# Environmental Defence Society Incorporated

**Charities Register number:** CC10297
**Status:** Registered
**Registered since:** 2007-05-17
**Sector:** Environment
**ICNPO group:** Environment
**Region:** Auckland
**NZBN:** 9429042719687
**IRD donee status:** yes — donations may qualify for a tax credit

## Purpose

To make a significant difference to environmental outcomes in New Zealand through supporting high quality, accessible and transparent decision-making and promoting the adoption of environmental best practice. EDS brings together the disciplines of science, law and planning to provide thought leadership on environmental and conservation issues.

## CharityData rating

- **Grade:** B+ (82.6 / 100)
- **Financial health:** 85.8/100
- **Governance:** 75/100
- **Transparency:** 65/100
- **Computed:** 2026-10-01 (methodology 3.11)
- **Flags raised by the methodology:** none

Ratings are an analytical view computed from this charity's own filings to the Charities Register, using a published methodology: https://charitydata.co.nz/charity-insights/methodology. They are not advice and not a statement about any individual.

## Latest annual return (year ended 2026-03-31)

- **Total revenue:** NZ$2.35M
- **Total expenses:** NZ$1.82M
- **Surplus / deficit:** NZ$533k
- **Total assets:** NZ$3.32M
- **Total liabilities:** NZ$366k
- **Net assets:** NZ$2.95M
- **Cash reserves:** NZ$429k
- **Donations:** NZ$1.53M
- **Staff costs:** NZ$984k
- **Paid staff:** 7
- **Reporting tier:** Tier3
- **Source filing (PDF):** https://register.charities.govt.nz/Document/DownloadPdf?pdfType=AnnualReturnSummary&relatedId=7f1a9a51-922d-f111-bb51-000d3acc4199&isPublic=true

All figures are as filed by the charity with Charities Services, in New Zealand dollars.

## Filing history

| Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Surplus/deficit | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-31 | NZ$2.35M | NZ$1.82M | NZ$533k | NZ$2.95M |
| 2025-03-31 | NZ$2.73M | NZ$1.86M | NZ$865k | NZ$2.42M |
| 2024-03-31 | NZ$2.44M | NZ$1.96M | NZ$478k | NZ$1.55M |
| 2023-03-31 | NZ$2.03M | NZ$1.69M | not disclosed | NZ$1.08M |
| 2022-03-31 | NZ$1.32M | NZ$1.18M | not disclosed | NZ$738k |
| 2021-03-31 | NZ$1.30M | NZ$1.02M | not disclosed | NZ$605k |
| 2020-03-31 | NZ$1.17M | NZ$1.08M | not disclosed | NZ$326k |
| 2019-03-31 | NZ$1.07M | NZ$1.06M | not disclosed | NZ$240k |
| 2018-03-31 | NZ$1.01M | NZ$881k | not disclosed | NZ$226k |
| 2017-03-31 | NZ$794k | NZ$824k | not disclosed | NZ$96k |

## Governance

- **Officers on the register:** 10 current (28 including former)
- **Chair recorded:** yes
- **Auditor:** JSA Audit Ltd
- **Most recent audit opinion:** unqualified

Individual officers and trustees are not listed here. Their names are on the public Charities Register (https://register.charities.govt.nz/CharitiesRegister/ViewCharity?accountId=CC10297) and on the charity's profile page.

## Disclosed funders

- **The Tindall Foundation** (foundation) — NZ$150k, year ended 2023-06-30
- **Foundation North** (foundation) — NZ$18k, year ended 2020-03-31

## Data freshness

- Register details: as of 2026-11-01
- Financials: last updated 2026-10-04
- Rating: computed 2026-10-01
- This document generated: 2026-11-13

Figures are as filed. A charity that has filed since the dates above may have newer numbers on the Charities Register.

## More data

- Charity profile: https://charitydata.co.nz/charities/environmental-defence-society-incorporated
- Structured facts (JSON): https://charitydata.co.nz/api/v1/charities/environmental-defence-society-incorporated/facts.json
- Short summary: https://charitydata.co.nz/api/v1/charities/environmental-defence-society-incorporated/summary.md
- Rating methodology: https://charitydata.co.nz/charity-insights/methodology
- Official register entry: https://register.charities.govt.nz/CharitiesRegister/ViewCharity?accountId=CC10297
- Charity website: http://www.eds.org.nz

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Published by [CharityData NZ](https://charitydata.co.nz). Canonical: https://charitydata.co.nz/charities/environmental-defence-society-incorporated. Primary source: Charities Services (Ngā Rātonga Kaupapa Atawhai), Department of Internal Affairs. Analytical scores are CharityData's own, computed under a published methodology, and are not advice. Generated 2026-11-13T17:52:45.134Z.