What if rivers, forests, and ecosystems had the same right to be heard as people? In his 2025 Salmon Lecture, retired Environment Court Judge Laurie Newhook makes a powerful case for giving nature a voice in our legal system. Drawing on international biodiversity frameworks, the Whanganui River personhood model, and his own decades on the bench, Judge Newhook explores how access to justice for the environment could reshape New Zealand’s future.

Honouring the Past, Shaping the Future: The Salmon Lectures Officially Launched - find out more