News

  • SkyCity: You've got to know when to walk way, and know when to run

    The Government must show SkyCity who’s the boss and walk away from the dodgy pokies-for-convention-centre deal, the Green Party says. Prime Minister John Key caved to more pressure from the casino bosses today confirming he hadn’t ruled out putting more taxpayer funds into the supposedly free convention centre at the Auckland casino. “As the song goes, you’ve got to know when to walk away and know when to run. It’s time for John Key to run from this dodgy deal,”...
  • Green Party mourns Dr Apirana Mahuika

    “Kua hinga te whatukura o Ngāti Porou. Kua hinga he rangatira mīharo rawa atu o Te Āo Māori, o Aotearoa hoki. E rere haere ana ngā mihi aroha o Te Rōpū Kākāriki ki te whānau pani me ngā uri katoa o Ngāti Porou e tangi ana i tēnēi wā pouri.” The Green Party is saddened by the death of Dr Apirana Mahuika and extends its love and condolences to his whanau and the Ngati Porou people. “Dr Mahuika was a...
  • Christchurch emergency powers allow Govt to ignore public opinion

    Unpopular changes to the Christchurch district plan are a sign that democratic decision making is still being withheld from the people of Christchurch, the Green Party said today. The significant changes are being made by the Christchurch Central Development Unit (CCDU) and include removing urban design standards, creating the ability to bypass the resource consent process for some new developments, and removing the requirement to notify resource consent applications. “Up to 97% of people who submitted on these changes oppose...
  • Productivity Commission report underlines the need for smart green innovation

    A report released today by the Productivity Commission underlines the need for New Zealand to change its economic direction and invest in smart green innovation, to improve New Zealand’s economic performance, create well paid sustainable jobs, and protect the environment, the Green Party said. The report shows that New Zealand’s labour productivity performance has been poor in recent years and that little of the limited productivity gains have been passed onto workers in increased purchasing power. “The Productivity Commission working...
  • Northland Growth Study highlights importance of climate-resilient economic development

    The Green Party is pleased to see the impacts of climate change taken into account in the Tai Tokerau Northland Growth Study Opportunities Report, released today. “It’s great to see that the authors of this report are thinking about climate resilience in regions like Northland that are likely to experience increased droughts and floods due to climate change,” Green Party economic development spokesperson James Shaw said. “I hope the Government acts on the report’s findings that droughts and floods will...
  • The Government’s back track on DOC restructuring is not enough

    The Green Party today commended the Government for attempting to redress what has been a chaotic restructuring at the Department of Conservation (DoC) but said the response doesn’t go far enough. “National’s funding cuts caused a major restructuring at DoC 18 months ago which destabilised the department and has put endangered habitats and species at further risk because of the loss of technical expertise and fewer staff,” said Green Party conservation spokesperson Eugenie Sage. “Piloting a new structure in Nelson/Marlborough...
  • Govt must do more to close the digital divide

    Data released today by Statistics New Zealand shows that the Government is not doing enough to close the digital divide between those who have internet access and those who don’t, said the Green Party. Over 340,000 households – one in four – don’t have internet access, and this rises to as much as 45% of households in poorer areas. Green Party ICT spokesperson Gareth Hughes said: “Programmes like Computers in Homes can reach 1500 households a year with current levels...
  • Time for WCC to grab Key’s cycling money

    The Green Party is urging Wellington City Councillors to take on board Prime Minister John Key’s comments and not vote today to hold up progress on cycleways. At yesterday’s post-Cabinet press conference Mr Key said: “I think we’ve got the capacity with the government resources, and working with the council, to complete some of those cycleways in a reasonable timeframe. I don’t know why the council is slow at the moment on these particular issues given the mayor is a...