Summer research scholarships 2021/2022
In partnership with Victoria University of Wellington - ELI is funding three research scholarships for law students. Students will be selected on the basis of academic merit, expertise in the research area, and recommendations from staff associated with the project. Please see the full list of scholarships here.
Applications close on the 20th of September 2021.
Intrinsic Values of Ecosystems in RMA Decisions
Scholarship code 805
This summer scholar is contributing to a project on how "intrinsic values of ecosystems" (s 7(d) RMA) is considered in RMA decision-making. It is expected that the scholar will identify meanings of intrinsic value from environmental ethics (incl. Tikanga), search RMA commissioners' written decisions on resource consents, and conduct interviews with resource management decision-makers, planners, and lawyers about this topic. It may be possible to research potential meanings used in environmental laws overseas, depending on the student. It is essential that the student is already familiar with RMA decision-making. A Law background would help but is not essential; a planning or environmental science/ethics background is possible. Experience in conducting interviews would be helpful. Please address how your experience and/or knowledge would enable you to assist this project. Any interviews for this scholarship will be approx. Sept 29-Oct 1.
Supervisor: Cathy Iorns
Biodiversity Offsetting in New Zealand
Scholarship code 807
Biodiversity offsets are a tool for managing the impacts of development on biodiversity. As an established component of the conservation and resource management systems, both in New Zealand and overseas, there is an abundance of guidance on how biodiversity offsetting should be done.
This project will examine how biodiversity offsetting is actually done in practice, through analysis of leading case law, resource management/conservation management consent decisions in New Zealand and existing offset projects. With a focus on targeted regions, it will compare case law and guidance with consent decision making and practice, and will develop recommendations for improvement of current practice. For this project, a Law background, and knowledge of the resource management system would be highly desirable. A planning or environmental science background would also be desirable. Experience in doing literature searches would be helpful. Please address how your experience and/or knowledge would enable you to assist this project.
Co -supervisors: Cathy Iorns / Environmental Law Initiative Trust
Legal Personhood for Nature in Common Law
Scholarship code 808
The recognition of legal personhood for the natural world is growing across the world. In New Zealand, following on from Te Tiriti settlements, two ecosystems (Whanganui River and Te Urewera) are now recognised as legal persons in statute.
This project will investigate and analyse the grounds for legal personhood for nature in New Zealand and internationally. Project tasks will comprise collating and annotating academic articles, cases and statutes and analysing the legal arguments of relevance. For this project, a Law background, and knowledge of common law is essential. Understanding of Tikanga Māori and mātauranga Māori is also desirable. Please address how your experience and/or knowledge would enable you to assist this project.
Co -supervisors: Cathy Iorns / Environmental Law Initiative Trust
To find out more on how to apply, please visit the VUW Law website here.
