Greens continue to call for Pacific Visa Waiver

people and communities

Greens Bill pushes to stop supermarkets binning edible food while families go hungry

The Green Party has introduced a Member’s Bill that would require New Zealand’s largest supermarkets to partner with food rescue organisations so perfectly good food reaches people instead of landfill.“Food is abundant. In a country that grows enough food to feed millions, no one should be going hungry while perfectly good kai is thrown away,” says Green Party Zero Waste spokesperson Kahu Carter. The Waste Minimisation (Food Waste) Amendment Bill is modelled on France’s Garot Law. It would require the...

Posted at July 23, 2026 3:26 PM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

Green Party calls for union membership as default setting for new employees

 The Green Party is backing unions through the Automatic Union Membership Members' Bill, which would make union membership the default setting for new employees.  "Workers are the backbone of our economy and this country. Unions give workers a voice in their workplace and help fight for their rights and best interests," says Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson.  “This will also be a policy we will be taking into the election, but we want to act now if the current government...

Posted at July 16, 2026 9:18 AM by Marama Davidson and Teanau Tuiono

people and communities

Greens commit to tax the super-rich and large corporates fairly, cut income tax for 96%

The Green Party has announced their 2026 tax policy ‘a tax system for all of us’ today. Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick says, “All New Zealanders deserve the opportunity to thrive. Today we are proud to announce a tax policy that will tackle inequality and corporate greed to rebuild our country and put more money in the pockets of 96% of New Zealanders.” “People aren’t dumb. They know that while their cost of living has gone through the roof, corporate profits...

Posted at June 21, 2026 1:10 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick and Marama Davidson

people and communities

Homelessness at historic levels in New Zealand

The Green Party says the Government’s new funding for homelessness, announced yesterday, is a drop in the bucket to address the crisis in New Zealand.  "This is the worst homelessness in our history, with 57,000 women homeless and half of all homeless people under the age of 24. The Government's response has been a drop in the bucket to meaningfully address this crisis," says Green Party housing spokesperson Tamatha Paul.  "The Housing First waitlist is rising while 33% of emergency housing...

Posted at June 18, 2026 2:18 PM by Tamatha Paul

people and communities

Pasifika left behind by Budget 2026

Today Nicola Willis delivered a third Budget in a row which prioritises the super-rich and powerful over Pasifika peoples, says the Green Party.“This is a heartless Budget that continues to punish Pasifika peoples,” says Green Party Spokesperson for Pacific Peoples, Teanau Tuiono.   “At a time when Aotearoa has more kids in poverty, more people are homeless, and more people without work, it is Pasifika people who are suffering the most.   “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples, which the Coalition parties have used as a political football for years, is facing close to $3 million in funding cuts. That is close to $3 million in funding cuts to initiatives that directly relate to our Pasifika wellbeing.   “Pasifika...

Posted at May 28, 2026 3:03 PM by Teanau Tuiono

people and communities

Government miss child poverty targets

The Green Party says this year's Budget show the Government is failing to meet child poverty targets.“This budget does nothing to lift the 100,000’s of children now living in poverty, even as the Government's own child poverty report confirms it is not on track to meet the targets it is legally bound to hit.”  Budget documents show the Government missing both 2027 and 2026 targets for children living in poverty adjusted for housing costs, with this number still at almost 20%.  "Behind every one of these numbers is a tamaiti going without a warm...

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

people and communities

Government rushes disability bill through Parliament without disabled people at the table

The Green Party says the Government has failed disabled people by rushing the Strengthening Disability Support Services Bill through its first reading just days after it was quietly introduced, with little warning and no meaningful consultation with the disability community.“Nothing about us without us is supposed to mean something in Aotearoa. Instead, disabled people were blindsided,” says Green Party Disability Spokesperson Kahurangi Carter. “This bill was introduced on Monday night with no consultation with disabled people and, incredibly, disability groups...

Posted at May 22, 2026 1:55 PM by Kahurangi Carter

services and systems

Bill drawn to ensure young people aren't made homeless when leaving Oranga Tamariki

The Green Party bill requiring the government to make sure young people leaving state care have a safe, stable home to move into has been drawn as a member's bill today, the same day the Government begins the process of criminalising homelessness."On the day this Government chooses to punish people for being homeless, we are choosing to make sure no young person leaving state care ends up on the street in the first place," says Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson. ...

Posted at May 21, 2026 2:08 PM by Marama Davidson

people and communities

Luxon backs anti-trans bill as families struggle to pay the bills

The Government should be focused on the cost-of-living crisis facing whānau across Aotearoa, not pushing through NZ First's Definition of a Woman and Man Bill, says the Green Party."People are struggling to pay the rent and the power bills. There is so much this Government should be focusing on," says Green Party Rainbow communities spokesperson Kahu Carter.  "Luxon has chosen to vote in favour of this Bill while communities are warning it will cause real harm, kids are going hungry, and people...

Posted at May 21, 2026 10:43 AM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

Greens oppose rushed disability support law changes

The Green Party is opposing the Government’s Disability Support Services Bill, saying disabled people and whānau have once again been shut out of decisions that directly affect their lives.“The Government introduced this Bill without consultation with disabled communities, despite acknowledging that the proposals were sensitive and directly affected disabled people and carers,” says Green Party Disability spokesperson Kahu Carter.  “Nothing about us without us. Disabled people and whānau deserve to be part of decisions that affect our rights, wellbeing, and daily lives.” ...

Posted at May 20, 2026 10:16 AM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

We’re committed to generations of storytelling through Auckland Polyfest

Surrounded by festival goers this morning at Auckland Polyfest 2026, The Green Party announced that a Green Government would bridge the funding gap currently faced by Polyfest organisers.“Polyfest is whakapapa, Polyfest is healing: Polyfest is the best of us. The Green Party wants to preserve and protect this,” says Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson. "Polyfest is currently underfunded by over $1 million, creating real uncertainty about its future. “Aotearoa can be a country that resources our storytellers to thrive. The Green Party celebrate and support...

Posted at March 19, 2026 10:05 AM by Marama Davidson and Teanau Tuiono

people and communities

Child poverty stats highlight Government's failing record

The Green Party is calling out this Government's record on child poverty following the release of the latest child poverty statistics.  "It's clear this Government has done nothing to reduce child poverty, choosing landlords and the wealthy over our tamariki," says Green Party Co-leader and Child Poverty spokesperson, Marama Davidson.   “Today’s figures show 1 in 7 children are living in material hardship. That means their households are struggling to afford their basics needs: food, clothing, heating and transport.   “For Māori and pacific children, the...

Posted at February 26, 2026 2:25 PM by Marama Davidson

people and communities

Greens welcome launch of People's Select Committee report on Pay Equity

The Green Party has welcomed the release of the report from the People's Select Committee on Pay Equity. "This report makes clear what we have said all along: the Government's decision to make it easier to underpay people and limiting pay equity access is yet another attack on women," says the Green Party's spokesperson for women, Kahurangi Carter.  "The Government underestimated how badly this would go down with the public. Today, the workers this Government tried to silence have found their voice, and it is powerful."  "Make no mistake: this...

Posted at February 24, 2026 10:39 AM by Kahurangi Carter and Julie Anne Genter

people and communities

First step toward recognition of trans rights in healthcare

The Green Party welcomes this morning’s High Court decision granting The Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa’s (PATHA) application to halt a ban on life-saving medication for trans youth, until a full review can be heard.“Trans rights are human rights and our trans whānau deserve access to critical healthcare,” says Takatāpui and Rainbow Communities spokesperson, Kahurangi Carter. “This is a step in the right direction in the fight for trans rights to be recognised and upheld, and it affirms the...

Posted at December 17, 2025 3:16 PM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

Inflated student loan debt stopping New Zealanders from coming home

After collating stories from over 400 New Zealanders living and working overseas, the Green Party is calling for an urgent cross-party inquiry into the student loan repayment scheme for overseas-based New Zealanders.“The system isn’t working, because it isn’t fair,” says the Green Party's Overseas New Zealanders spokesperson, Lawrence Xu-Nan. “We should be welcoming our friends and whānau home for Christmas, but for many of those living overseas with student loans, they’re simply too worried about their debt . “78 per...

Posted at December 09, 2025 11:02 AM by Lawrence Xu-Nan