The Green Party is calling on the Government to go back to the drawing board on state housing, following Bill English’s admission that he’s now looking at leasing the houses out because there’s little interest from community groups in buying them. “Bill English was banking on there being lots of interest in buying these properties and now that he’s been proved wrong, he’s trying to make do by offering to lease them out to whoever’s interested,” said Green Party Co-leader...

Hekia Parata has broken her word not to open another round of charter school applications this year, the Green Party said today. Under questioning from the Green Party in February, Hekia Parata was asked if she was planning another round of charter school applications this year, her reply was a categoric “No”. The Government announced this morning that there is to be a third charter school application round opening today. “It defies belief that the Government would plough ahead with another...

The Government is creating a country of two halves, with child poverty skyrocketing by 45,000 and a third of all income earners getting no benefit from the so-called rock star economy, the Green Party says.   “The annual household income survey out today is a damning indictment on the Government’s economic plan and shows it is simply not working in the interests of all New Zealanders,” Green Party co leader Metiria Turei said.   “An economy that is not working...

Parliament will get to vote on a simple amendment to the Electricity Industry Act that would guarantee households a fair price for any excess renewable electricity they supply back to the grid, the Green Party said today. Green Party MP Gareth Hughes had a Members’ Bill in his name pulled from the ballot today. The Electricity Industry (Small-Scale Renewable Distributed Generation) Amendment Bill will empower the Electricity Authority to act as an independent umpire setting a fair, reasonable buy-back rate...

The Government has forced Solid Energy to the point of no return with a deliberate series of actions and policies, and now wants to sell it off, the Green Party said today. “It’s a relief for Solid Energy’s 540 staff, 200 contractors, and their families and communities, that they still have jobs for the time being, but everyone knows the sun is setting on the coal industry and hundreds of workers are being let down by the Government,” Green Party...

Tertiary students have become significantly more financially distressed since National took office, according to the NZUSA Income & Expenditure Survey out today. The survey shows that almost half (44 percent) of all tertiary students report that that they do not have enough income to meet their basic needs. This results in higher levels of student debt, higher levels of credit card debt, and longer working hours outside of full-time study. Despite the increased need, Government support for students through student...

The Government is failing New Zealand households by letting residential electricity prices rise 3.8 percent while inflation is nearly zero, new data released today in the annual ‘Energy in New Zealand’ publication shows, the Green Party said. “Power prices have risen 3.8 percent in the twelve months to March 2015 while inflation was only 0.1 percent in the same time period,” Green Party energy spokesperson Gareth Hughes said. “When an essential household cost like electricity is rising so much faster...

The Green Party is concerned that a Government review of the law that governs state spy agencies may be used to expand their powers, after the Minister in charge of the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) and Security Intelligence Service (SIS) refused to rule out expanding their surveillance powers today.

The Green Party is supporting David Seymour’s Rugby World Cup Bill to Select Committee stage following assurances from the ACT MP and the Government that concerns around public safety will be addressed. “The Bill, as it was yesterday, was undoubtedly problematic – we were concerned that it would allow any bar, anywhere to serve up booze at any hour, and be detrimental to public safety,” said Green Party health spokesperson Kevin Hague. “However, after having discussions with National over the...

John Key needs to unequivocally say whether Foreign Minister Murray McCully misled Cabinet over his actions in the Saudi sheep deal, or provide evidence that he didn’t, the Green Party said today. “All we keep hearing is more obfuscation and word-games from John Key about whether Minister McCully misled Cabinet over his role in this shonky deal,” said Green Party Co-leader James Shaw. “There’s a very simple question here that the Prime Minister needs to answer: Did McCully mislead Cabinet...