Social and Economic Justice

The Greens believe that, since unlimited material growth is impossible, the key to social responsibility is the just distribution of social and natural resources. Co-leader Metiria Turei is the Green MP primarily responsible for Social Equity issues.

What's New

Reduce inequality if you want to improve education

If the Government really wants to raise national standards of literacy and numeracy it needs to get serious about reducing socio-economic inequalities in our society, the Green Party said today.

Relaxed about poverty, Mr Key? - General Debate speech, Catherine Delahunty

I seldom agree with anything written by the New Zealand Herald’s conservative commentator Garth George, so I was astounded to find myself in full agreement with his column last week, in which he called Don Brash’s 2025 taskforce report “economic and social bullshit”. He suggested that every copy should be recycled into toilet paper. I have the document here if anyone would like to use it for that purpose; it cost us, as taxpayers, only $150,000. I also like someone else’s description made of the Brash “playgroup”, as spending their time photocopying the old ACT policy leaflet and calling it a taskforce.

Is the benefit system meeting the needs of NZ kids?

Metiria Turei and Catherine Delahunty question Social Development Minister Paula Bennett on the adequacy of the benefit system to protect New Zealand's children from hardship, in light of the release of the first New Zealand Children's Social Health Monitor.

Work and income and the culture of disrespect

New Green Work and Income Spokesperson Catherine Delahunty talks about her new portfolio, what she makes of the government's recent announcements about welfare reform, and her own experience setting up a beneficiary advocacy group on the East Coast.

Social and Economic Justice Links