The Green Party today released a climate change snapshot of the Asia-Pacific region which highlights that the region is home to the countries with the highest greenhouse gas emissions and the countries that will be most impacted by climate change. The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand released its snapshot report at the Asia-Pacific Greens Federation Congress in Wellington today. In attendance were representatives from Green parties from the Asia-Pacific region including Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan,...

New research from the NZTA shows that the Government needs to rethink its transport spending priorities, the Green Party said today. “It’s crystal clear that people want fast, affordable, and efficient public transport, but the Government continues to pour billions into a few expensive highways instead,” Green Party transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter said. The NZTA’s Public Transport and the Next Generation report shows that transport patterns and choices are fundamentally changing: young people already use public transport more than...

National has made New Zealand’s live export ban meaningless by skirting it, which is why the laws need to be made watertight, said the Green Party today.

The decision to restore Christchurch’s Town Hall is a victory for the people of Christchurch and a validation of their democratic rights, the Green Party said today. “Since the earthquakes, Cantabrians have become all too used to Government-appointed bureaucrats making decisions without any real mandate, and without hearing the public’s concerns or heeding their wishes,” said Green Party Christchurch issues spokesperson Eugenie Sage. “By voting to restore the Town Hall, rather than bowl it, the Council has listened to the...

The latest Wikileaks documents prove the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) is a threat to Pharmac, and New Zealanders access to affordable medicine, the Green Party said today. The leaked documents include a series of principles and procedures by which agencies like Pharmac must operate. These procedures are designed to let the pharmaceutical industry challenge Pharmac’s decision-making process, rendering Pharmac less effective at saving money.

Revelations that 50,000 live sheep are being shipped to Mexico highlights massive inconsistencies in the Government’s live animal export policy says the Green Party.Revelations that 50,000 live sheep are being shipped to Mexico highlights massive inconsistencies in the Government’s live animal export policy says the Green Party.

The decision to cut the Official Cash Rate today is the right one but will add fuel to Auckland’s rapidly rising house prices unless central government acts swiftly and smartly, the Green Party said today. The Reserve Bank Governor reduced the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to 3.25 percent today citing low and falling inflation, an overvalued exchange rate, and subdued wage inflation expectations as the reasons for the cut.  “Graeme Wheeler has finally done the right...

The New Zealand Superannuation Fund has been increasing its investment in the world’s dirtiest coal companies over the last three years despite large declines in their value as the world dumps coal to save the climate, the Green Party said today. New analysis from the Parliamentary Library shows that the Superannuation Fund (the Fund) has increased the value of its investments in the world’s twenty dirtiest† coal companies from $29 million at June 30, 2011 to $36 million at June...

The OECD’s New Zealand report is an urgent wake-up call that shows the level of affordable housing supply is nowhere near enough, particularly in Auckland, and that we need a state-sponsored building programme to catch up, the Green Party said today. “The OECD report recognises that the housing market and the Government’s current policies are failing New Zealand families ­– it’s high time John Key, Bill English and Nick Smith got with the programme and acknowledged that too,” said Green...

The Green Party is mourning the loss of trade union economist Peter Conway, and expresses its deepest sympathies to his family after his death today.