Hardly a great outcome

Auckland Council emergency budget: Controversial $17m Queens Wharf mooring dolphin scrapped Auckland Council has finally resolved to abandon the controversial $16.9 million mooring dolphin attachment to Queens Wharf to allow mega-cruise ships to dock here. The decision was made at a confidential “emergency budget” meeting today, as the 20 councillors...

EDS Media Release: Freshwater reforms delivered mostly as promised The Environmental Defence Society (EDS) has welcomed the announcement by Ministers David Parker, Damien O’Connor and James Shaw this morning of the much-awaited freshwater reforms. “This package of changes to the present regulatory settings largely delivers on election promises to deal...

The Auckland Council has agreed to a new facade for the heritage-listed Civic Administration Building after strong opposition from its own heritage department and Heritage New Zealand. Read more here    

The Environmental Defence Society (EDS) has welcomed the emphasis in Budget 2020 on environmental projects that will create thousands of jobs. “The budget announcement contends that the provision of $1.1 Billion on restoring our natural world will create nearly 11,000 new jobs in the regions where the need is substantial,”...

The Government’s fast-track bill appears to have a number of important safeguards to protect the environment, says the Environmental Defence Society (EDS). “In ordinary circumstances this kind of ad hoc override legislation would not be desirable,” said EDS CEO Gary Taylor. “But these are not ordinary times. There is a...

The first episode of the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Podcast has been recorded during lockdown, to take you behind the scenes of heritage Aotearoa New Zealand. Three staff members are asked the question, “What does heritage mean to you?” This episode features Caroline Toplis, Programme Manager of Tohu Whenua;...

  EDS today released its Tourism and Landscape Protection report which is the first case study published as part of its broader Protected Landscapes Project. The report is co-authored by EDS Policy Director Raewyn Peart and EDS Solicitor Cordelia Woodhouse. “Prior to Covid-19, tourism was New Zealand’s number one export...

The winner of the CTA photo competition in last year’s Auckland Heritage Festival in the 15 years and over category has now come to light. Gary Qin was unable to attend the AGM on 24 November, but he has recently contacted the secretary, and she will deliver his certificate to...

The massive tragedy of COVID-19 and its associated personal, social and economic shocks and disruption, offers a rare and compelling opportunity to rapidly transition to a new order of human affairs. This is to a low carbon, much lower impact and a much fairer and appreciative world with a greater...