Our Cases

Recent decisions

Cases by category

Marine

Featured
Restoring crayfish numbers in Northland
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.  

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

We are challenging the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Total Allowable Catch decision for crayfish in Northland.

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

We’re challenging Environment Canterbury on their ‘pollution rule’ allowing for the contamination of freshwater. 

Fighting to keep nitrogen out of the water in Canterbury: Case #1
Fighting to keep nitrogen out of the water in Canterbury: Case #1

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

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

We’ve taken Environment Southland to court for their failure to prevent wetland loss.

Climate

Featured
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

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Protecting Mount Messenger wildlife
Protecting Mount Messenger wildlife

We are challenging DOC’s decisions to grant a permit and a consent authorising the incidental killing of wildlife during the Mt Messenger bypass project.

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.