Biggest ever Block Offer a disaster for the environment

The largest ever oil and gas Block Offer announced today, including 2,600 km2 in the Maui’s dolphin sanctuary, is a disaster for our environment and shows how desperate the National Government is to keep its oil dream alive in the face of growing public concern about climate change, the Green Party said.

“This is a disaster for the environment and yet another example of National backing a polluting industry instead of investing in the clean-technology jobs that New Zealanders want,” Green Party energy and resources spokesperson Gareth Hughes said.

“It’s embarrassing that John Key and Simon Bridges don’t seem to have got the message that oil drilling is old fashioned and reckless, when just last week President Obama decided not to open up America’s southeast Atlantic coast to offshore oil drilling.

“The global movement to embrace clean energy and the low oil price make drilling for oil in New Zealand economically and environmentally stupid, but our desperate Government keeps trying.

“It makes no sense to open up 525,515 km2 for oil and gas exploration when we know that stopping climate change means we can’t burn three quarters of the fossil fuels that have already been discovered.

“The Government is so desperate for more oil it is offering permits for drilling and seismic surveying in 2,600 km2 of the Maui’s Dolphin sanctuary.

“We could be leading the world in clean energy and profiting from exporting our expertise but instead the National Government is trying to drag us back to the oil age of last century by increasing support for the fossil fuel sector by almost 600 percent,” Mr Hughes said.

Action

Oppose New Zealand First’s Member’s Bill!

Support Trans Rights | Oppose the Gender Definition Bill

Action

Reject the Defining Gender Bill

Reject the Legislation (Definitions of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill introduced by New Zealand First.

Action

Disability Support System - Submission Guide

Uphold disability rights so disabled people and their whānau can thrive. Oppose the Disability Support Services Bill

Action

Oppose the 2026 budget

Sign our petition to show you oppose the Government's 2026 budget

Action

Leave our homes alone!

The Green Party is calling on the Government to stop its attack on people living in public housing - join our call today!

Action

Drug Overdose (Assistance Protection) Legislation Bill Submission Guide

Support Green MP Kahurangi Carter’s Bill to protect overdose emergency callers from legal risks!

Action

Keep Fees Free

Join our call to keep Fees Free for tertiary education!

Action

Protect Conservation Land

Sign out petition to oppose the Conservation Amendment Bill and protect conservation land!

Action

Stop the Fisheries Amendment Bill

Sign today to protect our moana.

Action

Electrify everything

Show your support for a National Electrification Plan!

Action

A home for everybody

A home for everybody - sign and share the open letter today!

Action

Tell us your stories about our special places

Share with us your stories about the places threatened by being fast tracked for mining permits.

Action

Protect our tamariki - Sign the open letter

Every child in Aotearoa deserves to grow up with safety and stability, wrapped in aroha. Sign our open letter today and help make that a reality!

Action

Local Events

We have activists across Aotearoa / New Zealand who are working hard to build a brighter future for our kids and grandkids. This page lists upcomin...

Latest Climate Change Announcements

Story

Treasury confirms $5 billion bill for Luxon's climate inaction

Treasury has put a price tag on Luxon's Government's climate inaction, with new analysis showing it could cost up to $5 billion to buy the offshore...

Budget 2026 confirms Luxon’s climate ‘plan’ is a trashfire

Budget 2026 confirms the Government has no plan to meet our commitment under the Paris Climate Agreement, at a cost that previously Treasury calcul...

Luxon quietly borrows $1.4 billion more to hide climate failure

The Green Party has revealed Luxon's failed climate policies have created a $1.4 billion fiscal hole, after the Government's retreat on climate cau...

Luxon’s Government found breaching trade agreements again

Today’s report from Lawyers for Climate Action shows that Luxon’s handouts to fossil fuel companies likely breach New Zealand’s trade agreement wit...

NZ democracy at risk of corporate corruption - Green Party backs urgent inquiry

Allegations that the Prime Minister’s office withheld information about backroom lobbying by major climate polluters - ahead of legislating to prev...

Luxon protects polluters’ profits in sweeping, rushed climate change law amendment

The Government’s surprise announcement this morning to amend the Climate Change Response Act is yet another example of Luxon loosening the leash fo...

Story

Greens support CTU call for public investment in energy

The Greens back the call from CTU for bold, future-focussed action for our energy system.

Budget to increase energy hardship

Budget 2025 delays our transition to a low emissions and low-cost energy network, this will put even more pressure on households, businesses and th...

Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex

The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report high...

Fossil fuel lobbyist appointment to EECA board called out

The Green Party condemns the Government’s appointment of a fossil fuel lobbyist to the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority Board.

Greens echo OECD call for electricity market reform

The Green Party has welcomed the OECD urging the Government to re-examine separating ‘gentailers’ to make a fairer electricity market for New Zeala...

Job losses from mill closures consequence of Govt inaction

Hundreds of jobs lost as a result of pulp mill closures in the Ruapehu District are a consequence of government inaction in addressing the shortfal...