For over five decades the Environmental Defence Society has been involved in legal battles to help protect New Zealand's unique natural assets.
The organisation's history has been captured in a new book by Raewyn Peart, who has herself been part of the organisation for over 20 years. Environmental Defenders looks at how the EDS was set up in the 1970s - a time of big project development, heavy government regulation and little environment law protection.
From raw sewage pumped into the Waikato, deadly chemical production in Taranaki and a second aluminium smelter planned for Dunedin - to later battles over protecting Te Mata Peak, the MacKenzie Basin and the Tukituki River - a dedicated group of people have marshalled the law to help protect the environment. Raewyn joins Kathryn to talk about the organisation's history and her place in it.
Photo: Supplied: Bateman Books
