Cost of living driven by fossil fuels and power price hikes

culture and innovation

Greens’ economic development plan will create 284,000 jobs

The Green Party has today released its economic development plan to rebuild Aotearoa New Zealand and create 284,000 jobs over the next four years. “The Greens are serious about the economy. We will drive it to meet the needs of New Zealanders. Our plan will create 284,000 jobs, lower the cost of living and ensure we’re all happier, healthier and safer,” says Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick.  “We will rescope the directionless Investment Boost, which even BusinessNZ’s survey showed has overwhelmingly not ‘positively influenced’ investment in productivity-enhancing assets, to instead drive research and development towards 3% of GDP. 2% is considered the international...

Posted at October 13, 2026 10:31 AM by Marama Davidson

culture and innovation

Greens will regulate AI for the public good

The Green Party has announced they will regulate AI to protect New Zealanders’ creativity, data and jobs and ensure that the benefits of AI are shared and not captured by the massive technology companies running the AI sector. “Artificial Intelligence should work for people and the planet – we don’t work for AI. The Greens will regulate it responsibly, for the public good,” says Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. Our regulation will ensure that: AI will not replace human and democratic decision-making Our data...

Posted at October 12, 2026 12:44 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

culture and innovation

Nat’s rushed data centre policy fails people and planet

Under public and political pressure, the National Party has conceded that regulations are needed for new AI data centres, but their proposal falls far short of what communities around the country are demanding - and could create new problems.“The National Party seem to have woken up to the need to regulate data centres being consented under their nose. Unfortunately, their ‘solution’ could create entirely new problems,” says Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. “While originally arguing we should have these data...

Posted at August 14, 2026 1:41 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

culture and innovation

Call for one-year pause on consenting new AI data centres

The Green Party is calling for a one-year moratorium on new AI data centres while proper rules are put in place to ensure they genuinely benefit New Zealanders and are not straining our resources."Right now, AI data centres can be consented behind closed doors, with no community input. Experience overseas has seen these projects turn local water supply to sludge and suck huge amounts of energy, driving up prices for regular people," says Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. “If we...

Posted at July 26, 2026 9:02 AM by Chlöe Swarbrick

culture and innovation

Chlöe Swarbrick Budget speech 2026

Mr Speaker, the Greens want every New Zealander to feel proud of our country.  Not just for our history; for granting women the vote, standing against the United States for a nuclear free Pacific and splitting the atom. We want New Zealanders to feel proud of the country they live in today.  We want New Zealanders to be able to swim in their rivers.   To be able to grow food in healthy soil.   To catch abundant fish from the ocean to...

Posted at May 28, 2026 6:52 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

culture and innovation

Soaring power prices show urgent need for electrification

The Green Party says today's inflation figures show power prices are once again a key driver of the cost-of-living crisis, and reinforce calls for a National Electrification Plan."Stats NZ has today confirmed what households are feeling, with the cost of keeping the lights spiralling out of control," says Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick.    "Electricity rose 12.5 percent in the year to March, four times the overall rate of inflation, and for the third quarter in a row power has been...

Posted at April 21, 2026 11:49 AM by Chlöe Swarbrick

culture and innovation

Bill to protect artists against outdated copyright laws passes first reading

Tonight, Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter’s Copyright (Parody and Satire) Amendment Bill passed through its first reading.“This common-sense amendment would improve how our copyright laws work in a modern media landscape, and provide more protections for artists, like Australia, Canada, and parts of Europe,” says Green Party spokesperson for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Kahurangi Carter. “Satire makes us laugh and makes us think. This Bill would help protect New Zealand’s comedians from legal threats and outsized egos.” “Aotearoa can be...

Posted at April 01, 2026 8:51 PM by Kahurangi Carter

culture and innovation

Luxon’s Government actively neglects Māori news broadcasting

The Green Party has condemned the funding cut which has lead to the loss of the National Māori Radio news service. The news service will air for the last time tonight. “After years of harsh cuts to Māori broadcasting under Luxon’s Government, the Green Party is calling on Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka to stand up for Māori news broadcasting,” says Green Party Co-leader, Marama Davidson.  “Over the past four decades, iwi radio has played a fundamental role in broadcasting critical news, diverse voices, and community stories to whānau across the motu.  “The National Māori Radio service has always...

Posted at March 31, 2026 1:10 PM by Marama Davidson

culture and innovation

Rising food prices hitting New Zealanders while supermarket duopoly not held accountable

Rising food prices are hitting New Zealanders in the pocket and driving them to hunger says MP Ricardo Menéndez March, Green Party spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs."While the supermarkets have been making $1 million a day in excess profits, food prices have surged 4.5% over the last year. Fruit and vegetables, a core staple, are up a massive 9.4%.” “The stark contrast is appalling, and these ridiculous prices are not sustainable for New Zealanders who are being strong-armed by...

Posted at March 17, 2026 1:33 PM by Ricardo Menéndez March

culture and innovation

Luxon must act after Peters caught making false claims on employment bill

The Green Party is calling on Christopher Luxon to hold Winston Peters accountable for making false claims about union engagement on the Employment Relations Amendment Bill."Winston Peters' behaviour following the passing of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill is a disgrace," says Green Party Workplace Relations spokesperson Teanau Tuiono.   "He has falsely claimed that unions didn't raise their concerns with NZ First early enough. That is simply not true.   "We fully back unions' calls for Luxon to step in and act.  ...

Posted at February 23, 2026 7:00 AM by Teanau Tuiono

culture and innovation

Government rams through law attacking workers

“The passing of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill is a dark day for Aotearoa, and shows this government is on the side of big corporates and against the workers.” says Green Party Workplace Relations spokesperson Teanau Tuiono.  “Workers have a basic right to seek remedies for unjustifiable and unlawful dismissal. This law effectively destroys that right, leaving workers completely exposed to abuses of power by their employers.”   “This law also makes it easier to dismiss workers and gives bosses the ability to mischaracterise employees as contractors, meaning that...

Posted at February 17, 2026 4:45 PM by Teanau Tuiono

culture and innovation

Green Party anticipates the predictable claims of Prime Minister Luxon

The Green Party has correctly predicted the facts and data that would be needed to set the record straight on the Prime Ministers claims three days ahead of his State of the Nation speech today.Below is the media release and facts which detail the Green Party's correct predictions for what the Prime Minister would attempt to assert today. This information was sent to media on Friday 16th of January. "The Green Party has prepared some facts and data for journalists...

Posted at January 19, 2026 3:11 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

culture and innovation

The real cost of Willis’ failed economic strategy: empty chairs at Christmas

The Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) shows Nicola Willis’ “year of growth” has not only totally failed to deliver but has come at a steep cost to regular New Zealanders.“Today confirmed what regular New Zealanders can already feel: Nicola’s ‘growth at all costs’ mentality is coming at their expense, with significant downward revisions in most economic indicators in the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU)” says Green Party Co-Leader and Finance spokesperson, Chlöe Swarbrick. “The HYEFU shows...

Posted at December 16, 2025 4:09 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

culture and innovation

Govt’s Christmas gift to workers: An effective pay cut

The Government’s announcement today of a measly two per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers.“This is just a sour cherry on top of a terrible year for our workers, who have been under constant attack under this Government,” says Green Party spokesperson for Workplace Relations, Teanau Tuiono. “With inflation projected to exceed the increase, a two per cent ‘raise’ is as good as snake oil. Once again, the people who stand to lose out are predominantly...

Posted at December 12, 2025 1:18 PM by Teanau Tuiono

culture and innovation

Greens to protect employee status of Uber Drivers

The Green Party is committed to protecting the employee status of Uber Drivers, especially after the Supreme Court echoed the rulings of lower courts and upheld their rights.“A Green Government will honour the Supreme Court ruling and protect uber drivers from any legislation that seeks to take their employee status,” says the Green Party’s Workplace Relations & Safety spokesperson Teanau Tuiono. “Uber drivers face increasingly precarious conditions at a time of a cost of living crisis, while Uber continues to...

Posted at November 17, 2025 3:57 PM by Teanau Tuiono