The National Government can and should reduce New Zealand’s greenhouse gas pollution rather than exploit ‘creative accounting’ in order to meet its climate targets, the Green Party said today. Mr Shaw was responding to the Climate Action Tracker report undertaken by four independent European research organisations:  Climate Analytics, Ecofys, NewClimate Institute and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.  It has developed a method to measure the fairness of governmental climate action efforts. “It looks as though the National Government...

It is extremely disappointing that Aucklanders are being shut out of the resource consent decision-making process for the SkyCity convention centre, the Green Party said today. “The SkyCity convention centre is one of the most significant developments in Auckland this decade and a hugely politically contentious building. It’s extremely disappointing that the public won’t get a say in the non-notified consent process,” Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said. “John Key stitched the SkyCity deal up over dinner thinking only about...

A lack of farmer support for the Ruataniwha dam proposal is yet another reason to pull the plug, the Green Party said today.  New information coming to light from Radio New Zealand shows that many of the farmers who stand to directly benefit from the dam’s subsequent water, can’t make a sound business case for their farm with the increased cost. “With few farmers willing to buy into the scheme it doesn’t make any sense to build this environmentally destructive...

The Government should re-commit to its MoU with the Green Party and the Warm Up New Zealand scheme after announcing that rental homes will be legally required to be insulated, the Green Party said today. “While minimum standards for insulation and smoke alarms in rentals are just two small steps the Government should be taking to keep tenants healthy and safe, we think this is a good opportunity to resurrect the Warm Up New Zealand scheme, which National abandoned in...

The National Government can no longer afford to be complacent on a possible economic slowdown in China given our economy’s high exposure to China and Australia, the Green Party said today. The Chinese Government intervened today with new measures to try and halt the decline of the Chinese stock market, down around 30 percent from its peak last month. The correction has had flow-on effects for commodity prices, with oil and iron ore both falling in value. Iron ore has...

The Government needs to trust the people of Canterbury and return a fully elected, democratic regional council in Canterbury immediately, the Green Party said today. In today’s announcement about the regional council’s future the National Government failed to restore democracy and a fully elected Environment Canterbury Regional Council (ECan). It once again postponed the return of a fully elected council, this time until 2019.

A blip on the Government’s operating balance today is likely to be short-lived and smart, green investment should be considered to kick-start a faltering economy, the Green Party said today. Treasury reported that the Government has recorded an operating balance before gains and losses (OBEGAL) surplus of $1.2 billion in the first eleven months of the financial year that ended last week. “The good news of a government surplus is likely to be short-lived and Treasury’s downside forecasts for the...

The National Government’s paltry emissions reduction target announced today means that New Zealand is not pulling its weight internationally when it comes to climate change, the Green Party said. The Government announced a 2030 emissions reduction target of 30 percent off 2005 levels. This translates to an 11 percent reduction on 1990 levels. “By committing to such a small reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, it means other countries will have to pick up our slack, or we’ll get runaway climate...

Environment Minister Nick Smith should not be endorsing the Taranaki Regional Council’s State of the Environment Report released today, because the Council didn’t follow his Ministry’s own rules when collecting the water quality data. “Nick Smith should not be endorsing a report which paints an incomplete picture of water quality in the Taranaki region,” said Green Party water spokesperson Catherine Delahunty. Ms Delahunty was referring to the public release of the Taranaki State of the Environment Report, by Nick Smith...

Stimulatory spending to help boost the economy can also help address climate change, the Green Party said today. ANZ Chief Economist Cameron Bagrie yesterday called for central and local Governments to move to a more stimulatory fiscal stance. “If the Government is smart, any new stimulatory spending to boost the economy can address climate change at the same time,” Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said. “For smart, new capital expenditure, the Government can move forward spending on Auckland’s City Rail...