The government has today introduced legislation to parliament to replace the Resource Management Act 1991. 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. Collectively, they...
Recent weeks have seen ecocide law reach the UN Security Council, the Vatican, and the climate COP’s opening ceremony. International law is now evolving to meet the crisis it should have prevented. Ecocide law was raised three times during the UN Security Council’s session on environmental impact of armed conflict and climate-driven security risks,...
CTA’s AGM for 2025 was held on Sunday 16 November from 3pm in the Jubilee Building, Parnell, the former Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Main Building, now housing the Parnell Library and community facilities. This building dates from 1909 and was designed by Edward Bartley. In addition to...
We are facing a climate crisis. Yet many people seem to be relatively unconcerned about the risk. Why don’t they do more to prevent the looming outcome? One source of this inaction is our psychology. This talk looked at these psychological factors, such as the way we perceive risk and...
The Environmental Defence Society is urging caution following today’s announcement by Local Government Minister Simon Watts and Resource Management Reform Minister Chris Bishop that local government is in for the biggest shakeup since 1989. The government is seeking feedback on a two-stage proposal for change. The first stage would see...
At COP 30, Cambodia’s Secretary of State, His Excellency Soung Sophorn, announced that his country would participate in this powerful global initiative. He said, “We believe its goals are essential to safeguarding our planet and protecting vulnerable communities. Cambodia stresses that developing countries cannot undertake this transition alone. We require...
Since July, 15 North Shore Express 1 buses have been fitted with bike racks, enabling cyclists to finally take the bus across the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The bike racks are inside with the passengers. The same space is used for wheelchairs, pushchairs, and mobility scooters, otherwise, it fits nine standing...
In addition to the public meetings held in different parts of the city to outline PC 120, two webinars were presented and recorded, which you can find here, along with more information about the plan change, and how to make a submission. There is also a Central/East information session organised...
A resolution at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi has been successfully adopted by the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network. For the first time, the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has formally acknowledged the urgent gap in international governance for fossil fuel production. The...
The Environmental Defence Society has condemned the Fast-track Approvals Amendment Bill in its submission to the Environment Select Committee, warning that it will further weaken environmental safeguards, erode public participation, and undermine constitutional checks and balances. The Bill would give the Minister more influence in fast-track decisions, strip away environmental...