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.

“The Local Government Commission needs to pay attention to the vast majority of submitters who opposed the super-city idea,” said Green Party local government spokesperson Eugenie Sage. Plans to create a super-city for Wellington and Wairarapa look to be on hold – for now.  

The Government’s proposed health and safety standards for rental properties are nowhere near enough to fix the shoddy state of cold, damp New Zealand homes and keep Kiwi kids from getting seriously sick, the Green Party said today. “If John Key thinks smoke alarms and insulation will stop our children from falling sick because of the appalling state of the houses they’re forced to live in, he is kidding himself and New Zealanders,” said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei. “Emma-Lita...

Workers in quarries need the same protections as those that work in the mining industry, the Green Party said today. A digger operator buried in a quarry landslide is feared dead after being buried in 1000 tonnes of rubble. Mining safety laws were strengthened following the Pike River mine tragedy but the Government excluded quarries.

The withdrawal of the development consent application to build a residential subdivision at the pristine, world-famous New Chum Wainuiototo beach in the Coromandel is a victory for the local community who have spent years fighting the proposal, the Green Party said. “This is a victory for a strong, organised community and should be an inspiration to other communities who are fighting to protect their natural heritage,” Coromandel-based Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty said. “This is also a victory for our...

Profits from work reshaping the IRD’s IT systems will flow offshore given the IRD has chosen an United States based firm for a potentially billion dollar plus contract to design and supply software, the Green Party said today. American firm Fast Enterprises has won the contract to design and supply the software platform that will run New Zealand’s new tax and social policy administration system. Cabinet has approved $193 million for the project but that is expected to grow to up...

The Government should not extend the privilege of a free trade agreement (FTA) to Saudi Arabia given its highest court has reinforced the penalty of torture for exercising free speech, the Green Party said today.

The Green Party is calling on the Government to make non-recoverable grants to families struggling with power bills this winter, to help prevent more children becoming sick from cold, damp homes. This week coroner Brandt Shortland ruled that a cold, damp Housing New Zealand home may have contributed to the death of Otara toddler Emma-Lita Bourne. The family had been given a heater to warm it but could not afford the electricity to turn it on. "No New Zealand child should...