The Government’s weak strategy for cleaning up fresh water won’t undo years of abuse, unless we change our farming model, and take a hard long look at how we develop land in this country, the Green Party said today. The comments come on the back of a report by the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor Sir Peter Gluckman, which found that some waterways are beyond tipping point and others will take decades to recover. “When even National’s science advisor is...

The Green Party’s Home for Life Policy is a way to achieve the social and economic gains of getting people into their own homes, outlined in a new report by the New Zealand Housing Foundation and BERL Economic Research released today. Green Party policy would see thousands of families buy their own affordable home through a progressive ownership rent-to-buy programme. “Home ownership is out of reach for too many working families, and it’s time to turn that around with a...

Today’s report from the Waitangi Tribunal is a wake-up call about National’s failure to tackle Māori overrepresentation in the justice system, the Green Party said today. The Tribunal found the Department of Corrections in breach of the Treaty principles of equity and active protection because of an insufficient focus on Māori  reoffending, and has recommended urgent reforms. “What we are seeing is more evidence of a Government which is content with doing the bare minimum. Today’s findings from the Tribunal should...

Radical changes to the school funding system have not been thought through and will ultimately mean less funding for schools, the Green Party said today. The Government has announced that the school decile system will be scrapped and replaced by a new predictive index which targets individual children at risk. “What this will ultimately mean in the long run is less money for schools who are working with communities with fewer resources”, said Green Party education spokesperson Catherine Delahunty. “The...

Today’s report from the Waitangi Tribunal is a wake-up call about National’s failure to tackle Māori overrepresentation in the justice system, the Green Party said today. The Tribunal found the Department of Corrections in breach of the Treaty principles of equity and active protection because of an insufficient focus on Māori  reoffending, and has recommended urgent reforms. “What we are seeing is more evidence of a Government which is content with doing the bare minimum. Today’s findings from the Tribunal should...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/91311264/naenae-church-demands-government-action-on-vacant-housing-nz-land

The Green Party has criticised the United States for acting unilaterally in its cruise missile attack on Shayrat airfield in Syria. That attack was launched following the reported use of chemical weapons against civilians in a town in northern Syria several days ago. “This hasty military action by the US, without consultation with other major powers, threatens global security,” said Green global affairs spokesperson Kennedy Graham. “We expect and deserve cooler heads than this from our global leaders. No wrong...

National’s failure to address the rising cost of living and lack of student support is hitting students hard in their back pocket, the Green Party said today. New data released by the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations shows that students are struggling to afford to pay for rent and basic necessities, particularly in Auckland. “National should be making it easier, not harder, to make ends meet while studying in New Zealand,” said Green Party tertiary spokesperson Gareth Hughes. “Access...

The Green Party says it's irresponsible of Paula Bennett to dismiss a tourist levy to help pay for infrastructure and conservation, when small communities are staring down the barrel of an extra 1 million visitor over the next five years. Tourism Minister Paula Bennett said she does not support a tax on tourists over the weekend. “The whole country benefits from tourism, but it's ratepayers in areas like the Mackenzie Country, West Coast, and the Queenstown-Lakes District who foot the...

The Green Party has today released its initial party list for the 2017 election – and it includes a mix of fresh new talent and experienced hands, Co-leader James Shaw said. The initial list has been put together by delegates and candidates who attended the Party’s February candidates’ conference. Delegates were able to put candidates through their paces and evaluate their performance. The initial list now goes to party members nationwide to vote on. The Green Party uses STV voting....