The Green Party is concerned a widespread inquiry into how the court system treats sexual violence victims is being watered down. The Green Party understands the Government has decided on a September deadline for the Law Commission’s work on possible changes to the pre-trial and courtroom procedures faced by sexual complainants. “This looks like a lost opportunity to address New Zealanders’ serious concerns about how sexual violence victims are treated in the system,” said Green Party spokesperson for women Jan...

The National Government must rule out KiwiRail’s proposal to replace electric with new diesel trains on the Main Trunk Line, the Green Party said today. KiwiRail is proposing to replace electric trains with more diesel-powered engines in a cost-saving plan to buy a dozen more diesel locomotives from China rather than refurbish or replace the electric units. The move will also put hundreds of jobs at risk. “The Government must ensure the massive investment in rail electrification is protected and...

Despite the National Government’s claim that New Zealand is progressive on human rights, we’re falling behind on best practice especially in areas of child poverty and equality, said the Green Party today.

Further falls in dairy prices overnight highlight why New Zealand needs to diversify its economy, the Green Party said today. Global dairy commodity prices fell further overnight. Whole milk powder, a key price for Fonterra's pay out to farmers, fell another 13.3 percent to $US2538 a tonne. “Our overwhelming economic focus on dairy exports makes New Zealand extremely vulnerable to global dairy prices,” Green Party Co-leader Russel Norman said. “Dairy will continue to be an important export sector for New...

The well-being of children must be the paramount consideration underlining the Government’s review of Child Youth and Family (CYF), the Green Party said today. “CYF has a long history of performance and organisational issues, and has been long in need of an overhaul. The Greens are giving our qualified support to the review announced by Social Development Minister Anne Tolley today,” said Jan Logie, the Green Party’s Social Development Spokesperson. “Many of the problems CYF faces relate to resourcing and...

The National Government’s HomeStart package, which starts today, will likely be absorbed into higher margins for developers according to the Reserve Bank, the Green Party said. The Reserve Bank advised the National Government in June 2014 that its package of HomeStart reforms could “result in increased developers’ profit margins” and, over the longer term, “have the potential to add to existing house price pressures in what is a highly overvalued market”. National reduced the size of the final package delivered...

The sighting of a Maui’s dolphin in an area the Government has just opened up to oil and gas exploration shows how willing Energy Minister Simon Bridges is to sacrifice the environment for oil, the Green Party said today. The Maui's Sanctuary was created to help protect Maui’s dolphins, but it overlaps with areas the Government has offered up for exploration this week. A Maui’s dolphin, one of only 55 adult individuals remaining, was spotted in one of these areas....

After more than a year of campaigning by Green MP Mojo Mathers, the Government has finally agreed to ban cosmetics testing on animals, the Green Party said today. “I’m over the moon that the Government has acknowledged my work on this issue by finally agreeing to ban cosmetics testing on animals,” said Green Party animal welfare spokesperson Mojo Mathers. “I have been working solidly behind the scenes to get this ban through Parliament for some time now. “During the course...

The Green Party is calling on the Government to drop its mean-spirited move to appeal a court decision that respite carers should be paid at least the minimum wage. The Green Party can reveal that Crown lawyers yesterday lodged an application to appeal against an Employment Court decision that respite carers should be paid at least the minimum wage. Currently these workers are paid a daily amount of just $75. The move comes as the minimum wage for other workers...

The National Government looks set to miss the first UN deadline to submit its emissions reduction target for 2030, the Green Party said today. Mexico, Norway, Switzerland and the European Union’s 28 member states have delivered their ‘intended nationally determined contributions’ (INDCs) to the United Nations (UN) ahead of a March 31 deadline. Switzerland has set a target to reduce 1990 emission levels by 50 percent by 2030. The US is committed to meeting the deadline, and China and the...