Environmental Law Initiative - Aotearoa NZ
@eli-aotearoa.bsky.social
We use the law to protect the natural taonga of Aotearoa.
Too often environmental laws are poorly implemented or ignored. We're changing that. We use the law to hold regulators & corporate interests to account, for nature & future generations.
eli.org.nz
Too often environmental laws are poorly implemented or ignored. We're changing that. We use the law to hold regulators & corporate interests to account, for nature & future generations.
eli.org.nz
“As one of the world’s rarest penguin species, the hoiho – if not protected decisively – may edge closer to extinction. The coming weeks will show whether management agencies act with the urgency the crisis demands.”
December 4, 2025 at 2:52 AM
“As one of the world’s rarest penguin species, the hoiho – if not protected decisively – may edge closer to extinction. The coming weeks will show whether management agencies act with the urgency the crisis demands.”
We’re arguing that when a species is this close to extinction, we must do everything we can to stop their decline. The current emergency closure does not do anything for hoiho on Rakiura or in the Catlins, and we learned the cost of that on Saturday when the hoiho was killed.
Lawyers criticise ministry's advice to Fisheries Minister Shane Jones on set net fishing
The Environmental Law Initiative has filed court proceedings against the oceans and fisheries minister for failing to protect hoiho, or yellow-eyed penguins, from the risk of extinction.
buff.ly
December 1, 2025 at 10:56 PM
We’re arguing that when a species is this close to extinction, we must do everything we can to stop their decline. The current emergency closure does not do anything for hoiho on Rakiura or in the Catlins, and we learned the cost of that on Saturday when the hoiho was killed.
“When the population is down to such a small number, we need to do all we can to protect hoiho. It really is better to be safe than sorry.”
December 1, 2025 at 3:33 AM
“When the population is down to such a small number, we need to do all we can to protect hoiho. It really is better to be safe than sorry.”
ELI’s case was taken on the premise that the Minister’s emergency closure of set net fishing failed to protect hoiho in key locations, including Rakiura Stewart Island.
The emergency closure was limited to around the Otago Peninsula, despite hoiho habitat extending from Banks Peninsula to Rakiura
The emergency closure was limited to around the Otago Peninsula, despite hoiho habitat extending from Banks Peninsula to Rakiura
December 1, 2025 at 3:33 AM
ELI’s case was taken on the premise that the Minister’s emergency closure of set net fishing failed to protect hoiho in key locations, including Rakiura Stewart Island.
The emergency closure was limited to around the Otago Peninsula, despite hoiho habitat extending from Banks Peninsula to Rakiura
The emergency closure was limited to around the Otago Peninsula, despite hoiho habitat extending from Banks Peninsula to Rakiura
Our court proceedings kicked off today with lawyers for the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries letting the Court know that another hoiho was killed on Saturday by set net fishing off the coast of Rakiura Stewart Island.
December 1, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Our court proceedings kicked off today with lawyers for the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries letting the Court know that another hoiho was killed on Saturday by set net fishing off the coast of Rakiura Stewart Island.
“The case could set a legal benchmark for how emergency powers are used under the Fisheries Act, strengthening the standard for protecting critically endangered species in New Zealand waters.
#hoiho #penguins #conservation
#hoiho #penguins #conservation
November 30, 2025 at 8:30 PM
“The case could set a legal benchmark for how emergency powers are used under the Fisheries Act, strengthening the standard for protecting critically endangered species in New Zealand waters.
#hoiho #penguins #conservation
#hoiho #penguins #conservation
We’re challenging what we see as significant flaws in the emergency effort to protect hoiho.
#hoiho #penguins #conservation
#hoiho #penguins #conservation
November 28, 2025 at 8:45 PM
We’re challenging what we see as significant flaws in the emergency effort to protect hoiho.
#hoiho #penguins #conservation
#hoiho #penguins #conservation
"Seddon says: “The population’s in such a low status that things like having a mortality rate of four birds will mean extinction of some breeding areas before fishing is closed.”
On Monday & Tuesday, we will be in the High Court for an urgent hearing against the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries.
On Monday & Tuesday, we will be in the High Court for an urgent hearing against the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries.
November 28, 2025 at 8:45 PM
"Seddon says: “The population’s in such a low status that things like having a mortality rate of four birds will mean extinction of some breeding areas before fishing is closed.”
On Monday & Tuesday, we will be in the High Court for an urgent hearing against the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries.
On Monday & Tuesday, we will be in the High Court for an urgent hearing against the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries.
"One proposal to protect hoiho, announced by Jones last week, is for a fishing mortality limit of four penguins.
"The 2022 paper concluded: “… bycatch of any magnitude will impede the recovery of the mainland yellow-eyed penguin population.”
"The 2022 paper concluded: “… bycatch of any magnitude will impede the recovery of the mainland yellow-eyed penguin population.”
November 28, 2025 at 8:45 PM
"One proposal to protect hoiho, announced by Jones last week, is for a fishing mortality limit of four penguins.
"The 2022 paper concluded: “… bycatch of any magnitude will impede the recovery of the mainland yellow-eyed penguin population.”
"The 2022 paper concluded: “… bycatch of any magnitude will impede the recovery of the mainland yellow-eyed penguin population.”
Read more here: www.eli.org.nz/cases/hoiho
Protecting hoiho from setnet fishing deaths — Environmental Law Initiative
We are taking the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries and the Minister for Conservation, to court for failing to adequately protect mainland hoiho from extinction
www.eli.org.nz
November 26, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Read more here: www.eli.org.nz/cases/hoiho
The Minister’s decision in September extended an existing 4 nautical mile commercial set net closure for dolphins to 8nm around the Otago Peninsula, but left large areas of hoiho range unprotected. We'll make the case that the decision fails to meet the Fisheries Act & risks further bycatch deaths.
November 26, 2025 at 11:26 PM
The Minister’s decision in September extended an existing 4 nautical mile commercial set net closure for dolphins to 8nm around the Otago Peninsula, but left large areas of hoiho range unprotected. We'll make the case that the decision fails to meet the Fisheries Act & risks further bycatch deaths.
Read more on our website here: www.eli.org.nz/updates/leat...
Calling on Ministers to use their powers to protect leatherback turtles — Environmental Law Initiative
We’re calling on the Minister of Conservation and Minister for Oceans and Fisheries to take immediate action to prevent fishing-related deaths of critically endangered West Pacific leatherback turtle&...
www.eli.org.nz
November 19, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Read more on our website here: www.eli.org.nz/updates/leat...
"Many of those turtles will not survive, the group says, despite being “absolutely protected” under the Wildlife Act.
"ELI is calling on Conservation Minister Potaka to urgently prepare a Population Management Plan (PMP) and set a maximum allowable level of fishing-related mortality (FRML)."
"ELI is calling on Conservation Minister Potaka to urgently prepare a Population Management Plan (PMP) and set a maximum allowable level of fishing-related mortality (FRML)."
November 19, 2025 at 9:24 PM
"Many of those turtles will not survive, the group says, despite being “absolutely protected” under the Wildlife Act.
"ELI is calling on Conservation Minister Potaka to urgently prepare a Population Management Plan (PMP) and set a maximum allowable level of fishing-related mortality (FRML)."
"ELI is calling on Conservation Minister Potaka to urgently prepare a Population Management Plan (PMP) and set a maximum allowable level of fishing-related mortality (FRML)."
As The Post reports:
"In letters sent this week, the Environmental Law Initiative (ELI) warned ministers Tama Potaka and Shane Jones that NZ’s bycatch rules have become a “major conservation failure”, with at least 43 leatherback interactions recorded so far this year..."
"In letters sent this week, the Environmental Law Initiative (ELI) warned ministers Tama Potaka and Shane Jones that NZ’s bycatch rules have become a “major conservation failure”, with at least 43 leatherback interactions recorded so far this year..."
November 19, 2025 at 9:24 PM
As The Post reports:
"In letters sent this week, the Environmental Law Initiative (ELI) warned ministers Tama Potaka and Shane Jones that NZ’s bycatch rules have become a “major conservation failure”, with at least 43 leatherback interactions recorded so far this year..."
"In letters sent this week, the Environmental Law Initiative (ELI) warned ministers Tama Potaka and Shane Jones that NZ’s bycatch rules have become a “major conservation failure”, with at least 43 leatherback interactions recorded so far this year..."
Unlike Hawaii, which enforces strict interaction limits, NZ has no limit on the number of leatherback turtles that are killed as fisheries bycatch. We consider this a major conservation failure.
November 19, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Unlike Hawaii, which enforces strict interaction limits, NZ has no limit on the number of leatherback turtles that are killed as fisheries bycatch. We consider this a major conservation failure.
“We'll be closely scrutinising the consultation document to ensure that the Minister is fulfilling his legal duties under the Fisheries Act.”
November 17, 2025 at 11:35 PM
“We'll be closely scrutinising the consultation document to ensure that the Minister is fulfilling his legal duties under the Fisheries Act.”
"Population models tracking the rare seabirds from 1991 to 2023 show persistent decline in all sub-populations.
"ELI’s director of research and legal, Matt Hall, said: “We're at the point where every hoiho matters, and we have to do everything we can to remove the threats that endanger them.
"ELI’s director of research and legal, Matt Hall, said: “We're at the point where every hoiho matters, and we have to do everything we can to remove the threats that endanger them.
November 17, 2025 at 11:35 PM
"Population models tracking the rare seabirds from 1991 to 2023 show persistent decline in all sub-populations.
"ELI’s director of research and legal, Matt Hall, said: “We're at the point where every hoiho matters, and we have to do everything we can to remove the threats that endanger them.
"ELI’s director of research and legal, Matt Hall, said: “We're at the point where every hoiho matters, and we have to do everything we can to remove the threats that endanger them.