Kia ora
Ever since we became the first country in the world to grant women the vote, New Zealand has had a proud tradition of feminism and fostering women's participation.
This heritage is precious, but it's at risk of slipping away, as a new report on women's participation shows. In many key areas like equal pay and women in leadership, we are sliding backwards.
I've challenged the Government to commit to an Agenda for Change that would put us back on the path towards fairness for women. When even the Ministry of Women's Affairs pays men more than women we still have a long way to go!
Catherine Delahunty, Green MP
New Zealand Census of Women's Participation 2010 (full report)
- 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
The Whanganui River Bike Ride
Sunday, November 14, 2010 - 10:00am, Start and finish at Pakaitore (beside the Whanganui River)
Take a joy ride beside the beautiful Whanganui River. This is an easy 20 km, flat ride suitable for all fitness levels. You can even make it shorter if you like.
Save the Mokihinui Forum, Dunedin
Tuesday, November 16, 2010 - 7:30pm, Alexander McMillan Room, Community House, 301 Moray Place, Dunedin
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.
Protect Our Pacific petition presented to Parliament
Wednesday, November 17, 2010 - 1:00pm, Steps of Parliament, Wellington
Come and support the amazing effort of the Protect our Pacific coalition!
Metiria speaks at a public discussion on politics, secularism and faith
Friday, November 19, 2010 - 4:30pm, Valentine Room, St Margaret’s College, 333 Leith Street (behind the clocktower), Dunedin
What do we mean when we talk of New Zealand as a 'secular' society?
Rod Donald Memorial Lecture
Sunday, November 21, 2010 - 4:30pm, Christchurch Art Gallery Auditorium, Christchurch
"Democracy in New Zealand: Lost, Stolen or Just Misplaced?" Featuring guest speaker Jeanette Fitzsimons, former Green Party Co-leader and MP
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 music tastes
This podcast is inspired by a close encounter with John Key in the Parliamentary gym by one of our staffers, who observed the PM listening to headphones while pounding the treadmill. It got us thinking: what do our MPs listen to? Listen to podcast...
Subscribe to our podcasts in iTunes
Press releases
Wait and see if home energy rating delivers
8 November 2010
The industry-led HomeStar voluntary rating scheme is a good start, but will miss out the coldest and dampest homes because it is not mandatory, said the Green Party today. Read more...
NZ needs jobs not scare tactics
8 November 2010
New Zealand needs jobs rather than scare tactics to manage benefit costs, the Green Party said today. Read more...
Water privatisation one step closer with new bill
3 November 2010
Proposed legislation will open the door for the privatisation of New Zealand's water supplies, the Green Party said today. Read more...
Get smokes out of our homes and out of our shops
3 November 2010
John Key's Government needs to take serious action to control the tobacco companies who peddle lethal drugs, the Green Party said today. Read more...
Stalling wage growth highlights inequality
2 November 2010
Stalling wage growth will hurt Kiwi families who are already struggling financially, the Green Party said today. Read more...
Blog posts
Just when you thought girls could do anything - by Catherine Delahunty
The front page of today's Dominion Post carries the story of a Newlands college pupil who was told she “looked like a slut” for wearing her school skirt short by her school dean.
The verbal apology that was given notwithstanding, this incident is very disturbing. Read more...
No Minister, it's not getting better for women - by Catherine Delahunty
On Tuesday I asked the Minister of Women’s Affairs whether she was happy with the progress towards her goals of getting more women into leadership positions and closing the gender pay gap. Read more...
Tonight: taking the tea and bikkies out of public meetings - by Gareth Hughes
I love new technology and tonight I’m hosting a virtual public meeting.
I’ve teamed up with NZUSA Co-President David Do to discuss online the Government's significant changes to the tertiary education sector. Read more...
The social cost of industrial dairying - by Catherine Delahunty
This weekend I attended the Te Wai Pounamu Green Women’s Hui at the Glenburn Youth Camp in the heart of new dairy country. Read more...
Equity for women stuck in reverse - by Catherine Delahunty
Today the Biennial New Zealand Census on Women’s Participation in 2010 was released. Read more...
More reasons emerge for independent inquiry on ACC reforms - by Kevin Hague
I’m pleased Simon Collins at the NZ Herald has picked up on my blog post last month in which I released figures showing the number of people being moved off ACC weekly compensation onto welfare benefits increased to 1956 people in the latest June year from 764 two years earlier.
Digital copyright and suspending suspension - by Gareth Hughes
I may be a geek, but not the type that can fix your computer. Read more...
School boards join the National Standards debate - by Catherine Delahunty
It's always nice to wake up to good news, and this morning it was the news that 225 school Boards of Trustees will today deliver the message to the Government that they have no confidence in National Standards, and will defer setting student achievement targets based on the standards for at least a year. Read more...
A couple of troubling questions on the Hobbit Bill - by frog
Who was telling the truth, John Key or Gerry Brownlee? Read more...
Speeches
Keith Locke on Employment Relations (Film Production Work) Amendment Bill - first reading | third reading | in Committee, 29 Oct | in Committee, 1 Nov - Keith Locke MP
KEITH LOCKE (Green): The Green Party is strongly opposed to the Employment Relations (Film Production Work) Amendment Bill. It is a very sad day for New Zealand, because not only is the Government moving legislation through this Parliament at the behest of a foreign multinational, Warner Bros, which is an affront to our sovereignty, but also it is completely abusing the parliamentary process.
Oral questions
Gender pay gap continues to increase - Catherine Delahunty MP, 9 November 2010
CATHERINE DELAHUNTY to the Minister of Women's Affairs: Is she satisfied with progress towards her goals of getting more women in leadership and closing the gender pay gap following the release of the New Zealand Census of Women's Participation 2010, which records a backwards slide? Watch video or read transcript...
