Our Cases

Recent decisions

Cases by category

Marine

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Protecting Māui and Hector’s dolphins from extinction
Protecting Māui and Hector’s dolphins from extinction

We are taking the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries to court for failing to adequately protect Māui and Hector’s dolphins.

Crayfish case #2: restoring crayfish numbers in Northland
Crayfish case #2: restoring crayfish numbers in Northland

We challenged the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Total Allowable Catch decision for crayfish in Northland, and we won.

Crayfish case #1: Restoring crayfish numbers in Northland
Crayfish case #1: Restoring crayfish numbers in Northland

With Te Uri o Hikihiki hapū, we challenged the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries catch limit decisions for crayfish and we won.

Protecting orange roughy from bottom trawling and over-fishing
Protecting orange roughy from bottom trawling and over-fishing

We’re taking the Minister to court for overfishing orange roughy.  

Challenging the government’s failure to properly levy the fishing industry 
Challenging the government’s failure to properly levy the fishing industry 

We have filed legal proceedings against the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries and the Director General of MPI for under-levying the fishing industry and under-allocating observers.

Challenging DOC’s failure to protect marine species from commercial fishing
Challenging DOC’s failure to protect marine species from commercial fishing

We challenged the New Zealand Government in the High Court over systemic failures to apply the law to protect marine biodiversity — and we won.

Freshwater

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Holding Environment Southland accountable on wetland loss
Holding Environment Southland accountable on wetland loss

We challenged Environment Southland in the High Court for its failure to take action on wetland destruction, and we won. 

Fighting nitrate pollution in Canterbury: MHV
Fighting nitrate pollution in Canterbury: MHV

In May 2025, we challenged Environment Canterbury in the High Court over the Council’s decision to grant a nitrogen discharge consent to MHV Water Ltd. We are now awaiting the judge’s decision.

Fighting for the future of freshwater in Canterbury
Fighting for the future of freshwater in Canterbury

We’re challenged Environment Canterbury on their ‘pollution rule’ allowing for the contamination of freshwater. We are now awaiting the judge’s decision.

Fighting nitrate pollution in Canterbury: ALIL
Fighting nitrate pollution in Canterbury: ALIL

We challenged Environment Canterbury’s decision to grant a problematic nitrogen discharge consent to a major irrigation scheme and we won.

Climate

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Climate litigation: Holding the government to account for delivering an effective climate plan
Climate litigation: Holding the government to account for delivering an effective climate plan

With our friends, Lawyers for Climate Action NZ, we are taking legal action against the Minister of Climate Change over ‘glaring holes’ in the Government’s climate plan.

Holding Z Energy accountable for its climate change claims
Holding Z Energy accountable for its climate change claims

With Consumer NZ and Lawyers for Climate Action New Zealand Inc, we are taking Z Energy to the High Court, alleging that the company misled New Zealanders with its “moving with the Times” public messaging.

Biodiversity

Featured
Protecting Mount Messenger wildlife
Protecting Mount Messenger wildlife

We challenged DOC’s decisions to grant a permit and a consent authorising the incidental killing of wildlife during the Mt Messenger bypass project, and we won.

Hazardous substances

Featured
Challenging the EPA’s regulatory failure on glyphosate
Challenging the EPA’s regulatory failure on glyphosate

Challenging the EPA’s regulatory failure on glyphosate.