We will tackle unacceptable levels of inequality and environmental damage through reorienting taxation, regulating markets, bolstering environmental protection, investing in people and innovation, and strengthening education. We will ensure that a Green economy supports all New Zealanders, promotes gender and pay equity, recognises and values unpaid work, and provides a just distribution of our nation's wealth. Through Green transformation we will create a richer future for ourselves and for future generations.
Vision
A regenerative economy enables all people to thrive within nature’s bounty.
Values and Principles
Policy decisions must be consistent with the following values and principles:
- Honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi: Economic policy should equitably meet the Crown's obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and draw Māori into control of their whenua through the returning of lands and economic prosperity. The tino rangatiratanga of hapū and iwi for economic measures should be adhered to through the implementation of Matike Mai.
- Ecological Wisdom: The economy should be shaped so that it provides quality of life over generations, combats climate change and environmental degradation and maintains the capacity of global and local ecosystems to sustain themselves, and protects valued natural environments, as aligned with Māori values, tikanga and mātauranga Māori.
- Social Responsibility: Basic material security and sufficient income for all, and a fair distribution of the economy's benefits and burdens, will lead to better outcomes for all members of our society.
- Appropriate Decision-Making: Economic policy should empower all people to choose a level of material consumption that is sufficient and within ecosystem capacity at local, national and global levels. It should involve positive engagement and collaboration with tangata whenua.
- Non-Violence: Economic policy should actively counter economic activity that involves exploitation and oppression and seek to address inequities resulting from colonisation and other historic and ongoing violence.
- Resilience: Economic policy should build the capacity of Aotearoa New Zealand's economy and our social networks to withstand and adapt to economic and ecological shocks.
- Efficiency: Economic policy should seek to get the most long term benefit from each resource and from resource use across society, enhancing productivity and minimising waste.
- Fiscal responsibility: Economic policy will ensure that the total (public and private) debt and international position of Aotearoa New Zealand are at sustainable levels so current and future generations are able to pay for infrastructure, goods and services.
- Creativity: Economic policy needs to foster creativity, innovation and sustainable technology that reduces resource use and supports human well being.
Strategic Priorities
The Green Party’s strategic goals include:
“A significantly greater proportion of the government budget will be spent enabling Aotearoa to achieve [the vision of this policy and goals related to: action on the climate crisis; equity, compassion and inclusive communities; protecting and restoring the environment and biodiversity; and honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi].
Our nation will have a progressive tax system that supports our social, economic, and environmental objectives.”
Actions in this policy that will help achieve this include:
- Support and resource development of the Māori economy, including ensuring economic policies recognise the importance of whānau, whenua and kaitiakitanga to Māori economic development. (1.1)
- Implement a Tiriti-based economic strategy that eliminates the dependence of economic systems on growth and ensures economic activity is resilient and occurs far beneath ecological limits. (2.1)
- Ensure that tax policy contributes to the overall quality of life of New Zealanders and the sustainable development of Aotearoa New Zealand (…) (3.2)
- Ensure that public investment effectively furthers the transition to a fair and sustainable economy. (...) (3.11)
Connected Policies
This policy is highly connected to our Sustainable Business, Household Livelihoods, and Community and the Economy Policies. Other policies relate to specific economic sectors, including Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Energy, Forestry, Marine and Tourism. Aotearoa New Zealand within the global economic system is considered in our Trade and Foreign Investment and Global Affairs Policies.
