The Government has forced Solid Energy to the point of no return with a deliberate series of actions and policies, and now wants to sell it off, the Green Party said today. “It’s a relief for Solid Energy’s 540 staff, 200 contractors, and their families and communities, that they still have jobs for the time being, but everyone knows the sun is setting on the coal industry and hundreds of workers are being let down by the Government,” Green Party...

Tertiary students have become significantly more financially distressed since National took office, according to the NZUSA Income & Expenditure Survey out today. The survey shows that almost half (44 percent) of all tertiary students report that that they do not have enough income to meet their basic needs. This results in higher levels of student debt, higher levels of credit card debt, and longer working hours outside of full-time study. Despite the increased need, Government support for students through student...

The Government is failing New Zealand households by letting residential electricity prices rise 3.8 percent while inflation is nearly zero, new data released today in the annual ‘Energy in New Zealand’ publication shows, the Green Party said. “Power prices have risen 3.8 percent in the twelve months to March 2015 while inflation was only 0.1 percent in the same time period,” Green Party energy spokesperson Gareth Hughes said. “When an essential household cost like electricity is rising so much faster...

The Green Party is concerned that a Government review of the law that governs state spy agencies may be used to expand their powers, after the Minister in charge of the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) and Security Intelligence Service (SIS) refused to rule out expanding their surveillance powers today.

The Green Party is supporting David Seymour’s Rugby World Cup Bill to Select Committee stage following assurances from the ACT MP and the Government that concerns around public safety will be addressed. “The Bill, as it was yesterday, was undoubtedly problematic – we were concerned that it would allow any bar, anywhere to serve up booze at any hour, and be detrimental to public safety,” said Green Party health spokesperson Kevin Hague. “However, after having discussions with National over the...

John Key needs to unequivocally say whether Foreign Minister Murray McCully misled Cabinet over his actions in the Saudi sheep deal, or provide evidence that he didn’t, the Green Party said today. “All we keep hearing is more obfuscation and word-games from John Key about whether Minister McCully misled Cabinet over his role in this shonky deal,” said Green Party Co-leader James Shaw. “There’s a very simple question here that the Prime Minister needs to answer: Did McCully mislead Cabinet...

The Government’s decision to accept the Green Party’s request to bring a responsible Bill to Parliament to allow more bars to open during the Rugby World Cup games, is being welcomed by the Greens The Green Party yesterday denied leave for an Act Party Bill that would have allowed every licenced premises in New Zealand to stay open in the morning, during many of the 48 rugby world cup games, regardless of where that pub was, or what previous licensing...

National showed in the House today that they have learned nothing from the dairy price collapse and are failing to take reasonable steps to turn a crisis into an opportunity, the Green Party said today. “Bill English showed he’s taking no new initiative in response to collapsing dairy prices in response to questions in the House today,” said Green Party Co-leader James Shaw. “National continue to downplay the impact a $7 billion hole would leave on the economy, the effects...

The Green Party will today be opposing David Seymour’s Bill which will see bars open for longer during the Rugby World Cup. “David Seymour is hijacking Parliament’s time today for a cheap gimmick,” said Green Party health spokesperson Kevin Hague. “This is his ham-fisted attempt to be a ‘man of the people’ but it actually has the potential to cause some real harm to communities up and down the country. “Under David Seymour’s Bill, boozed-up people will be spilling out...

Farmers and rural communities are wearing the cost of the National Government and Fonterra’s strategy of unlimited growth in milk supply, the Green Party said today. “Fonterra’s announcement today that its forecast farmgate milk price has fallen to $3.85/kg of milk solids will put dairy farmers under even more pressure, will increase farm debt, wipe billions off the rural economy and hit communities hard,” said Green Party primary industries spokesperson Eugenie Sage. “The National Government and Fonterra’s preoccupation with growth...