Steven Joyce’s first – and final – Budget gives with one hand, takes away with the other, and gives the biggest break to the wealthiest New Zealanders, the Green Party said today. “National has always been long on grand announcements and short on real results. Steven Joyce’s first – and final – Budget is no different,” said Green Party Co-leader James Shaw. “The only pie Bill English should be eating today is humble pie. We’ve had nine years of National...

Any new version of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) without the United States (US) must be brought back to Parliament for scrutiny and examination, whether Bill English thinks it’s necessary or not, the Green Party said today. The Prime Minister has been reported saying a revised TPPA would “not necessarily” need to go back to Parliament, while leaked Crown Law advice says it would. “The TPPA without the US is potentially a very different beast. It would be dishonest...

The Government was told in 2011 by its own Savings Working Group that property investment enjoyed unfair tax advantages over savings, but National has consistently ignored the advice and the housing crisis it has fuelled, the Green Party said today. A new book, Tax and Fairness, out this month says an unfair tax system works in favour of property investors over everyday savers and KiwiSavers. “It’s good that Steven Joyce today recognised the need to tax income fairly but his...

The Green Party has a plan to help all Kiwi kids have a great start to life, by giving parents more financial support and more flexibility at work. Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei today launched the ‘Budget for All Mothers’ policy package which is aimed at reducing time and money pressures for parents, and improving long-term outcomes for children. “We want every single Kiwi kid to have a great start to life. That’s a Green Party priority, and we make...

Laws allowing overseas ownership of key New Zealand companies such as Silver Fern Farms need to be tightened to protect our economy and all New Zealanders, the Green Party said today. The comments come on the back of news that Silver Fern Farms, part-owned by Shanghai Maling, is to close a meatworks in Ashburton, costing 370 jobs. “Laying off nearly 400 people is a disaster for Ashburton. Shanghai Maling’s part-ownership of Silver Fern Farms was meant to bring substantial benefits...

A report released today shows that tackling child poverty is critical to improving the mental health outcomes of our young people, the Green Party said today. The Child Poverty Action Group has released its literature review into child poverty and mental health today in Auckland, with Green MP Julie Anne Genter attending. “There’s a clear link between child poverty and mental health issues.  Stress, inadequate nutrition, and insecure housing all impact on family function and children’s mental health. As soon as...

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) must take every precaution possible to stop the spread of myrtle rust disease, including stronger movement controls, after news of it being detected in a nursery in Taranaki, the Green Party said today.

The Government’s small injection of funding into Teach First NZ won’t address the workforce problems that are affecting New Zealand schools and students, the Green Party said today. “There are more kids coming through schools and lots of teachers leaving teaching. This Government hasn’t done the work required to ensure there are enough teachers to teach,” said Green Party education spokesperson Catherine Delahunty. “There needs to be a workforce plan for how our country will address looming teacher shortages, and...

After years of denying there is a housing crisis and refusing to see government building as a solution, National’s U-turn today is too little too late, the Green Party said today. “Auckland is already 40,000 homes short and needs 15,000 more a year just to keep up with population growth. National’s new policy to build an additional 26,000 homes over the next decade just isn’t enough to fix the problem,” Green Party Co-leader James Shaw said. “It’s taken until election...

New Zealand's water bottling saga has reached a new low with the West Coast Regional Council shutting the public out of its decision to grant consents allowing a bottling operation near Mount Aspiring National Park, the Green Party said today. Okuru Enterprises has been given the final consents it needs to go ahead with plans to pipe glacial water from near Mount Aspiring National Park directly onto tanker ships offshore of Jackson Bay. “It’s completely unfair that New Zealanders have...