Kia ora
The Government's Welfare Working Group has released options for “reform” of the benefit system.
Almost every option is about punishing people if they can’t get into paid work, even though the jobs aren’t there to go to.
This is the time to invest in training, education, and job creation. The Green Party would support beneficiaries into education and training, and create jobs by building new state houses.
Catherine Delahunty, 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
Keep it Kiwi petition - gathering signatures in Thames
Tuesday, November 30, 2010 - 12:00pm, Outside Kiwibank, Pollen St, Thames
Join Catherine Delahunty MP collecting signatures on the Keep it Kiwi petition.
Save the Mokihinui Forum, Oamaru
Wednesday, December 12, 2010 - 7:00pm, Harbour Street Theatrette (Historic Precinct), Oamaru
A special forum hosted by Kevin Hague MP about the Mokihinui River, including a screening of 'A Tale of Two Rivers' and excerpts from Craig Potton's 'Rivers' TV series, followed by a discussion on the Mokihinui, the proposed dam, and what we can do
Podcasts
Green spirituality: Russel Norman
Green Party Co-leader, Russel Norman, discusses what's sacred to him in this, the second of an occasional series where I talk to Green MPs about their spirituality. Listen to podcast...
Subscribe to our podcasts in iTunes
Press releases
Welfare Working Group fails the reality test
24 November 2010
The Welfare Working Group's (WWG) relentless focus on paid work ignores the fundamental reality of the current economic situation, the Green Party said today. Read more...
True test of Welfare Working Group will come tomorrow
23 November 2010
The real test of the Welfare Working Group (WWG) will be what it is prepared to consider when it releases its options paper tomorrow, the Green Party said today. Read more...
Reduce overcrowding for better health
15 November 2010
High rates of rheumatic fever due to overcrowding can be brought down by providing the essentials for every New Zealander, the Green Party said today. Read more...
Welfare Working Group cries crocodile tears for the poor
14 November 2010
Comments by Chairperson of the Welfare Working Group Paula Rebstock on 'Q and A' this week expressed crocodile tears for beneficiaries trapped in poverty, said Green Party Work and Income spokesperson Catherine Delahunty today. Read more...
Blog posts
Red faces at Green Cabs over fire@will - by frog
I’ve been a fan of Green Cabs. They run fleets of hybrid cabs in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and plant trees to offset their carbon emissions. Read more...
Welfare Working Group worries - by Catherine Delahunty
I watched with concern Paula Rebstock's appearance on ‘Q and A’ last weekend. Read more...
Fear and loathing in the agrarian sector: A rural perspective on fire@will - by frog
This family not only lost their jobs under the fire at will legislation but have been, hopefully only temporarily, split up by it:
Their "crime", apparently, was to stick up for another worker who was a recent immigrant, and was being victimised in a racist manner by the employer.
This family is now off off to Oz. Read more...
You're using too much sauce and aioli. You're fired! - by frog
As the Government presses on with the ACT Party's policy of extending its fire at will law to all employees in their first 90 days on the job, the NZ Council of Trade Unions are highlighting more instances of employer abuse of the existing fire at will law.
Speeches
The Government's Welfare Working Group - Catherine Delahunty MP, 24 November 2010
The Government's Welfare Working Group, in its new report, suggests that it is not listening to the voices of community advocates who have long-term experience of youth unemployment, other forms of unemployment, the domestic purposes benefit, the sickness and invalid benefit, and other challenges. Paula Rebstock from the Welfare Working Group has made some strong statements that suggest that cost cutting is driving this agenda. Watch video or read transcript...
Holidays Amendment Bill, Keith Locke - third reading speech - Keith Locke MP, 24 November 2010
The Green Party is very strongly opposed to the Holidays Amendment Bill. It effectively takes away from workers' their long, hard-won rights to holidays. Watch video or read transcript...
Employment Relations Amendment Bill (No 2) - Keith Locke, third reading speech - Keith Locke MP, 24 November 2010
The Green Party will continue to oppose the Employment Relations Amendment Bill (No 2). It is very clearly anti-union legislation. Watch video or read transcript...
Keith Locke on the Holidays Amendment Bill - second reading - Keith Locke MP, 18 November 2010
The Green Party will be voting against the Holidays Amendment Bill. We put in a minority report alongside the Labour Party on this bill because it is a big step backwards for the people of New Zealand. Watch video or read transcript...
Keith Locke on the Employment Relations Amendment Bill (No 2) - in committee stage - Keith Locke MP, 18 November 2010
The assumption behind Michael Woodhouse's speech is that the overwhelming majority of employers are good employers. Watch video or read transcript...
Keith Locke on Employment Relations Amendment Bill (No 2) - second reading - Keith Locke MP, 12 November 2010
It is very sad that the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee did not come back with a strong report rejecting this bill, and that the majority of the select committee did not listen and take in the many representations from individual workers and, as has just been mentioned, unions and community organisations, all of whom were opposed to the bill. Watch video or read transcript...
Oral questions
Metiria Turei questions the Minister of Finance on state housing as critical infrastructure - Metiria Turei MP, 24 November 2010
Does he stand by his statement that "the Government is playing its part by spending billions on infrastructure, which is underpinning the employment of thousands of skilled and unskilled people"? Watch video or read transcript...
