Kia ora
John Key said this week that people on benefits make a lifestyle choice, and if they budgeted properly they would be fine.
In fact, it’s next to impossible to make ends meet on a benefit. Accommodation, food, power and transport prices are all rising, and for many people, the benefit is not enough to cover these basics.
Next week, the Government’s Welfare Working Group will report back. It’s likely to suggest punitive reforms that widen the gap between those who have the most and those who need the most. We’d invest in closing that gap, because a more equal society is better for everyone.
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
Gareth Hughes' sister city whales tour - Porirua with Jan Logie
Saturday 26 February - 7:30am - 9:00am, Porirua Market
Many NZ towns and cities have a sister city relationship with a Japanese city, so we're encouraging Kiwis and local councils to write to their fellow citizens in Japan inviting their help to save the whales.
Catherine Delahunty speaks at The Big Push Against ECE Cuts
Saturday, 26 February, 10:30am - 1:30pm, Queen Elizabeth Square, Auckland
Catherine will be joining families marching up Queen Street. Early Childhood Education cuts will force many early childhood education centres to either reduce services or raise fees.
Join Gareth in protecting the Motu Manawa Marine Reserve
Saturday, 26 February, 1:00pm - 4:00pm, Archibald Reserve, Kelston
Join Gareth Hughes, Forest & Bird and Friends of the Whau for a boat-based clean up of the Whau River. Families with children are welcome to attend.
Russel Norman on Back Benches
Wednesday 23 February, 8.30pm, Backbencher Pub, Thorndon, Wellington
Come along to join Russel at Wellington's iconic Backbencher Pub for another night of LIVE pub politics.
Fixing Auckland Transport - Lessons from the EU
Tuesday, 1 March, 6:00 - 8:00pm, Ellen Melville and Pioneer Women's Hall, corner Freyberg Place & High Street, Auckland CBD
A meeting with international expert and Member of the European Parliament, Michael Cramer, to promote more sustainable transport for Auckland. Hosted by Gareth Hughes, Green Party transport spokesperson
Orientation 2011 - Gareth Hughes, Catherine Delahunty, Kevin Hague, David Clendon and Keith Locke
Join the University Greens on Campus for O-week stalls, and hang out with Green MPs!
Podcasts
Who is Pat Triarchy?
Green MPs and long standing women's affairs activists Sue Kedgley and Catherine Delahunty talk about their experiences in the women's lib movement and as female politicians. Listen to podcast...
Subscribe to our podcasts in iTunes
Press releases
Govt can make Community Max work
16 February 2011
On-going publicity about the Government's Community Max scheme continues to highlight why investment in long-term job creation is so important, the Green Party said today. Read more...
Communities need real jobs
15 February 2011
Revelations that projects from Work and Income's Community Max scheme have not created jobs or skills show how important it is to invest in meaningful long-term job creation, not short-term PR exercises, the Green Party said today. Read more...
John Key's recipe for poverty and inequality is bearing fruit
11 February 2011
John Key's Government is growing inequality and cutting social spending which is a recipe for disaster, said the Green Party today Read more...
Foreshore bill same injustice different name
9 February 2011
Revised legislation on the foreshore and seabed repeats the injustices of the original act and does nothing more than paper over the cracks, the Green Party said today. Read more...
Social policy recipe for failure
8 February 2011
John Key's social policy is a tired recipe for failure and division, the Green Party said today. Read more...
Blog posts
National Standards race to nowhere - by Catherine Delahunty
Yesterday, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard visited our Parliament and promoted free trade agreements with all the fervour of the faithful. Read more...
Thoughts from the Big Gay Out - by Kevin Hague
I am the gayest man in Parliament. Everybody knows. So it was a bit galling to get essentially upstaged by John Key and Phil Goff. Perhaps I’m just a bit self-absorbed, but this strikes me as suggesting a weird prism through which at least some straight people see this queer event. Read more...
www.RedneckCoalition.co.nz - by frog
Seems someone has been having a bit of fun with the Koastal Koalition Klowns' billboards. Read more...
TEC worried about funding cuts - by David Clendon
There seems to be a disconnect between the expectations and assumptions of the Tertiary Education Commission and what is actually happening in the sector. Read more...
Gordon Campbell debunks right wing welfare myths - by frog
Gordon Campbell has a great piece in this month’s Werewolf debunking some of the myths about welfare trotted out by the beneficiary bashers. Read more...
Join the Big Push against ECE cuts - by frog
NZEI are cranking up the campaign against the Government's shortsighted Early Childhood Education cuts that will force many early childhood education centres to either reduce services or raise fees. Read more...
Hot Ukrainian Husbands from Chernobyl? - by Catherine Delahunty
Last week the media reported a “Radio Rock” promotion which involved winning “hot chicks” as wives. Read more...
Maori statutory board needs funding to work - by David Clendon
There have been some predictable howls of outrage about the operational funding approved for the Maori Statutory Board set up under the ‘Super City’ legislation rammed through Parliament by Rodney Hide last year. Read more...
Nats’ work-first welfare all stick and no carrot - by Catherine Delahunty
Last week I got quite a response to my post on crime and access to welfare, so I thought I would write a little more about why many beneficiaries can’t get ahead financially without breaking the law, however hard they may try.
I’ve had a look at what happens to a single sickness beneficiary aged over 25 when he or she engages in part time employment. Read more...
New approach to minimum wage needed - by Keith Locke
The procedure for increasing the minimum wage is all wrong. Read more...
Minimum wage rise not enough - by Metiria Turei
The Government has announced that the minimum wage will go up by 25c an hour, to $13 an hour, on 1 April.
This is not enough. Read more...
Crime and access to welfare - by Catherine Delahunty
Paula Bennett is horrified that people claim to have committed crimes because of poverty and difficulties accessing welfare. Read more...
Speeches
Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill - In Committee - Catherine Delahunty MP, 16 February 2011
Clause 4A is all about the constitutions of councils, and it does not seem to fit logically or coherently with the overall ethos of the bill, if there was one. Watch video or read transcript...
A real education - Catherine Delahunty MP, 9 February 2011
Today I will talk about education; something the Prime Minister mentioned several times in his opening speech yesterday. He probably did not want to talk about education as his Government has such a woeful track record, but he had to, because, in a country with nearly 25 percent of young people unemployed and high rates of illiteracy and poverty, we cannot ignore education. Watch video or read transcript...
Oral questions
Working for Families-Equal Treatment of Vulnerable Children - Catherine Delahunty MP, 16 February 2011
To the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does Working for Families treat vulnerable children equally, regardless of the source of their parents' income? Watch video or read transcript...
