Law at the End of the World

In this episode we are joined by lawyer and activist Pía Weber Salazar who discusses her collective work securing legal protections for free flowing rivers in Chile. Pía explains how communities and activist coalitions are working together to protect entire river systems. This work focuses on the implementation of water flow reserves in the Futalefú and Puelo Rivers in Chilean Patagonia, where almost all of the rivers' flow is now protected, despite fierce competition from extractive industries and fragmented regulations. Pía emphasises how legal, community, academic and advocacy efforts can come together to secure better futures for rivers and related communities, and identifies the challenges that lie ahead.  As always, Cristy and Liz round off with recent developments in environmental law, including new developments in climate litigation from Europe, Australia and Aotearoa, the ongoing legal battle against nitrate polution in Canterbury, and large-scale resource management reforms underway in Aotearoa. 
Futaleufú and Puelo Become Chile’s First Protected Rivers
Towards a Holistic Environmental Flow Regime in Chile
Towards durable legal protections for rivers in Chile
Evolving rights to (and of) water in Chile
No more ministry for the Environment
Assessment framework for carbon removals
Changes to National Direction under the RMA
MACA litigation
Freshwater litigation in Canterbury
ELI v ECan
Climate Clinic Aotearoa v Minister of Ene
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We would also like to acknowledge and thank our producer, Claire Burgess.
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In this episode, Cristy and Liz share Part Two of their LSAANZ Conference special on Rights and Resilience.  The episode brings highlights from the December 2025 Law and Society Association of Australia and New Zealand Conference, held in Ōtautahi Chirstchurch. The theme of the Conference was Rights, Relationality, Resilience, Reciprocity, and this episode focuses on sharing insights and advances from days two and three of the Conference - including book launches, Conference dinner, and Conference closing. The core hilight of the episode is a recording from the second keynote panel presentation on Rights and Resilience with Dr Keakaokawai Varner Hemi (U Waikato), Associate Professor and Rutherford Discovery Fellow Sereana Naepi (U Auckland), and Associate Professor Julia Dehm (La Trobe) beautifully curated by Cristy. This panel centres and champions the leadership of young Pacific leaders taking climate change to the highest court on the planet, and challenges all of us working in universities to make them places deserving of Māori and Pacific scholars, students, and communities. The episode is the second of two episodes bringing Conference highlights, and focuses on the Conference themes of Rights and Resilience, with particular focus on these concepts in the context of climate change, Pacific peoples, and education.
Would you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note here
Visit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes.
We would also like to acknowledge and thank our producer, Claire Burgess.
You can also find us on the following platforms:
LinkedIn - Liz & Cristy
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In this episode, Cristy and Liz share Part One of their LSAANZ Conference special on Relationality and Reciprocity.  The episode brings highlights from the December 2025 Law and Society Association of Australia and New Zealand Conference, held in Ōtautahi Chirstchurch. The theme of the conference was Rights, Relationality, Resilience, Reciprocity, and this episode focuses on sharing insights and advances from day one of the conference - including the early career workshop, conference opening, reception, and book prizes. The core hilight of the episode is a recording from the first keynote panel presentation on Relationality and Reciprocity with Māori leader Gerrard Albert (Whanganui Iwi), First Nations leader, scholar, activist and artist Professor Anne Poelina (University of Notre Dame and Martuwarra River Council), beautifully curated by Associate Professor Erin O'Donnell (University of Melbourne, Birrarung Council). The episode is the first of two episodes bringing Conference highlights, and focuses on the Conference themes of Relationality and Reciprocity, with particular focus on these concepts in the context of water governance, climate change, and Indigenous sovereignty.
Would you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note here
Visit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes.
We would also like to acknowledge and thank our producer, Claire Burgess.
You can also find us on the following platforms:
LinkedIn - Liz & Cristy
Bluesky - Liz & Cristy
Our websites - Liz & Cristy

In this conversation, César Rodríguez-Garavito (NYU Law) reflects on his fascinating academic career, explaining his drive to produce 'action research' that enables a positive impact for communities and the environment. He reflects on the balance between academic commitments and advocacy work (especially for Indigenous communities), the critical importance of distributed teams of collaborators, and his innovative approach to using art and multimedia to attract attention to an important cause. The discussion also covers the origins and evolution of the More-than-Human Life programme he leads at NYU, his hacks for personal career management, and advice for early career researchers seeking to make meaningful contributions beyond academia. Cristy and Liz round off with their environmental law updates, including international and transnational developments around climate change, river rights and the rights of nature, changes to fast track and climate legislation in Aotearoa New Zealand and environmental legislation in Australia, and the latest environmental case law developments from around the globe.
César Rodríguez-Garavito
Moth - More Than Human Life
Amphibious research
The Earth Rights Research & Action (TERRA NYU Law) - Center for Human Rights and Global Justice
The Thesis Whisperer
Ecuador’s Voters Protect Rights of Nature, Reject Proposal to Rewrite Constitution
Preservación ecosistémica: Por primera vez MOP declara reservas de aguas en cuencas de ríos Futaleufú y Puelo
Lady Tureiti Moxon’s human rights complaint accepted by the United Nations
New Zealand awarded dubious 'Fossil of the Day' at COP30 climate talks
Key-concerns-with-the-Fast-track-Approvals-Amendment-Bill.pdf 
EXPLAINER: Changes announced to the Climate Change Response Act 2002 

Would you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note here
Visit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes.
We would also like to acknowledge and thank our producer, Claire Burgess.
You can also find us on the following platforms:
LinkedIn - Liz & Cristy
Bluesky - Liz & Cristy
Our websites - Liz & Cristy

In this episode of Law at the End of the World, we kick off our new ‘Research Skills Series’. In this first installment, Liz shares her extensive experience of obtaining and administering research funding in a practical, skills-focused discussion. She covers her grant history (successes and failures), key lessons about writing successful applications, common misconceptions, and the realities of managing and delivering grant-funded projects. Liz emphasises the importance of building relationships, writing for interdisciplinary audiences, and the significant administrative work involved in running grants. Cristy and Liz also discuss major environmental law developments including New Zealand's controversial marine and coastal legislation, Australia's upcoming EPBC amendments, climate litigation from Bonaire, and new research challenging the effectiveness of carbon offsets.
Marine law change angers Māori activist: 'We don't have any rights'
New marine protections in the Hauraki Gulf
Environmental Law Initiative v EPA
Government almost halves methane reduction target, farmers celebrate
Major changes to climate-related disclosures announced
Our Marine Environment 2025
Big shakeup for NZ's research funding
A/80/117: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation 
Webinar - Capacity Building on developing Amicus Curiae for the African Court's Advisory Opinion...
Would you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note here
Visit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes.
We would also like to acknowledge and thank our producer, Claire Burgess.
You can also find us on the following platforms:
LinkedIn - Liz & Cristy
Bluesky - Liz & Cristy
Our websites - Liz & Cristy