Environment Canterbury (ECAN) must take responsibility for Canterbury’s waterways running dry, and wind back water takes so that even in times of low rainfall, water is protected, the Green Party said today. There are several reports of spring-fed headwater tributaries of Christchurch’s Ōtākaro/Avon River drying up completely.   “There were warning signs that taking too much water on the plains from aquifers that feed the Ōtākaro/Avon River had a detrimental impact on city streams and rivers,” said Green Party Canterbury spokesperson Eugenie...

The Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) must reveal the 9,700 emails it has tried to hide regarding the swamp kauri trade, and front up over why it has concealed information, the Green Party said today. The High Court has said MPI must release the emails to Northland Environment Protection Society (NEPS), which NEPS wants for its judicial review case that MPI allegedly breached the Forests Act by allowing export of ancient swamp kauri logs and planks. “Minister for Primary Industries Nathan...

The Green Party is calling on the ACC Fund to not invest public money in the Ruataniwha dam. ACC is reportedly part of a consortium of public investors who are likely to fund 100 percent of the dam’s build costs, along with Crown Irrigation Investments and regional council-controlled Hawke’s Bay Regional Investment Company. Most of the rivers in the Ruataniwha catchment already exceed acceptable nitrate levels. “The case for the Ruataniwha dam doesn’t stack up economically or environmentally, and ACC...

The Green Party is calling on local authorities around the country to follow Christchurch City Council’s lead today and review the amount of glyphosate – a probable carcinogen – it uses to control weeds. Christchurch City Council voted to restrict the use of glyphosate to control weeds in areas not accessible to the public, and to use fatty acid weedkillers and manual techniques in public spaces like parks and residential areas. “Local authorities are becoming more aware of the hazard...

The Green Party is calling on local authorities around the country to follow Christchurch City Council’s lead today and review the amount of glyphosate – a probable carcinogen – it uses to control weeds. Christchurch City Council voted to restrict the use of glyphosate to control weeds in areas not accessible to the public, and to use fatty acid weedkillers and manual techniques in public spaces like parks and residential areas. “Local authorities are becoming more aware of the hazard...

The Green Party welcomed today’s cut in the Official Cash Rate (OCR) but restated that the Government’s failure to take the heat out of the Auckland housing market meant risks remained for further house price increases. The Reserve Bank today reduced the OCR by 25 basis points to 2.25 percent. “We welcome the long overdue decision to lower the OCR which will be a relief to indebted dairy farmers and households paying off their mortgages,” Green Party finance spokesperson Julie...

The Green Party absolutely stands against any expansion of the powers of the spy agencies to intrude on the private lives of ordinary New Zealanders.

The Government must rule out mass sales of New Zealand rural land to overseas buyers if it’s to avoid a double disaster as the dairying slump forces farmers to the wall, the Green Party says. Finance Minister Bill English this morning admitted the dairy industry is in an extreme scenario yet he had no solution to offer farmers other than that he hoped they’d “get through”. “New Zealand is facing the prospect of a double disaster as the dairying slump...

National’s back-down that led to “zero hours” contracts being outlawed today is a massive victory for working people, families, and unions who have fought against unfair employment practices, the Green Party said. “This is a huge win for the tens of thousands of people across New Zealand who’ve had no guaranteed hours of work and had to sit at home hoping for a shift that never came,” Green Party workplace relations spokesperson Denise Roche said. “When National first introduced the...

The National Government’s lack of a plan to shift New Zealand to electric vehicles will have contributed to Nissan’s decision to stop selling its Leaf electric car new in New Zealand, the Green Party said. The Nissan Leaf was formerly the most affordable electric car (EV) available new in New Zealand. “There is a huge opportunity for electric vehicles to cut our contribution to climate pollution and our $6 billion annual oil import bill but the National Government is being...