The Green Party in government will send a New Zealand Navy vessel to the Southern Ocean, to ensure Japan adheres to international law when it resumes whaling early next year. The pledge comes on the heels of the Green Party’s announcement yesterday that it will establish New Zealand’s largest marine mammal sanctuary in the South Taranaki Bight. “It’s our moral obligation to stand up to Japan and show that we will not stand idly by while vessels from that country...

National’s parental leave policy is a last minute U-turn that still leaves tens of thousands of new parents and babies without support, the Green Party today. Today Bill English announced the Government’s support for 22 weeks paid parental leave, after vetoing Labour MP Sue Moroney’s bill proposing 26 weeks leave last year. “It’s high time that New Zealand families got better support to raise kids, but this new policy still leaves thousands of families without financial help when their children...

The Green Party today announced that, in government, it will create New Zealand’s largest marine mammal sanctuary, to protect a blue whale feeding ground off the South Taranaki coast from destructive activities, including seabed iron sands mining. Green Party leader James Shaw made the announcement together with Ngāti Ruanui on a beach near Patea, Taranaki, where people formed a human chain to show their opposition to a recently granted seabed mining permit off the coast. “Critically endangered blue whales are...

The Green Party has reiterated its commitment to universal te reo Māori in schools, following National’s education announcement yesterday. “It’s good that National is open to Kiwi kids learning a second language and te reo Māori should be at the front of the queue. We want a more ambitious plan for te reo Māori in schools, and the Green Party will make that happen in government,” said Māori development spokesperson Marama Davidson. “Te reo Māori is one of the official...

The Green Party announced today that in government it will work with councils to retain the passenger rail service between Palmerston North and Wellington and increase the number of daily services. Horizons and Greater Wellington Regional Councils have presented a business case to political party leaders seeking $3.2 million from government, over three years, to retain the Capital Connection service while investigations are made to upgrade to a multi-trip service in 2021/22. “While National was content keeping the Capital Connection...

The record-high annual suicide statistics released today shows why the Government must urgently initiate a nationwide mental health inquiry, the Green Party said today. The provisional statistics found 606 Kiwis took their own life in 2016-17 year, which is the highest number of suicide deaths since provisional statistics were first recorded by the Coroner’s Office in 2007/08. “The number of Kiwis who are tragically taking their own lives reflects the failings in our broken mental health system,” Green Party health...

The Green Party today announced a progressive plan to protect our oceans and the places we love with a ban on plastic bags, refunds on drink containers, a phase-out of plastic packaging, and a commitment to sending zero waste to landfill by 2050. The Green Party’s plan will: Enable “cash for containers” drinking container refund programmes nationwide. Put in place an immediate 20 cent charge on single use plastic bags, with 15 cents going to community groups for environmental clean-ups...

The Green Party announced today it will seek to pass binding climate change legislation in the first 100 days in Government.  Green Party leader James Shaw made the commitment to a Zero Carbon Act on Newshub’s The Nation debate this morning. “If we are to treat climate change like our generation’s nuclear free moment, we need to back that up in law”, said Green Party leader James Shaw. “Successive governments have allowed New Zealand’s climate pollution to keep growing. Only...

The Green Party says that the National Government's decision to send more soldiers to Afghanistan is a mistake. The Government has announced today that they will send three non-combat troops to Afghanistan, following President Trump’s announcement this week that he would immediately beef up the United States’ military presence there. “We do not believe that any more Kiwi troops should be sent into danger in Afghanistan, and a Green Government would bring them back” said Green Party Co-leader James Shaw....

Greens announce light rail for the Capital in a decade   The Green Party today announced a plan to work with councils to deliver light rail from the railway station to Wellington airport by 2027 and fast track a fully-electric bus fleet for the city.   The Green Party’s transport plan for Wellington includes commitments to work with councils to: ·         Build an electric light rail line, running separate from traffic, from the railway station to...