{"id":73545,"date":"2025-09-17T14:59:32","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T02:59:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/?page_id=73545"},"modified":"2026-08-10T13:44:45","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T01:44:45","slug":"defending-nature","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/explore\/defending-nature\/","title":{"rendered":"Defending Nature"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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Defending Nature<\/mark><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Greenpeace Aotearoa has been defending nature since the 1970s. Through people-powered campaigns and science-backed advocacy, we’re standing up for nature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will you join us?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Take action<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
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Nature is under attack<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

New Zealand\u2019s Coalition Government is the most anti-environment in living memory, engaged in a war on nature<\/a>. Faced with the evidence and impacts of the climate crisis, they are choosing to make it worse – and the scale of the attack on the environment is unprecedented.<\/p>\n\n

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The New Zealand government and big corporations plan to sacrifice our environment for short-term profit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our wild and precious ecosystems are under threat from their anti-environment initiatives. Threats like rampant dairy pollution<\/a>, destructive industrial fishing<\/a>, fast-tracked seabed mining<\/a> and large-scale irrigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And we\u2019re facing the undemocratic rolling back of existing environmental protections<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

M\u0101ui dolphins, toroa, kiwi, and all the other amazing life around Aotearoa can\u2019t fight back. That\u2019s why we must be their voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together, we can defend them.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With people-powered campaigns, bold direct action, legal challenges, and science-backed advocacy, Greenpeace Aotearoa is protecting wildlife and defending nature.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Greenpeace
Greenpeace Aotearoa activists confront the Talley\u2019s bottom trawler Amatal Atlantis<\/em>, painting \u201cocean killer\u201d on its hull to protest destructive bottom trawling
\u00a9 Paul Hilton \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Greenpeace is taking action to defend nature<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
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We do the research where others can’t go<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We took cameras down to the deep ocean floor<\/a> to document the destruction of deep sea coral by bottom trawling fishing companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We gather data to advocate for our communities’ health<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We test rural drinking water for nitrates<\/a>, and have gathered the largest dataset in the country, available for all to access in our \u201cKnow Your Nitrates\u201d map<\/a>. We have provided hundreds of free tests<\/a> to rural New Zealanders on the front line of the dairy industry\u2019s pollution of freshwater, which is terrible for rivers and fish but also human health<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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We do investigations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We went undercover to expose human trafficking in the global tuna fishery, fishing which is also causing untold destruction to turtles and the ocean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We tell the public the truth<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We revealed the role of agribusiness lobby groups in setting the Government\u2019s freshwater policy<\/a>, we exposed the fishing industry killing dolphins<\/a>. We are routinely in the media exposing the attacks on nature<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

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\"Activists<\/figure>
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We take the bad guys to court<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We won in the Supreme Court<\/a> against wannabe seabed miners, <\/strong>to protect unique marine life like pygmy blue whales and critically endangered M\u0101ui dolphins. And we\u2019ve got Fonterra in court for greenwashing \u2018grass fed\u2019 dairy cows<\/a>, which are really fed on palm kernel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We lobby against damaging laws<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We mobilise public submissions to Parliament, we talk to Ministers, MPs, and senior government officials to counter industry spin on issues like the Wildlife \u2018kiwi killing\u2019 Act<\/a>, the neoliberal Regulatory Standards Bill<\/a> and the Treaty Principles Bill<\/a> which threaten nature. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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We take direct action<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We disrupted the offshore oil exploration industry by swimming in front of their ships<\/a> and blockading their conferences<\/a> until one by one they left, and we will make sure they don\u2019t restart as they are a risk to the climate and to the oceans.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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We mobilise people power<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We organised a 20,000 strong March for Nature in Auckland<\/a> against the fast track law<\/a> with our allies, giving a shot across the bow to corporations planning to use it to attack nature.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

\"March<\/figure><\/div>\n\n
\"Protest<\/figure>
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We work globally to defend nature<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We support frontline communities in the Pacific facing seabed miners and climate change<\/a>, and have teams at international climate conferences, the International Seabed Authority, the Global Plastics Treaty<\/a> negotiation and more. We counter industry voices who want to destroy nature for profit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u2026and much much much more<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But we can’t do it alone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will you join us?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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Will you be a nature defender?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

When greedy corporations come for Aotearoa\u2019s forests, oceans and rivers, Greenpeace fights back. Take action now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Donate today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your donation will make possible:<\/p>\n\n\n\n