Kia ora
In last year's budget there were tax cuts for the wealthy. In this year's budget there will be cuts to services for those who need them most.
The Government looks set to make cuts across the board – including to programmes like Working for Families, student loans and Kiwisaver.
Slashing social spending, while everyday people are struggling, will create further inequality in New Zealand which will make things worse for everyone.
Metiria Turei, Green MP
- recommended 
- includes video
In this issue
Take action
Warm, Healthy Rentals: send an eCard to John Key
There are at least 1 million substandard homes in New Zealand and rental properties are generally the worst performing of these. We are calling on the Government to create performance standards which ensure warm, healthy, rentals.
Read about the warm, healthy rentals campaign | Send an eCard | Tell us your flatting horror stories
Events
Walking Train to promote the CBD Rail Loop
Saturday 14 May - 11:00am - 12:30pm, Meet at the corner of K Road and Pitt Street
Climate Change: a scientific, moral and legal issue by Dr James Hansen
Wellington: Monday 16 May and Tuesday 17 May
Dunedin: Wednesday 18 May
Gore: Thursday 19 May
Christchurch: Friday 20 May
Auckland: Saturday 21 May
Transport Solutions for Johnsonville
Thursday 19 May, 7-8:30pm - Johnsonville Community Centre, 3 Frankmoore Avenue, Johnsonville, Wellington
Russel speaks on Budget 2011 and NZ's Economic Sovereignty at Kaipara Grey Power - Public welcome!
Friday 20 May - 1:30pm - 2:30pm, Dargaville Methodist Church, corner of Normanby St and Awakino Rd, Dargaville
Festival for the Planet
Saturday 21 May, 12-4pm
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Auckland Town Hall, Auckland
Save the Mokihinui Lunchtime Forums with Kevin Hague
Christchurch - Canterbury University Wednesday 25 May, 12-1:30pm
Dunedin - Otago University Thursday 26 May, 7:30-9:00pm
Online public meeting on the recent copyright legislation
Wednesday 25 May - 7-9pm
online via www.greens.org.nz/publicmeeting
Russel Norman on Back Benches debating one of the year's most important issues - Budget 2011
Wednesday 25 May - 8:30pm - 10:00pm,
Backbencher Pub, 34 Molesworth Street, Wellington (across the road from the Beehive), or watch live at http://tvnz.co.nz/back-benches
Hawke's Bay Public Meeting with Dr Kennedy Graham MP: What is the Greens' Vision for the NZ Economy?
Thursday 26 May, 8pm
- Wesley Methodist Hall & Lounge Hastings St South, Hastings
Metiria speaks at a public discussion on the Budget
Thursday 26 May - 5:00pm - 6:15pm, Allen Hall Theatre, cnr Union and Leith Sts, University of Otago campus, Dunedin
Russel speaks on Budget 2011 and NZ's Economic Sovereignty at Whakatane Grey Power - Public welcome!
Friday 27 May - 1:45pm - 3:00pm, Senior Citizens Hall, 54A Stewart Street, Whakatane
Public Meeting: Visions of Christchurch: A Sustainable and Resilient Rebuild
Second Forum Sunday 12 June, 6-8pm
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New Brighton
Third Forum Sunday 19 June, 6-8pm
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Lyttleton
Podcasts
That Kiwi Sound
May is New Zealand Music month, a time for celebrating all the fantastically talented and idiosyncratic musos that hail from Aotearoa. Metiria Turei, Gareth Hughes and Catherine Delahunty talk about their favourite New Zealand music. Listen to podcast...
Subscribe to our podcasts in iTunes
Press releases
Workers face wage cuts to pay for Kiwisaver changes
12 May 2011
Workers look set to carry the full cost of changes to Kiwisaver after the Government removed rules requiring employers to share the costs fairly, said Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman today. Read more...
100,000 families in warmer, drier, greener homes
11 May 2011
The success of the Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart home insulation scheme is an example of smart, green economics at work, said the Green Party today. Read more...
Budget 2011: Vulnerable will shoulder costs of Government's poor economic management
11 May 2011
John Key has today signalled that middle and lower-income New Zealanders will be shouldering a disproportionate cost of the Government's poor economic management, said Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman today. Read more...
Green Co-leader addresses Grey Power AGM
8 May 2011
The aged care sector is fast reaching crisis point, and comprehensive changes are needed, the Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman told the Grey Power AGM this afternoon. Read more...
Boot camp band-aid can't fix youth unemployment
5 May 2011
High rates of youth unemployment are unacceptable and won't be fixed by sending more young people to army-style boot camps, the Green Party said today. Read more...
Blog posts
Happy International Nurses Day - by Kevin Hague
Happy International Nurses Day to all nurses in New Zealand. Read more...
Government policies lead to reduced access to tertiary education - by Gareth Hughes
Last year, Massey University cut enrolments to summer school without telling students. Read more...
SlutWalking comes to Aotearoa-New Zealand - by frog
Decades pass, but it seems misogynist attitudes towards women continue. Read more...
Tiki Taane comes back singing - by Keith Locke
Appropriately, Tiki Taane has responded to being charged for disorderly behaviour last month by writing a catchy song, Freedom to Sing. Read more...
Saints or support workers? Rodney Hide on special education - by Catherine Delahunty
In the middle of his other troubles, Associate Education Minister Rodney Hide spoke at our Select Committee on Wednesday about the Review of Special Education. Read more...
The hypocrisy of Brash’s “one law for all” - by frog
Failed National Party Leader Don Brash has been banging on a lot again about “one law for all” since his hostile takeover of the ACT Party last week.
So I thought I’d take a look at Brash’s track record when he was an MP. Read more...
Family care case continues - by Catherine Delahunty
In recent months, I’ve been doing what I can to call attention to the case of seven families engaged in a lengthy court battle with the Ministry of Health over their right to be paid to care for disabled family members.
These seven families represent thousands of others around the country in the same position. Read more...
Freedom of expression at Auckland University? - by David Clendon
An extraordinary story has emerged from the usually genteel environment of a University graduation.
Auckland University staff went to remarkable lengths, including physical restraint, to try to prevent a graduating student from receiving his Master of Law degree with 1st class honours. Read more...
Quality public education - a public good - by Catherine Delahunty
I spent the weekend at the Quality Public Education Coalition (QPEC) Conference in Auckland. Read more...
Blackball Mayday Speech - by Kevin Hague
While some others were focused on political events elsewhere in the country, I was in Blackball for the annual Mayday celebrations and for the launch of a memorial wheel for those who have lost their lives in West Coast mines in recent years, most notably the Pike River 29. Read more...
Oral questions
Funding cuts to family violence services - , 5 May 2011
Does she stand by her statement regarding family violence services that "funding is being moved to the frontline not away from it"? Watch video or read transcript...
