Professor David Grinlinton's Inaugural Lecture 2022

This lecture will examine the interface between property rights and environmental law and policy, discuss the current state and future possibilities for addressing some of the environmental challenges of our time.

Property rights can be portrayed as both ’villain’ and ‘hero’ in the protection of the environment and environmental governance. The strength of property rights under the common law can militate against measures that limit the exercise of those rights to protect the environment. It can be argued that well-defined and enforced property rights encourage efficient and more sustainable use of land and natural resources and can advance the interests of environmental protection.

In recent years new uses for traditional property rights and interests have been applied to protect environmental values, new forms of property and resource allocation have been developed to sustainably manage scarce resources.

Professor David Grinlinton's Inaugural Lecture

About Professor David Grinlinton

Professor David Grinlinton VRD, BA, LLB (Hons), LLM, MDS is a Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.

David Grinlinton joined the Auckland Law School at the University of Auckland in 1990 following time in legal practice in the property and energy sectors. His teaching and research include:

real property law
environmental and natural resources law
housing law and policy

He has published widely in these areas, and is a regular presenter at both local and international conferences and symposia. David is a Founding Member of the New Zealand Centre for Environmental Law and General Editor of the New Zealand Journal of Environmental Law.

He is also a member of the Academic Advisory Group of the Resource Management Law Association and World Commission on Environmental Law (IUCN) specialist groups on ‘Soil and Sustainable Agriculture Law’ and ‘Climate Change’.