Russel Norman MP
Dr Russel Norman is one of the Green Party Co-Leaders.
Russel has been involved with politics all of his adult life, working as a policy researcher, assistant to Green Members of Parliament, campaign manager for the Green Party, Co-Leader outside Parliament and most recently as a Green MP since mid-2008. He says that his academic background - he has a doctorate in politics - "gives him an analytical approach, which is helpful."
Green Party Spokesperson on: Climate Change (ETS), Environment (Water), Economics and Finance.
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Time for Government to regulate dairy pollution
The latest Clean Streams Accord report shows that the time has come for the Government to step in to prevent further pollution of New Zealand’s rivers and streams by dairy farming, the Green Party said today.
"Steal these ideas, not the kids' inheritance" - Russel Norman's speech on the Appropriations (Financial Review) Bill
How much better would our books be if we had invested a good proportion of the returns from the Maui gas field in a Gas Fund, whose dividends would now be helping our chronic current account deficit and budget deficit. Norway turned a good chunk its North Sea oil, its natural capital, into financial capital in the form of the giant half trillion dollar Norway Pension Fund. While NZ and the UK simply consumed our mineral resources and now have nothing to show for it except a few mothballed methanex Think Big plants.
A feed of flounder and clams - Saltwater Creek
On Friday I met one of the locals on the other side of the bridge over Saltwater Creek, a local who has fished Saltwater Creek for 25 years. He remembers when you used to be able to catch a good feed of flounder in Saltwater Creek, and feel comfortable about eating what you caught. The last five times he has put out his flounder net he has only caught a single fish. He remembers a time when you felt it was safe for your kids to swim in the creek. A time when there was ample whitebait coming up the creek each season to make fritters. Actually that time wasn’t that long ago – it was really in the last decade that the dairy industry took over and the creek started to decline.
Taieri River visit
The Taieri River, and Otago in general, has a particular problem of old mining rights to water. These deemed rights are not subject to normal RMA provisions so can’t be scaled back as the river flows drop – the only control is a complete stop under a Water Shortage Direction. These mining rights continue until 2021 – they should be turned into RMA rights now so that they can be managed properly.
Government's $21 billion bet on cheap petrol
It is economically irresponsible to continue to invest in new roading infrastructure while fuel prices push new heights, said the Green Party today. “Recent rises in petrol prices foreshadow a much longer-term trend of increasing oil prices. It’s simply irresponsible for this Government to be investing so heavily in new roading infrastructure instead of more resilient alternatives like light rail and bus lanes,” said Green Party Co-Leader Dr Russel Norman.
Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora: Toxic pea soup
Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora is apparently the fourth largest lake in our country. And it has the consistency of pea soup; toxic pea soup to be precise. There were signs by the boatramp that said not to touch the water, as it’s a health hazard due to toxic algae.
Russel Norman on Back Benches Show, head to head with Grant Robertson (Labour) & Paul Quinn (National)
Come along early to get a good seat and have a beer or a meal at the Backbencher Pub before the show starts!
Update on the Dirty Rivers Rafting Tour
Green Party Co-Leader Russel Norman gives an update on his Dirty Rivers Rafting Tour. The tour, which started late in January on the Hutt river, aims to draw attention to the disgusting state of New Zealand's rivers. Pollutants, especially effluent from dairy farms, and erosion from stock are choking our rivers with silt, algae, and toxins.
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