The New Zealand Fisheries Act 1996 was enacted with the express purpose of protecting the marine environment. Notably, it incorporates the concept of precaution. In 2002-2004 NZ courts decided three cases on the section that incorporates precaution. All these cases struck down decisions where...

This paper is part of a Deep South National Science Challenge project on insurance and other liability for compensation for damages suffered to housing from coastal hazards associated with sea-level rise. There are a range of issues addressed in this project, presently divided into different...

This paper considers the extent to which damage associated with sea-level rise is covered by insurance administered by the Earthquake Commission (EQC). EQC provides a natural disaster insurance scheme to help households recover from disaster and manage the fiscal risk to the Crown from natural...

This paper addresses duties under Te Tiriti o Waitangi/the Treaty of Waitangi (the Treaty) for protection of particular Māori interests in the face of coastal hazards associated with sea-level rise. Under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the Crown has a duty to actively protect Māori lands, estates,...

An address to Whale Watch Kaikoura on 18 May 2010. The address provides an overview of a proposal before the International Whaling Commission to cap whaling over a period of 10 years and its implications for conservation and IWC productivity

An address at the International Whaling Commission’s Meeting of the Small Working Group in Florida, United States, 2 March 2010. Sir Geoffrey Palmer was the chairperson of the Small Working Group, which was set up in an attempt to produce a consensus settlement of the problems besetting the...

An address at the meeting of the International Whaling Commission, held at Madeira, Portugal, in June 2009. The address considers the International Whaling Commission’s progress as at 2009 and areas for improvement in years to come

An address at the Open Day at Frank Kitts Park to celebrate the Gentle Giants of the Ocean on 15 December 2007. The address considers Japan’s exploitation of the scientific research provision in the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling

The opening speech to the Symposium on the State of Conservation of Whales in the 21st Century, delivered at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, 12 April 2007. Sir Geoffrey Palmer was the Chair of the Symposium, which was held with a view to resolving what was at the time an impasse over...