In ELI’s view, there are significant issues with the proposals and their underpinning analysis.

The most significant issue is the lack of a proper justification for the proposal that the Crown bear the proposed $3.76 million in annual costs associated with the on-board camera programme.

The legal and policy analysis underpinning this proposal is seriously deficient.

The Environmental Law Initiative (ELI) has filed High Court proceedings against the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, challenging a recent decision to close a portion of northern hoiho habitat to setnet fishing.

We are appealing the recent High Court judgment which upheld Environment Canterbury’s decision to allow the MHV irrigation scheme to pollute water for 10 years.

The Environmental Law Initiative (ELI) says today’s announcement of an emergency three-month closure of set-net fishing around the Otago Peninsula by Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Shane Jones will protect some hoiho, while leaving others unprotected.

The support of Otago set-net fishers for emergency closures of set-net fishing shows action to urgently protect hoiho has broad backing, and it is time for Ministers to act.  

A US Court has ruled that New Zealand fish exports fail to meet the United States Marine Mammal Protection Act – because New Zealand is not sufficiently protecting the critically endangered Māui dolphins from fishing related-deaths. 

The Environmental Law Initiative (ELI) has been largely unsuccessful in its judicial review of Environment Canterbury’s (ECan) decision to grant a nitrogen discharge consent to the Mayfield Hinds Valletta (MHV) irrigation scheme.

The Environmental Law Initiative welcomes Fisheries New Zealand’s proposals to close crayfish fisheries along the east coast of Northland, the Hauraki Gulf, and the Bay of Plenty, to allow recovery of crayfish populations and ecosystems. 

The Environmental Law Initiative says last-minute Government amendments would gut core protections for New Zealand’s rivers, lakes, and streams.

Hoiho are in serious trouble, especially the mainland population, which is in rapid decline and at risk of extinction. We’ve written to Ministers calling for urgent action to protect hoiho.

ELI’s director of legal and research, Dr Matt Hall says, “Any restrictions on judicial review under the Fisheries Act will mean that when unlawful decisions are made, they may be unchallengeable. This would undermine the rule of law.”

The Environmental Law Initiative says the Government is under-levying the fishing industry by millions of dollars, which is contributing to the insufficient resourcing of marine conservation research and the decreasing deployment of fishery observers.  

The International Court of Justice’s landmark ruling will usher in a new era of accountability for states, including Aotearoa New Zealand, to deliver on their climate change commitments.

From the shallows to the deep, the oceans surrounding Aotearoa are among the most biodiverse on Earth. They are a taonga — and caring for them is essential. 
 
We’re taking the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries to the Wellington High Court for failing to uphold the law in managing orange roughy fisheries.

Environment Canterbury and Ashburton Lyndhurst Irrigation Ltd (ALIL) have withdrawn their appeals against our historic High Court ruling, cementing an important legal victory for freshwater protection.

We are challenging the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) this week in the High Court over its decision that there were no grounds to reassess the herbicide glyphosate, along with more than 90 glyphosate-based formulations currently approved for use in Aotearoa. 

We believe in fairness and the rule of law. As a wealthy country, we need to meet our climate targets with real action, as part of the global effort to limit warming to no more than 1.5C this century.

The Environmental Law Initiative and Lawyers for Climate Action NZ Inc have launched major legal proceedings against the Minister of Climate Change, alleging that the Government’s emissions reduction plan fails to fulfil basic requirements of the law.