Environmental Defence Society (EDS) is a not-for-profit
environmental organisation
An environmental organization is an organization coming out of the conservation or environmental movements
that seeks to protect, analyse or monitor the environment against misuse or degradation from human forces.
In this sense the environment ...
based in
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
. It focuses on issues surrounding the
Resource Management Act 1991
The Resource Management Act (RMA) passed in 1991 in New Zealand is a significant, and at times, controversial Act of Parliament. The RMA promotes the sustainable management of natural and physical resources such as land, air and water. New Zea ...
and is made up of resource management professionals who are committed to improving environmental outcomes within New Zealand.
History
EDS was established in 1971 by a group of law students and scientists. The idea behind EDS was to bring together the disciplines of science, law and planning to advocate for the
environment
Environment most often refers to:
__NOTOC__
* Natural environment, all living and non-living things occurring naturally
* Biophysical environment, the physical and biological factors along with their chemical interactions that affect an organism or ...
. Since its inception, EDS has had a long and largely successful history of litigating environmentally significant cases. Early cases EDS was involved in include the Huntly water rights case, litigation concerning LPG terminals, the
Aramoana Smelter, the Clyde High Dam, several
Think Big
In their most common sense, the terms thought and thinking refer to conscious cognitive processes that can happen independently of sensory stimulation. Their most paradigmatic forms are judging, reasoning, concept formation, problem solving, an ...
projects and a proposed resort development at
Karikari
The Karikari Peninsula on the east coast of the far north of Northland Region, Northland, New Zealand, is between Rangaunu Harbour to the west, and Doubtless Bay to the southeast. It is a right-angled land mass of two relatively distinct parts. ...
in the Far North.
During the 1980s EDS began a substantive involvement in mining cases and was instrumental in persuading the New Zealand government to change the law to enable better public involvement and more emphasis on the environmental effects of mining. There was a special focus on the
Coromandel Peninsula
The Coromandel Peninsula ( mi, Te Tara-O-Te-Ika-A-Māui) on the North Island of New Zealand extends north from the western end of the Bay of Plenty, forming a natural barrier protecting the Hauraki Gulf and the Firth of Thames in the we ...
, where EDS was instrumental in preventing a proposed large-scale open-cast mine from proceeding at
Otama Beach
Otama Beach is a beach on the northeast coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand, 20 km north of Whitianga.
The north-facing 2 km long white-sand beach is backed by a large protected natural dune system, separating it from the ro ...
.
EDS has a long history of involvement in cases concerning water. The Society was involved with other groups in an effort to get
water conservation order A water conservation order is a legal ruling to protect aspects of water bodies. It may be to protect the quantity of the water itself or for any issues relating to the water body as a whole.
New Zealand
In New Zealand, a Water Conservation Order i ...
s established in law after a successful opposition to a series of dams on the
Motu River. Indeed, EDS assisted the
Queen Elizabeth II National Trust
The Queen Elizabeth II National Trust (QEII) is a registered charity and statutory New Zealand organisation independent from the government and managed by a Board of Directors. It was established in 1977 by the Queen Elizabeth the Second Nation ...
to obtain the first ever national water conservation order for that wild and scenic river and went on to support similar orders over the
Ahuriri
Ahuriri is a suburb of the city of Napier, in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand's eastern North Island.NOTE: the term Ahuriri is also used as an alternative Māori language name for the city of Napier overall.
The area was a major site of ...
and
Rakaia
Rakaia is a town seated close to the southern banks of the Rakaia River on the Canterbury Plains in New Zealand's South Island, approximately 57 km south of Christchurch on State Highway 1 and the Main South Line. Immediately north of the ...
Rivers in the South Island.
In 2002, EDS litigated on the climate change impacts and the carbon dioxide from
Otahuhu Power Station gas thermal power station. EDS appealed the Otahuhu C
resource consent
A resource consent is the authorisation given to certain activities or uses of natural and physical resources required under the New Zealand Resource Management Act (the "RMA"). Some activities may either be specifically authorised by the RMA or ...
s granted by
Auckland Regional Council
The Auckland Regional Council (ARC) was the regional council (one of the former local government authorities) of the Auckland Region. Its predecessor the Auckland Regional Authority (ARA) was formed in 1963 and became the ARC in 1989. The AR ...
. EDS argued that the predicted annual emissions of 1.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide would contribute to climate change via the
greenhouse effect
The greenhouse effect is a process that occurs when energy from a planet's host star goes through the planet's atmosphere and heats the planet's surface, but greenhouse gases in the atmosphere prevent some of the heat from returning directly ...
and that the consent conditions should require complete carbon offsetting by planting of new forests. The
Environment Court
The Environment Court of New Zealand ( mi, Te Kōti Taiao o Aotearoa) is a specialist court for plans, resource consents and environmental issues. It mainly deals with issues arising under the Resource Management Act, meaning that it covers a w ...
agreed with the scientific consensus on anthropogenic climate change and concluded that the proposed CO
2 emissions would be an "adverse effect of some consequence". The court declined to impose the forest offsetting condition due to concerns over its "efficacy, appropriateness and reasonableness".
Environmental Defence Society (Incorporated) v Auckland Regional Council and Contact Energy
A183/2002 NZEnvC 315;NZRMA 492;(2003) 9 ELRNZ 1 (6 September 2002)
More recently EDS has become increasingly involved in providing support and capacity building for individuals, community organisations and councils; in undertaking research and policy analysis on key environmental issues; and in profiling key issues through seminars and conferences.
EDS is now implementing a major new initiative on oceans to chart the way forward for reform. EDS is looking at policy framework for marine mammals protection, marine protected areas and marine spatial planning.
In its research and policy work EDS seeks to build constructive partnerships and relationships with business, government and other groups across civil society.
Supporters
EDS Supporters provide financial support to assist with the programme of activities undertaken by the Society.
NZ Law Foundation
Borrin Foundation
Key publications
* "Reform of the Resource Management System: A model for the future" 2019 by Greg Severinsen
* "Farming the Sea" 2019 by Raewyn Peart
* "Governance of the Hauraki Gulf" 2019 by Raewyn Peart
* "Voices from the Sea: managing New Zealand's Fisheries" 2018 by Raewyn Peart
* "The Story of the Hauraki Gulf" 2016 by Raewyn Peart
* "Dolphins of Aotearoa: Living with New Zealand dolphins" 2013 by Raewyn Peart
* "Caring for our Coast: An EDS guide to managing coastal development" 2013 by Lucy Brake and Raewyn Peart ** Winner of the 2013 RMLA Publications Award (Resource Management Law Association)
* "Safeguarding Our Oceans: Strengthening marine protection in New Zealand" 2012 by Kate Mulcahy, Raewyn Peart & Abbie Bull
* "Treasuring Our Biodiversity: An EDS Guide to the protection of New Zealand's indigenous habitats and species" 2012 by Lucy Brake and Raewyn Peart
* "Wonders of the Sea: The protection of New Zealand's marine mammals" 2012 by Kate Mulcahy and Raewyn Peart
* "Governing our Oceans: Environmental Legislation for the Exclusive Economic Zone" 2011 by Raewyn Peart, Kate Mulcahy and Kelsey Serjeant
* "Strengthening Second Generation Regional Policy Statements" 2010 by Raewyn Peart and Peter Raeburn
* "Managing Freshwater: An EDS Guide" 2010 by Raewyn Peart, Kate Mulcahy and Natasha Garvan
* "Managing the Marine Environment: An EDS Community Guide" 2010 by Raewyn Peart and Kate Mulcahy
* "Beyond the Tide: Integrating the management of New Zealand’s coast" 2009 by Raewyn Peart
* "Castles in the Sand: What’s happening to the New Zealand coast?" 2009 by Raewyn Peart
* "The New Zealanders’ Guide to the Resource Management Act 1991 (3rd Edition)" 2008 by Raewyn Peart
* "Looking out to Sea: New Zealand as a model for ocean governance" 2005 by Raewyn Peart
* "The Community Guide to Coastal Development under the Resource Management Act 1991" 2005 by Raewyn Peart
* "The Community Guide to Landscape Protection under the Resource Management Act 1991" 2005 by Raewyn Peart
* "Landscape Planning Guide for Peri-Urban and Rural Areas" 2005 by Raewyn Peart
* "A Place to Stand: The protection of New Zealand’s natural and cultural landscapes" 2004 by Raewyn Peart
References
{{reflist
External links
Environmental Defence Society
Environmental Defence Society Conferences
Environment Guide
Environmental organisations based in New Zealand