Gene Technology Bill – petition

A petition has been launched to halt the Gene Technology Bill and achieve a Commission of Inquiry. Petition request That the House of Representatives halt the progress of the Gene Technology Bill and instead set up a Commission of Inquiry into the health and safety of people and the environment...

Continue reading

EDS conference

The Environmental Defence Society has concluded its Dollars and Sense Conference in Tāmaki Makaurau, drawing together over 350 delegates across government, business, iwi, academia, and civil society for three days of conversation on aligning economic systems with ecological realities. The question asked at the conference was: how can we achieve that...

Continue reading

Annual Plan consultation

Consultation on council’s Annual Plan for 2025/2026 is open for feedback until 28 March. This year’s plan focuses on getting on with strengthening the financial and physical resilience of Auckland, as committed to in the Long-Term Plan, while investing where it is needed most to manage growth. Highlights include establishing...

Continue reading

Learn about seamounts

A seamount is an underwater mountain that rises at least 1,000 metres above the seafloor and is a biodiversity hotspot for unique and migratory marine life. This 2-minute video shows you some of the life in a seamount and also looks at the growing threat to the creatures that live...

Continue reading

St James Theatre gets the go-ahead

Auckland Council confirmed at its 28 February Governing Body meeting its 2016 commitment of $15 million towards the restoration of the St James Theatre, matching funding from central government. Mayor Wayne Brown says he is keen for the work on the theatre to go ahead, “to clean up the eyesore...

Continue reading

EDS guide to Fast-track Approvals Act

The Environmental Defence Society has launched its comprehensive guide to the Fast-track Approvals Act, which came into effect in December 2024. Applications for consents under the act went live last week. “The updated Environment Guide provides clear, accessible and digestible information to help individuals, community groups and businesses understand the...

Continue reading

Offshore Renewable Energy Bill

EDS has lodged its submission on the Offshore Renewable Energy Bill with the Transport and Infrastructure Select Committee. The Bill proposes a new framework by which offshore renewables will be authorised. Submissions close on 6 February. “The Bill is a step in the right direction,” says EDS Reform Director Greg...

Continue reading

Heritage Counts 2024

Established in 2018, Auckland’s Heritage Counts became New Zealand’s very first programme of work systematically collecting statistics and research relating to the public value of heritage. Since then, a report has been published every year. The aim of Auckland’s Heritage Counts is to showcase the extent and variety of Auckland’s...

Continue reading