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Is the EPA a Reliable Guardian of the Environment?

A spectacular fail by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) raises serious questions about its reliability as a guardian of the environment. At issue was the EPA’s decision to allow GMOs …
6 June 2014|Topics: , ,

High Court Prevents Developers From Bypassing GM Laws

The High Court has quashed a decision by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) that would have allowed developers of genetically modified crops to bypass New Zealand’s GM laws. The Court …
22 May 2014|Topics: , ,

TPP’s Benefits Less Than a Quarter of Government’s Claim

The TPP’s economic benefits are less than a quarter of those the government has claimed – and the proposed trade deal would impose serious costs. The government has repeatedly used …
5 February 2014|Topics:

New GM Foods Designed to Escape Regulation

A new generation of genetically modified (GM) foods is in the pipeline and if developers get their way, they won’t be labelled. In fact, they won’t be regulated at …
6 November 2013|Topics: , , ,

33% Gap Between Emissions Target and Performance

There is a 33% gap between the government’s new climate change target and New Zealand’s expected performance, all up.  The overshoot is greater than previously expected as projected emissions …
22 October 2013|Topics: ,

Dow Excluded from Precedent Setting Case on GM Law

The High Court has ruled that US multinational Dow cannot intervene in a precedent setting court case concerning whether a new plant breeding technique is covered under New Zealand’s …
10 October 2013|Topics: , , ,

Carbon Budgeting: Integrated Planning for Climate Action

The more it is recognised that pricing instruments such as the ETS are simply tools, and the real action lies in how carbon budgets are set, the greater will …
8 August 2013|Topics: ,

Genetic Engineers Get Approval to Bypass Regulator

The Sustainability Council has begun High Court action to appeal a ruling that allows genetically engineered plants to be grown in New Zealand without any regulatory approval. A surprise decision …
20 June 2013|Topics: , , ,

Risk Bearers Best Placed to Make Decisions

If a local community does not itself want to amend a council plan to allow a particular RMA activity to proceed then that is a good sign that it …
14 April 2013|Topics: