Green Party supports Budget 2021 which will help those in poverty

The Green Party supports the 2021 Budget which increases income support for New Zealanders living in poverty, and we’ll continue to push for a long term commitment to lift all New Zealanders out of poverty. 

The Budget also invests over $2.1 billion in climate related initiatives, including $300 million to quadruple the size of the Green Investment fund to kick-start low carbon technologies while we await the Climate Change Commission recommendations, which will guide the next round of climate action from Government. 

Additionally, the commitment to recycle ETS revenue from next year's budget into Green initiatives will mean approximately $3 billion towards climate action in the coming years. 

“We know that increasingly, New Zealanders have struggled to get by, compounded by the housing crisis that is locking New Zealanders out of a secure, warm, accessible home,” says Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson.

“The Greens alongside community groups have long pushed to end poverty here in Aotearoa. Whether it be the redistribution of wealth with tax reform and a Guaranteed Minimum Income, or the implementation of the WEAG recommendations.  

“We all deserve a strong social safety net that helps people live with dignity. That’s why we are pleased to see this increase in support, in line with the recommendations of the Welfare Expert Advisory Group.

“I’m proud of the funding allocated in my Ministerial delegation to transform the way we address family violence and sexual violence in this country, this too will help those struggling the most in this country”. 

Green Party Co-leader James Shaw says Budget 2021 has important wins for the climate, building off last term which saw the establishment of the Zero Carbon Act, the Climate Change Commission, the Green Investment fund, and fixing the Emissions Trading Scheme. 

“Addressing the climate crisis requires a range of measures, both large and small, and Budget 2021 includes important wins for the climate, however we know there is more to do. 

“When we get the Climate Change Commission’s final advice, work will start immediately on an Emissions Reduction Plan detailing how we will meet our climate targets. This signals our next big step towards climate action. 

“Whilst we await that advice, putting $300 million into the Green Investment Fund will mean we continue moving towards net zero carbon as a country. 

“The next part of our climate work, the Emissions Reduction Plan, will need to cover every part of the economy – including, but not limited to, finance, energy, transport, waste and agriculture.

“I’m also really pleased that we will use funds from polluters, through the ETS on Green initiatives as of 2022, this amounts to approximately $3 billion on climate action. 

“We know we have much more to do. If we are going to meet the scale of the climate crisis, this term every Minister must be a Climate Change Minister. We have to work together to protect our planet now to ensure the future of our kids and grandkids. 

“I’m thrilled that we are also seeing action on climate change with $1.3 billion for regional rail, and an additional 47,000 warmer kiwi homes that will receive heating and/or insulation.  

The Greens are glad to see the Cooperation Agreement working, allowing for ongoing wins for people and the planet. 

“We’re really happy that our partnership with Labour has resulted in key Ministerial wins in the areas of climate action, biodiversity with more funding to tackle kauri dieback, family violence and sexual violence, and homelessness”, says James Shaw. 

ENDS

Latest Climate Change Announcements

Story

IPCC report shows 2023 is a ‘now or never’ climate election

“This is it; 2023 will be the last opportunity New Zealand has to get a government that will confront the climate emergency with the urgency it dem...
Read More

Story

Greens back School Strike demands

The Green Party backs the demands of the School Strike for Climate.
Read More

Story

Greens not on board with fossil fuel subsidy

The Green Party is calling on the Government to provide direct support to low-income households and to stop subsidising fossil fuels during a clima...
Read More

Story

Green Party backs School Strike demands

The Green Party backs the demands of the School Strike for Climate.
Read More

Story

Big emitters will have to do more to cut emissions

The biggest polluters will have to do more to help meet climate targets because of changes the Government is making to decade-old settings that hav...
Read More

Story

Pricing must cut agriculture emissions

Cutting climate pollution must be the number one priority for Cabinet when considering how it intends to price agricultural emissions, the Green Pa...
Read More

Latest Finance Announcements

Story

Tax the banks

Instead of creating an appeal fund and one-off lotto draw, the Labour Government could tax the billions of dollars banks have made in unearned, exc...
Read More

Story

Urgent action needed to support families

 The tools exist to help families with surging costs – and as costs continue to rise it is more urgent than ever that we use them, the Green Party ...
Read More

Story

BPS constraints risk impacting low income people the most

The Government will constrain itself unnecessarily at Budget 2023 unless it changes the tax system to raise revenue from the wealthiest few which c...
Read More

Story

Case for excess profit tax on banks clearer than ever

The Government should adopt an excess profits tax and use any revenue raised to help people make ends meet, following the rise in the Official Cash...
Read More

Story

Tax excess profits, don’t leave it to the good will of large corporations

The Green Party is once again calling on the Government to introduce an excess profits tax and use the money to support people, rather than relying...
Read More

Story

RBNZ report strengthens case for excess profit tax and more income support

A drop in household income from rising bank interest rates further demonstrates the need for an excess profits tax, the Green Party says.
Read More

Latest Social Development Announcements

Story

Govt must urgently wipe MSD debt

The Green Party is calling on the Government to clear debt people are being forced into by MSD, and support those doing it toughest. 
Read More

Story

Additional cyclone support needed for people

The Green Party welcomes the relief funding announced today and calls on the Government to go further by providing additional direct support to peo...
Read More

Story

Greens call for Civil Defence Payment to be doubled

The Green Party is today calling on the Government to double the maximum Civil Defence Payment for Aucklanders affected by flooding.
Read More

Story

Greens welcome childcare support, call for more action

The Green Party is welcoming the modest support for families announced by the Labour Government but calling for more urgent action to ease the pres...
Read More

Story

Benefit stats show urgent need to wipe Work and Income debt

The Government needs to clear the debt that MSD has forced hundreds of thousands of low income people to take on and immediately lift benefits, say...
Read More

Story

Welfare support must keep pace with inflation

The tools exist to lift every family out of poverty – and as costs continue to rise it is more urgent than ever that we use them, the Green Party s...
Read More