News

  • If kauri trees are to be axed today, what will gutting the RMA bring tomorrow?

    The removal of protection for urban trees by the Government is threatening a 500-year-old kauri tree, and is just the thin end of the wedge if the Government is to gut the Resource Management Act (RMA) further, the Green Party said today. “When it’s ok for one of our oldest and most treasured trees to be chopped down to maximise profit, and allowed under the latest changes to the RMA, there’s something very wrong here. Environmental protection in our legislation...
  • Clearer picture needed on air quality to safeguard our health

    The Government needs to beef up the monitoring of a harmful airborne particle in order to protect New Zealanders’ health, the Green Party said today. The call follows today’s release of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s "The State of Air Quality in New Zealand" report. Among recommendations made by Commissioner Dr Jan Wright was a call for the Ministry for the Environment to include monitoring and reporting of the potentially fatal airborne particle PM2.5. Main sources of PM2.5 in...
  • Broader focus needed for Canterbury air plan to safeguard our health

    Environment Canterbury (ECan) needs to revise the proposed Canterbury regional air plan and beef up its monitoring and controls on harmful airborne particles to protect the health of Christchurch and Timaru residents, the Green Party said today. The call follows today’s release of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s  report on "The State of Air Quality in New Zealand". Among recommendations made by Commissioner Dr Jan Wright was a call for the Ministry for the Environment to include monitoring and...
  • Time for PM to come clean on Pacific spying

    John Key must come clean and tell New Zealanders whether the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) has illegally spied on them during mass information gathering on behalf of the United States of America, said the Green Party today.
  • Approving GE trees in Brazil will have dire implications for New Zealand

    The approval of GE trees by a Brazilian regulatory body will have implications for New Zealand’s clean, green image and potentially the pockets of taxpayers, the Green Party said today. A worldwide protest by GE campaigners of Brazilian embassies and consulates will put pressure on their government to stop the approval of commercial plantations of GE eucalyptus trees. Campaigners against GE will protest at the Brazilian Embassy in Wellington at 12.45pm today. “New Zealand is involved, as tax payer funded...