This book provides a critical study of environmental regulation and its enforcement in New Zealand, situated within green criminology. It seeks to address the question of whether the offences in the Resource Management Act 1991 are 'working', by drawing on a range of sources including: central government data, local government policies and reports on enforcement, information requests of councils, studies of local authority enforcement behaviour and case law to. Through highly layered and richly textured analysis, the project exposes the problems that can arise when an expansive approach is taken to offences, penalties and institutional arrangements in an environmental regulatory statute. It emphasizes how discussions of harm and what should be unlawful will ensure that law-makers' enforcement tools will align with their goals for punishment. It examines higher-level issues such as ‘wrongfulness’ and ‘criminality’ in the environmental regulatory context and explores the relevance of its findings to jurisdictions outside of New Zealand. It also discusses the pros and cons of criminalisation and punishment versus restoration. It speaks to those interested in green criminology, regulatory compliance and enforcement, and applications of criminal law.

Since the mid 1980s, environmental policy has had an especially high profile in New Zealand politics. New Zealand has taken the initiative in promoting strong measures that deal with global warming, nuclear issues, ozone depletion, driftnet fishing, and the protection of Antarctica. This book provides the first systematic and critical analysis of environmental policy in New Zealand based on concepts and theories from the fields of environmental politics research and public policy studies. It assesses the strengths and weaknesses of New Zealand's environmental policies with respect to four recurring themes: the need for anticipatory policy making; the need to change our ways; the need for institutional reform to enhance policy performance; and the need for more integrated and comprehensive policy. Given that New Zealand is a widely perceived and self-promoted "clean and green" country, its environmental policies are of special international significance and interest.

This book analyses water allocation law and policy in New Zealand and offers a comparative analysis with Australia. In New Zealand, it is generally accepted that water allocation law has failed to be adequately addressed and New Zealand is now faced with the problem of over-allocation in many catchments. In comparison, Australia has extensive experience in reforming its water law and policy over the last 20 years. This book provides a comparative and critical analysis of the lessons that New Zealand can learn from the Australian experience and offers guidance for the improvement of water allocation outcomes in New Zealand. Starting with the background of water allocation law and policy in New Zealand, the book traces the evolution of legal policies, including the 1967 Water and Soil Conservation Act and the 1991 Resource Management Act, and examines the role they have played in current water allocation issues. The book situates these findings within global challenges, such as the impact of climate change, and the global scarcity of and increasing demand for freshwater resources. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars researching water law and policy, natural resource management and environmental law more broadly. It will also be of use to policy makers and professionals involved in developing and implementing water allocation laws and policies.

Public International Law: A New Zealand Perspective is a major work for students of the public international law elective, practitioners and large firms with global practices. This book examines the events and cases that have affected New Zealand as a nation and as a Pacific island, and espouses the fundamental principles of international law from this perspective. New Zealand experience and interests with international law differ from the European- or US-centric studies for reasons of geographical and regional needs. This book looks at developing understanding of compliance with, rather than enforcement of, international law principles, with each chapter containing a case study and list of additional readings that can aid understanding of the topic covered. The author panel is overflowing with New Zealand international law experts, who have provided academically rigorous content relevant to New Zealand and the Pacific Rim.

Most legal practitioners need some working knowledge of the Resource Management Act (RMA) and as a result RMA has become a major subject within Law Faculties. However, it is a complex and dense subject and students often struggle, particularly as most RMA courses are condensed into a single semester. FOCUS ON RESOURCE MANAGEMENT LAW provides a straightforward introduction to resource management law. It explains the main statutory provisions; includes summaries of the leading cases, suggestions for further reading and prepares students for exams by including practice exam questions and answers. Features: A ' new' type of student law textbook for New Zealand. The text is in simple language, with case summaries alongside the moment the case is mentioned allowing the user/student a better understanding of context and why the case has been mentioned.