A strong case remains for holding an independent inquiry into the allegations contained in the book Hit and Run, following yesterday’s press conference held by the NZ Defence Force (NZDF), the Green Party said today. “Without an inquiry there will be ongoing speculation about what happened in Afghanistan. These allegations risk eroding New Zealanders’ trust in their Defence Force," said Green Party Co-leader James Shaw. "Rather than conducting a tussle of competing claims via the media, it would be better...

     

The Green Party is thrilled to have had a Member’s Bill drawn from the ballot today that offers a concrete solution to fix the gender pay imbalance in New Zealand. Green Party MP Jan Logie’s Equal Pay Amendment Bill was today pulled from the ballot. If passed, it will require all employers to publish information about how much men and women are paid for doing the same job in their organisation. Women currently earn 13 percent less per hour, on...

The Government needs to set a clear deadline for when all KiwiSaver providers should have divested from companies involved in the manufacture of cluster bombs, landmines, and nuclear weapons, the Green Party said today. Radio New Zealand today revealed that four default KiwiSaver providers — ANZ, Westpac, Kiwibank, and Mercer — continued to profit from investments in companies involved in the manufacture of cluster bombs, landmines, and nuclear weapons. Jacqui Dean, Minister for Commerce and Consumer Affairs, expects all KiwiSaver...

The Government’s decision to allow oil drilling in 35.5 percent of the North Island Maui’s dolphin sanctuary, as well as along the shores of picturesque Lake Te Anau and close to Fiordland National Park, creates major risks for New Zealand’s clean and green tourism brand, the Green Party said today. “There are only 63 Maui’s Dolphins alive and drilling for oil and gas in the area that’s supposed to be their sanctuary puts every one of them at risk,” said...

The National Government’s research and development (R&D) strategy has failed, with a lower proportion of businesses now engaging in R&D than when they took office, the Green Party said today. The Statistics NZ Business Operations Survey released today shows that in 2009, eight percent of businesses engaged in R&D. In 2016, that number had fallen to seven percent. Labour productivity data also out today tells a similar story, with labour productivity growth at its lowest levels, over the growth cycle,...

National must put politics aside and open an independent investigation into allegations around the conduct of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) in Afghanistan, the Green Party said today. Nicky Hager and John Stephenson’s book ‘Hit and Run’, released last night, details the alleged killing of civilians in Afghanistan following a joint US-NZ raid, allegedly in retaliation for the death of a New Zealand solider. “These allegations are very serious and New Zealanders deserve full and frank answers about what...

The Green Party has today launched a petition calling on the Government to put a fair price on the commercial use of water, including for bottling water and irrigation. On Monday, Prime Minister Bill English chose to defer a decision on whether to price freshwater until after the election. Yesterday the OECD recommended New Zealand price water to improve water use efficiency and ensure the public gained from the sale of this collective resource. “New Zealand’s freshwater rules are unfair....

The Government faces a bill of up to $855 million over the next 25 years as New Zealand’s aging oil rigs come to the end of their life, the Green Party revealed today. The Crown is liable for tax and royalty rebates equal to 42-48 percent of the total decommissioning cost for each of the five oil rigs in New Zealand waters, according to documents released to the Green Party under the Official Information Act. Energy and Resources Minister Judith...

The Green Party in government will prioritise reducing climate pollution to net zero in New Zealand by 2050. The commitment follows the release of a cross-party report outlining how New Zealand could eliminate climate pollution this century. The ‘Net Zero in New Zealand’ report, commissioned by a cross-party group of MPs, shows a fundamental shift is needed in the way we farm and the way we power our transport system and heavy industries, if New Zealand is to compete in...