Green Party secures free masks in schools

Political pressure from the Green Party has pushed the Government to supply free masks to kids and teachers in schools across Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Green Party is welcoming an announcement today by COVID-19 Response Minister Ayesha Verrall to provide free masks in schools, and more funding for ventilation.

“We have been the only voice in Parliament consistently calling for better protection for our tamariki and kaiako, and this is a great win for our schools,” says Teanau Tuiono, Green spokesperson for COVID-19 response.

“This follows months of political pressure from our MPs amplifying the calls of experts and doctors to improve the approach to COVID in our schools.

“We are happy to see free masks and more funding for ventilation and heating so kids and teachers are safer over winter. But the Government can do much more.

“We call on the Minister to go further and provide free N95 or equivalent masks to everyone in the country, and to begin work on a long-term fix to poorly ventilated indoor spaces, to keep people safe from COVID-19 and other air borne viruses.

“With cases once again rising, we need to ensure we protect our most vulnerable and follow the science on the best way to slow transmission.”

ENDS

Latest Education Announcements

Story

National’s education policy gets an F

The Green Party has marked the National Party’s new education policy and given it a fail, especially for its failure to address the underlying driv...
Read More

Story

Greens back teachers’ demands

The Green Party backs the demands of the teachers’ strikers.
Read More

Story

Greens back teachers’ strike

The Green Party stands with teachers in their request for fair pay and decision to strike.
Read More

Story

Wage boost for school bus drivers welcomed

The Green Party is celebrating a win following the news that the Government will invest in boosting the wages of rural school bus drivers. 
Read More

Story

Time to support te reo Māori as a core subject and as a medium of instruction

On the 50th anniversary of the Māori language petition, the Green Party is calling on the Government to make te reo Māori a core curriculum subject...
Read More

Story

Pay parity for early childhood teachers, now

A recent decision by the Minister of Education to hold back pay parity for ECE teachers needs changing urgently, the Green Party says.
Read More

Latest Covid19 Response Announcements

Story

Summer COVID plan needed

The Green Party has been left wondering if the Government signed off for the summer break before putting in place a COVID plan. 
Read More

Story

COVID inquiry disappointingly narrow

The Green Party welcomes a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic – but is disappointed with the narrow scope.
Read More

Story

Lasting public health measures needed for COVID response ahead of future waves

Winding down COVID powers does nothing to change the fact that stronger public health measures are needed to protect our immunocompromised and disa...
Read More

Story

Vital public health measures still missing from COVID response

Strong public health measures are more vital than ever, the Green Party says as the Government removes many longstanding COVID-19 restrictions. 
Read More

Story

Better long-term planning needed for COVID

COVID-19 is here to stay and so the Government needs to put in place long-term protection measures, including mandatory ventilation standards, the ...
Read More

Story

Green Party AGM to move online

The Green Party has made the decision to move its 2022 AGM online. Members of the party will not be gathering in Christchurch this weekend.
Read More