Leading from the front issuu

“ Without people who understand and
respect nature, all would be lost.”
gary taylor, environment defence society.
EFFECTIVE
ADVOCACY 101
Gary Taylor, Chairman of the Environmental Defence
Society, wrote the foreword for the book,
Ahuriri Estuary Napier — The Story of the Ahuriri
Protection Society from 1981 till 2010, commending
the Society on the publication and its work
over the years. “Without people who understand
and respect nature, all would be lost,” he said.
“This account is analogous of what happens
in many other parts of our wonderful country;
people getting together in common cause and
fighting what are often mindless development
interests, to protect an important part of their local
environment. Without community efforts like
this we would live in a degraded place and our
already poor record in protecting endemic wildlife
would be even worse.
“This story exemplifies what makes effective
advocacy; understanding the legal process;
knowing how to mobilise public opinion when required;
being measured, polite but firm in all interpersonal
dealings with bureaucracies; and above
all being determined over long periods of time.
“A wise person truly observed; conservation
victories are temporary whilst losses are permanent.
Bad things can keep coming back.”
Top: Ahuriri Estuary; Eco warriors reunite, Isabel Morgan and
Pat at the time of the book launch in 2011.
The Environment – Pat walks his talk in his own hood 59