EDS Case Study Points Towards Practical Solutions
Monday, 22 September 2025, 4:15 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The Bay of Islands could once again have healthy and productive marine ecosystems if hapū and the community come together to take decisive action now. More >>
EDS Urges Urgent Action As New Report Highlights Extent Of Coastal Ecosystem Collapse
Friday, 19 September 2025, 2:39 pm | Environmental Defence Society
Kelp forests increase fish growth rates and the resilience of stocks. This is becoming increasingly important with rapid seawater warming and climate-induced marine heatwaves, said EDS Policy Director Raewyn Peart. More >>
