New Zealand
Building Biology and Ecology Institute (BBE)
Website: http://www.ecoprojects.co.nz/
The objective of the BBE is to promote a holistic approach to sustainable architecture and healthy building for architects, builders, house owners, the building industry, and building authorities in residential and commercial environments. The BBE in New Zealand has developed strong ties, locally and internationally, with consultants in such specialised fields as manufacture, distribution, design, permaculture, feng shui, electrobiology, and environmental medicine. With most people spending more than 80% of their time indoors, environmental pollution has become one of the main health problems in our modern life. While healthy food and mineral/vitamin supplements may help, the most effective way to restore good health is the reduction, removal, or avoidance of pollutants where ever possible -- especially if you ever become concerned about the outgassing chemicals, hazardous particles, indoor air pollution, electro-magnetic fields, and radiation polluting our homes and work places or suffer from sick building syndrome, nausea, headache, muscle pain, allergies, chemical or electro-magnetic sensitivity, or immune system disorder.
Contact: P.O. Box 1364, Wellington (04-801-8180 or toll free 0-800-223-272) or email: office@ecoprojects.co.nz
Cycling Advocates Network
Website: http://www.words.co.nz/can/
CAN is New Zealand’s national network of cycling advocates that works with government and local authorities on behalf of cyclists for a better cycling environment.
Contact: PO. Box 6491, Auckland (04-385-2557) or email: secretary@can.org.nz
Environmental Defence Society
Website: http://www.eds.org.nz/
EDS is an environmental advocacy organisation operating primarily as a network of professional people who are prepared to assist the Society and undertake its work on a voluntary basis. The Society identifies the issues it wishes to pursue, which include those of at least national scope in their impact, or in their potential to set either precedents or policy.
Contact: PO Box 95, 152 Swanson, Auckland 1008 (+64-0832-48997) or email: manager@eds.org.nz
Greenpeace Aotearoa New Zealand
Website: http://www.greenpeace.org.nz/
Having alerted the world to the connection between the use of chlorine-based chemicals and the destruction of the ozone layer, Greenpeace took the lead in developing an ozone-safe refrigerator. They have also proposed alternatives to harmful fishing technologies, logging, and fossil fuels to be phased out. Greenpeace is accredited with more than 26 international treaties and conventions of the United Nations and other international bodies on issues, including toxic trade, ozone depletion, climate change, biodiversity, endangered species, and the Earth Summit.
Contact: Directions are supplied online.
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
Website: http://www.greens.org.nz/
The Green Party is more than just an environmental group. It encompasses the entire political, social, and economic spectrum. Industrial society is destroying the planet's life-support systems. It pollutes the air we breathe, the water we drink, the soil needed to grow food, and the social relations needed to allow people to be healthy and happy. The world's forests are under a death sentence. Pollution has reached the summit of mountains, the depths of the oceans, and even outer space. The Greens realise a society is sustainable only when it acts in harmony with the natural world and is united in its belief that ecological economics and a new political consciousness can achieve this harmony.
Contact: 1st Floor, 16-20 Cambridge Terrace, Wellington, (PO Box 11-652) (04-801-5102) or email: greenparty@greens.org.nz
Karori Wildlife Sanctuary
Website: http://www.sanctuary.org.nz/
This is a protected natural area where the bio-diversity of a square mile of forest is being restored. The Sanctuary will be developed as a major education, research, and recreational site for the benefit of all New Zealanders. A predator-proof fence, specifically designed to exclude fourteen species of non-native mammals ranging from possums to mice encircles the 8.6km perimeter. Presently, it is in a degraded state, and flora now missing from the site or rare (including such large podocarp species as rimu and totara) will be re-established, as will many species of threatened native wildlife. The little spotted kiwi (a rarer kiwi) has already been released.
Contact: PO Box 9267, Wellington (+640-4-920-9200) or email: kwst@sanctuary.org.nz
Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research
Website: http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/
This is New Zealand's foremost environmental research organisation, specialising in sustainable management of land resources, optimising primary production, enhancing biodiversity, increasing the resource efficiency of businesses, and conserving and restoring the natural assets of our communities. There are various offices and contact persons throughout New Zealand.
Contact: Iinformation is listed on the website.
National Wetland Trust of New Zealand
Website: http://www.wetlandtrust.org.nz/
NWT was established in 1999 to increase the appreciation of wetlands and their values by all New Zealanders. Its aims are to increase public knowledge and appreciation of wetland values, as well as its functions and processes and to ensure landowners and government agencies commit to wetland protection, enhancement, and restoration.
Contact: c/o Postal Centre, Te Kauwhata, New Zealand or email: enquiries@wetlandtrust.org.nz
Native Forest Action
Website: http://www.converge.org.nz/nfa/
Over 80% of New Zealand was forested when people first arrived. Now only 23% survives. The majority of these remaining are high altitude forests, and a mere fragment of native lowland forest is left. Lowland native forests generally have higher conservation value than higher altitude forests. This is because they are located on fertile soils, in warmer climates, and can thereby support higher biological diversity than forests at higher altitudes. The loss of these forests helped to cause massive extinction’s of local and regional populations of many native bird species in a country whose terrestrial biota was dominated by birds. The few lowland forests that survive are immensely important habitat for native wildlife. This is particularly true for larger areas of intact forest which provide more stable environments than smaller fragments.
Contact: P O Box 836, Nelson or email: nfa_offi@ts.co.nz
Natural Step
Website: http://www.naturalstep.org.nz/
Formed in 1995, the New Zealand brand of The Natural Step (TNS) is part of an international non-profit environmental education organization working to build an ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable society. It offers a planning framework that is grounded in rigorous scientific principles and serves as a compass for businesses, communities, government organisations, and individuals undertaking the path of sustainable development.
Contact: PO Box 69, Lincoln 8152, Canterbury (03-325-6711) or email: natstep@naturalstep.org.nz
Nelson Environment Centre
Website: http://environmentcentre.nelson.org.nz/
NEC works proactively within the Nelson region to promote environmental awareness and facilitate environmentally sustainable initiatives. You can visit them at 3 Halifax Street in Nelson (the Kahurangi Centre). It also has a mobile environmental centre caravan that travels to schools and events throughout the region.
Contact: (03-545-9176) or email: nec@tasman.net
New Zealand Centre for Environmental Law
Website: http://www.law.auckland.ac.nz/groups/cel/index.html
NZCEL was established 1998 as a specialist centre hosted by the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland. It was created to build on the Faculty of Law's expertise in the area of environmental law and resource management law. In New Zealand, the last decade has seen a radical restructuring of the administrative and legislative framework for environmental management and resource use. Environmental law is now largely based on the principle of sustainability incorporating considerations of intergenerational equity, preservation and protection of our environment from human activity, and respect for the special relationship of Maori with ancestral land and their culture and traditions. Internationally, New Zealand's environmental legislation ranks among the world's most advanced and attracts the attention of many countries in their attempt to achieve sustainable development.
Contact: Faculty of Law, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland Central (+64-373-7599 (ext 7827) or email: k.bosselmann@auckland.ac.nz
New Zealand Conservancy Trust
Website: http://www.eartheal.org.nz/
NZCT is a nonprofit organisation set up to promote environmental education and to work towards sustainable ways of living.
Contact: (+64-7-866 6735) or email: permaculture@eartheal.org.nz
New Zealand Ecological Restoration Network
Website: http://www.bush.org.nz/
This is a nonprofit, community-driven, membership-based organisation dedicated to sharing knowledge and experiences about ecological restoration in Aotearoa-New Zealand. Most of its resources are shared via the web, but it also organises and participates in field days, seminars, and restoration projects. It is accepted that there is an urgent need to rebuild lost and broken habitats, and their populations of indigenous plants, animals, and microbes. Much of our natural heritage is below critical mass or is dysfunctional. The need to protect and restore the environment is enshrined in the laws of the land and international agreements. But it is also what people want to do -– tread lightly and coexist with nature. Generally, they want to do this with other people because this type of work mends souls and human communities as well ecosystems.
Contact: PO Box 9000, Christchurch (03-338-5451) or email:office@bush.org.nz
New Zealand Ecological Society
Website: http://www.nzes.org.nz/
The Society was formed in 1951 to promote the study of ecology and the application of ecological knowledge in all its aspects. Through its activities, the society encourages ecological research, increases awareness and understanding of ecological principles, promotes sound ecological planning and management of the natural and human environment, while promoting high standards within the profession of ecology. This site has a very informative and extensive Links page.
Contact: PO Box 25-178, Christchurch (03-960 2432) or email: info@nzes.org.nz
New Zealand Native Freshwater Fish Society
Website: http://www.nzfreshwater.org/
In 1990, a group of concerned New Zealanders formed NZNFFS in order to help raise awareness about continued maintenance and conservation of their unique freshwater fish biodiversity and their threatened existence. Most are not aware of the contribution of these fish to the country's natural biodiversity. Some species may be under threat of extinction, and there is insufficient knowledge about the status of many of the others to be able to know whether they are safe or not. The Southern Grayling (Prototroctes oxyrhynchus) is one species that has already been lost. The society also tries to raise awareness of the widespread and continuing destruction of native freshwater fish habitats and how this endangers native fish survival, and how we can better live alongside them.
Contact: Clinton.McCullough@ea.gov.au
New Zealand Hemp Industries Association
Website: http://www.nzhia.com/
The association acts as a lobby group for the legalization of a hemp industry in New Zealand and endeavors to educate New Zealanders about the attributes of hemp products. It also facilitates the exchange of information and technology between hemp agriculturists, processors, manufactures, distributors and retailers; maintains and defends the integrity of hemp products on the market; provides a seal of authenticity for members in good standing to display on Certified True Hemp items; and advocates and supports socially responsible and environmentally sound business practices in the hemp industries. It isNOT a forum for the legalize marijuana debate, and has no interest in it, except where it may impact on the orderly development of a New Zealand industrial hemp industry.
Contact: 25 Miles Crescent, Newlands, Wellington 6004 (+64-4-938-4879) or email: nzhemp@ihug.co.nz
New Zealand Native Forest Restoration Trust
Website: http://www.nznfrt.org.nz/
This is New Zealand's leading organisation involved in forest restoration. Since its founding in 1980, the Trust has acquired land at the rate of 250 ha a year to protect important species, restore their habitats, and to improve the quality of waterways. It now has nineteen reserves throughout the North Island, with a total of nearly 5,000 ha of protected native forests.
Contact: PO Box 80-007, Green Bay, Auckland or email: admin@nznfrt.org.nz
New Zealand Plant Conservation Network
Website: http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/
This network was established in 2003 with the vision that no indigenous species of plant will become extinct nor be placed at risk of extinction as a result of human action or indifference, and that the rich, diverse, and unique plant life of New Zealand will be recognised, cherished, and restored. Plant biodiversity is a key component of nature's life-support systems. Most of New Zealand's indigenous plant species are unique and not found growing in the wild anywhere else in the world. The plant communities of which they are part, as well as the animal communities they support, are also endemic to New Zealand. Our responsibility is to protect these natural resources not only because of their many uses (such as medicines, fuel, clothes and building materials), but also because of their ecosystem services (as soil conservation and oxygen production).
Contact: P.O. Box 16-102, Wellington or email: info@nzpcn.org.nz
New Zealand Plant Protection Society
Website: http://www.hortnet.co.nz/publications/nzpps/
Some of the objectives of the organization include pooling and exchanging information on the biology of weeds, invertebrate and vertebrate pests, pathogens and beneficial organisms, and methods for modifying their effects; furthering plant protection science, education, and extension in New Zealand; and affiliating with similar societies throughout the world.
Contact: A long list is provided online.
New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust
Website: http://nzwhaledolphintrust.tripod.com/home/
The Trust was launched in 1992 to foster research and effective conservation of whales and dolphins in New Zealand. One such species is Hector's dolphin. It is among the world's rarest and is unique to New Zealand. However, they are in peril as numbers are rapidly declining! Gillnet entanglement kills many dolphins each year and is the greatest threat to their survival. Research funded by the Trust was crucial in the establishment of a first Marine Mammal Sanctuary to protect these particular dolphins from gillnet entanglement around Banks Peninsula. Nevertheless, more needs to be done to protect dwindling populations in other parts of the country, especially the North Island population of Hector's dolphin. This is but one of its projects.
Contact: C/- Department of Marine Sciences, Otago University, PO Box 56, Dunedin (+64-3-479-7980) or email: nzwdtrust@hotmail.com
Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand
Website: http://www.forest-bird.org.nz/
This is New Zealand’s largest national conservation organisation. Its mission is to preserve and protect the native plants and animals and natural features of New Zealand. The organization is active on a wide range of conservation and environmental issues, including the protection of native forests, tussock grasslands, wetlands, coastlines, and marine ecosystems, energy and resource conservation, sustainable fisheries, and sustainable land management. With over 40,000 members in 56 branches throughout the country, Forest and Bird is also involved in South Pacific rainforest conservation and is working to ensure the protection of Antarctica from environmental damage.
Contact: 172 Taranaki Street, PO Box 631, Wellington (04-385-7374) or email: office@forestandbird.org.nz
Seafriends
Website: http://www.seafriends.org.nz/
This site is dedicated to saving our seas. You can become a smart conservationist by learning about our planet, oceans, land and resources, threats, and what you can do. Tap into their independent analyses and their courage to tell the truth. With such a wealth of information already on the site, there is still this notice "Patience, please, this web site is about 35% complete, with over 1900 printed pages and 2700 files."
Contact: Marine Conservation and Education Centre, 7 Goat Island Rd., Leigh RD5, New Zealand (+64 9422 6212) or email as directed.
Sustainable Wellington
Website: http://www.sustainable.wellington.net.nz
This group motivates and empowers communities and individuals to work towards sustainable development in the Wellington area.
Contact: PO Box 9608, Wellington or email: elm@clear.net.nz
Wwoof New Zealand
Website: http://www.wwoof.co.nz/
For those not familiar with the term, (there is no definition on this site anyway), Wwoof stands for "World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms" or "Willing Worker Opportunities on Organic Farms". Wwoof began in the UK in 1971, and in NZ in 1974. Currently there are about 800 Wwoof farms in New Zealand. The Wwoof program allows volunteers to stay on organic farms and join in helping with the various projects of the hosts. There is a variety of properties spread throughout NZ, including farms, market gardens, communities, and ventures in self- sufficiency in which organic growing plays some part.
Contact: support@wwoof.co.nz
See also: Comprehensive Report: WWOOF Fundamentals
