Update on Leys Institute

The project is progressing steadily and is currently at the final stage of the Detailed Design phase. Documentation required to support the Building Consent (BC) application is being compiled, with the BC application anticipated to be lodged in February. Resource Consent has been successfully obtained. Soft demolition works and temporary...

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Plan Change 113 (Notable Trees) withdrawn

Plan Change 113 was officially withdrawn on Friday 12 December 2025. PC113 sought to provide greater protection to trees that had been identified as having significant historical, botanical or amenity values. It proposed adding 174 new individual trees and 29 new groups of trees to the Auckland Unitary Plan’s Notable...

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Government backs down on fast-track amendments

The Environmental Defence Society is pleased to see that the government is no longer pursuing several terrible proposed amendments to the Fast-track Approvals Act. It has released an Amendment Paper to the Fast-track Approvals Amendment Bill today which strikes through most of the bad ideas. Independent decision-making Panels still have...

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Ecocide law reaches UN Security Council

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,...

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Concern over local government reform proposals

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...

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18th country to participate in development of Fossil Fuel Treaty

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...

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