Latest Democracy and International Relations News

democracy and international relations

Greens reject Taxpayers' Union's dirty politics – call to clean up politics

The Green Party is calling on all parties and political organisations to reject the tactics used by the Taxpayers’ Union, as documented in Nicky Hager’s book."New Zealanders don’t like politics precisely because of the shady behaviour of organisations like the Taxpayers Union. Differences of opinion are expected in a democracy, but underhanded, nasty tactics should not be. This is where the political leaders can and should draw the line," says Green Party Co-leader, Chlöe Swarbrick. "Dirty Work shows how the...

Posted at September 23, 2026 12:14 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

democracy and international relations

Luxon Government captured by lobbyists and big business

Trust in law-making in Aotearoa is being eroded by the clear influence of commercial lobbying of Ministers along with large donations to political parties, the Green Party says.A new report from Victoria University of Wellington researchers shows how lobbying works, with examples of industry lobbyists shaping Government decisions on oil field clean-ups, tobacco tax, KiwiSaver, emissions pricing, and climate court cases, often against the advice of officials and public opinion.  “This report makes clear the risks to democracy when agri-business,...

Posted at September 17, 2026 1:22 PM by Marama Davidson

democracy and international relations

Luxon Government decides their final say should outweigh local democracy

National Government has decided its final say matters more than local democracy by taking away the mandate for democratically elected councils to support the wellbeing of communities, says the Green Party.“This is yet another broken promise from a coalition that campaigned on localism and building the relationship between government and councils, only to pass a law that gives Government the final say over those who are locally elected,” says Green Party Local Government spokesperson, Mike Davidson. “The Local Government Systems...

Posted at September 17, 2026 9:13 AM by Mike Davidson

democracy and international relations

Greens call for compensation for people wrongfully affected by welfare cuts

The Green Party is calling for compensation for people who have experienced hardship, debt, hunger, or homelessness from the welfare cuts caused by processing delays due to the Government’s Mandatory Review policy.“The Government needs to include the option of compensation as part of its review into the wrongful welfare cuts, due to be released on 10 September,” says Green Party Social Development Spokesperson Ricardo Menendez March. “If Louise Upston’s apology is genuine, the review must fully account for the harm...

Posted at September 03, 2026 3:00 PM by Ricardo Menéndez March

democracy and international relations

Only a change of Government will ease cost-of-living crisis

The entire coalition Government has made life harder for New Zealanders, which will continue regardless of who is leader, says the Green Party.This morning, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced that he will not step down as Prime Minister and National Party Leader.  Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick says, “Every single MP for National, ACT and New Zealand First is responsible for the highest rate of unemployment in over a decade and a higher cost of living for New Zealanders.”  “As...

Posted at August 12, 2026 2:55 PM by Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick

democracy and international relations

Luxon would rather change our voting system than stand up to Peters

Luxon’s commitment to a referendum on ditching our electoral system is a short-sighted attempt to restore old, tired, establishment politics, says the Green Party. “National are trying to limit voters' choices for an opportunistic, self-serving power grab," says Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson. "If Luxon’s so tired of working with Winston Peters, there’s an easier way than overhauling our entire electoral system: sack him from Cabinet and bring forward the election.” “New Zealanders have consistently voted to keep MMP. They...

Posted at August 06, 2026 1:00 PM by Marama Davidson

democracy and international relations

Government advertised just a quarter of senior governance jobs as two in three go to men

The Green Party is calling for senior governance roles at Crown entities to be publicly advertised, after new research shows only 18 of the 71 people appointed by the Government were recruited through a publicly advertised process. "Appointments to Crown boards and organisations should be fair and transparent. Looking at the data and there is a clear pattern in who this Government hands these jobs to," says Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson. "Three in four of these roles were filled without ever being advertised, two in three appointments went...

Posted at July 28, 2026 2:22 PM by Marama Davidson

democracy and international relations

Green Party launches 2026 election slogan and priorities at Party’s AGM

The Green Party Co-leaders have launched their election slogan and campaign priorities at their AGM today.Following an earlier call for a one year pause on new AI data centres to allow a national conversation on how to protect resources, environment and communities, the Co-leaders launched the Green’s election slogan “For all of us”, and their campaigning priorities. In her speech to members, Swarbrick referenced the Greens’ 2005 Confidence and Supply Agreement with Labour, which established the Buy Kiwi Made programme....

Posted at July 26, 2026 2:50 PM by Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick

democracy and international relations

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 with the United Kingdom, undermining our international reputation and trade relationships."A business wouldn’t get away with the spin and breaches of agreement Luxon’s Government does," says Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick.  "The findings that this Government’s subsidisation of fossil fuel corporations likely breaches our UK Free Trade Agreement and undermine our EU FTA build on Green-commissioned independent, expert legal advice that the Government’s fossil fuel subsidies also breach the Agreement...

Posted at May 26, 2026 10:36 AM by Chlöe Swarbrick