Kia ora
If the Government wants to improve national standards, the most important thing it can do is address underlying inequalities.
Research shows that the bigger the gap between rich and poor, the worse kids do at school. It's hardest for our most deprived kids, but it affects everyone.
Reducing inequality is a major focus for the Greens this year. Metiria has launched a series on frogblog on this topic. Check it out and leave a comment to let us know what you think.
Catherine Delahunty, Green MP
- recommended 
- includes video
Action alert
Make a submission on the Future Focus bill
You can speak up for every child's right to a fair go by making a submission against the Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill. This Bill threatens our most vulnerable families, but you can tell the Government that beneficiary bashing has no place in this country. Read submission guide
Videos
Methyl Bromide - Just 'Blowing in the Welly wind'
On a windy Wellington day Green MP Sue Kedgley talks about the dangers of spraying Methyl Bromide over logs on Wellington's waterfront. Methyl Bromide is a toxic fumigant that destroys the ozone layer, is harmful to people and is likely being spread to all corners of Wellington via the capital's blustery weather. Watch the video...
Podcasts
Stink Jobs
How does being hypnotised in a brewery or training to be a fleecer prepare you for a life of public service as a Green MP? This week's podcast is a celebration of work and all the hard jobs people find themselves doing to get by. I asked several Green MPs to describe the toughest jobs they've ever had. Listen to podcast...
News
Methyl Bromide only 500 metres away
26 April 2010
The Green party is protesting against the routine use of the highly toxic and potent ozone destroying gas, Methyl Bromide, in close proximity to a workers break room and nearby apartments and office buildings at the Wellington Port. Read more...
Privatisation of ACC will hurt accident victims
23 April 2010
The Government's plan to privatise ACC will fundamentally undermine a world leading system that is fair for accident victims, said the Green Party today. Read more...
500% increase in dangerous gas
21 April 2010
New Zealand's use of the highly toxic and potent ozone depleting fumigant methyl bromide has increased by 500% over the past decade, despite a solemn pledge to reduce our use of this dangerous fumigant, the Green Party said today. Read more...
Blog posts
Methyl bromide protest - by Sue Kedgley
I met a port worker at our protest against the use of the highly toxic and ozone depleting fumigant Methyl Bromide at the Tauranga Port yesterday. He told me that for years his job on the wharf had been to drive cars, which had just been fumigated with Methyl Bromide, out of the fumigation area and onto another… Read more...
Pink Shirt Day Against Bullying - by Kevin Hague
Today has been designated Pink Shirt Day, although as I looked around the House I didn't see anyone from any of the other parties who seems to have remembered. Tony Ryall customarily wears a pink shirt, but today it's white with a stripe through it (very understated). Charles Chauvel is wearing a fantastic shell-pink tie, but I don't… Read more...
Why cuts to Early Childhood Education are a dumb idea - by Catherine Delahunty
This morning I was dismayed to hear Bill English signalling – to all intents and purposes – that there will be funding cuts for Early Childhood Education in the upcoming Budget.
As the NZEI have pointed out today, spending on ECE is an investment, not a cheap way to balance the books. In fact, it is one… Read more...
Inequality in Aotearoa: Education - by Metiria Turei
It is often assumed that the desire to raise national standards of performance in fields such as education is quite separate from the desire to reduce educational inequalities within a society. But the truth may be almost the opposite of this. It looks as if the achievement of higher national standards of educational performance may actually depend on… Read more...
Send 'em all down pit, Paula - by frog
Let's hope Gerry Brownlee and Paula Bennett don't pick up on this policy initiative from Australian Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott:
Mr Abbott proposed banning the dole for young people in a bid to fill the massive skills shortages in the resources sector.
He raised the controversial idea during a two-hour meeting with senior resources industry leaders in Perth… Read more...
How many men is one woman worth again Pansy? - by Catherine Delahunty
Late last week Women’s Affairs Minister Pansy Wong told the Institute of Directors that New Zealand’s “dismal record” of just 8.6 percent women directors in our top 100 listed companies needs to be changed. She wants to be a “catalyst” for that change.
I couldn’t agree more, but she won’t get very far convincing companies of “the business… Read more...
Read all about it - Tauranga library to charge for books - by Gareth Hughes
The Tauranga City Council is consulting on imposing charges for adult books at local libraries as a cost cutting measure. I went to Tauranga last week to investigate.
The council is in the red, and hopes to make up $430,000 over 3 years by introducing user-pays for free adult fiction and non-fiction by around 50 cents a book, rising… Read more...
Speeches
Workers' right to rest breaks - Keith Locke's speech on the Employment Relations (Rest Breaks and Meal Breaks) Amendment Bill, First Reading - Keith Locke MP, 27 April 2010
The Green Party opposes this bill because rest and meal breaks are important, not only to prevent injuries and death, but also so that people can just have a rest, be human, and not be slaves to a clock, working hour after hour without proper rest. Watch video or read transcript...
Oral questions
Methyl bromide - to the Minister for the Environment - Sue Kedgley MP, 28 April 2010
Is he concerned that while the European Parliament has banned the use of methyl bromide, a highly toxic and ozone-depleting gas, New Zealand’s use has increased by 500 percent since 2000, despite our commitment under the Montreal Protocol to reduce our use of the gas? Watch video or read transcript...
