Environmental Defence Society
Encyclopedia
Environmental Defence Society (EDS) is a not for profit environmental organisation based in Auckland
, New Zealand
.
It focuses on issues surrounding the Resource Management Act
and is made up of resource management professionals who are committed to improving environmental outcomes within New Zealand.
, law
and planning
to advocate for the environment
. 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 projects and a proposed resort development at Karikari 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 where EDS was instrumental in preventing a proposed large-scale open-cast mine from proceeding at Otama Beach.
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 orders 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
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 and Rakaia Rivers in the South Island.
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.
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
It focuses on issues surrounding the Resource Management Act
Resource Management Act
The Resource Management Act 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...
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 scienceScience
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
and planning
Planning
Planning in organizations and public policy is both the organizational process of creating and maintaining a plan; and the psychological process of thinking about the activities required to create a desired goal on some scale. As such, it is a fundamental property of intelligent behavior...
to advocate for the environment
Environment
In general, environment refers to the surroundings of an object, or the Natural environment, all living and non-living things that occur naturally on EarthEnvironment may refer to:...
. 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 projects and a proposed resort development at Karikari 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 where EDS was instrumental in preventing a proposed large-scale open-cast mine from proceeding at Otama Beach.
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 orders 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
Queen Elizabeth II National Trust
The Queen Elizabeth II National Trust is a statutory New Zealand organisation independent from Government and managed by a Board of Directors...
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 and Rakaia Rivers in the South Island.
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.
Key EDS publications
- "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.
Supporters
EDS Supporters provide financial support to assist with the programme of activities undertaken by the Society.EDS Websites
- Environmental Defence Society.
- RMA Guide for the Community. This site contains practical information to assist individuals, community groups and businesses to more effectively participate in processes under the Resource Management Act 1991.
- EDS Conferences.
- New Zealand Coastal Trust.