The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor to review New Zealand’s live animal exports rules. “New Zealand’s live animal export laws are in serious need of an update to protect animal welfare and our agricultural brand,” Green Party Animal Welfare spokesperson Gareth Hughes said today. “New Zealand exports tens of thousands of live animals for breeding purposes every year and these animals can face appalling treatment when they arrive in the importing country.” “The...

The Green Party warmly welcome the decision to withdraw all troops from Iraq by June 2020, Green Party Defence Spokesperson Golriz Ghahraman said. “This has been years in the making. I am thrilled that a withdrawal is finally on the horizon after years of advocacy from New Zealanders who strongly believe we don’t need to follow America and Australia into the Iraq war.  “It has been a very constructive experience working with Minister Ron Mark on these issues. The Greens...

The Green Party is glad to finally see the rollout of cameras on selected fishing boats but believes it needs to be scaled-up fast. “We need cameras on all fishing boats as soon as possible to help stamp out illegal practices and protect our fisheries for future generations” says Green Party spokesperson for Fisheries, Gareth Hughes.  “The rollout in its current form is too generous with taxpayer’s money, too narrow and too slow. “Whilst we welcome this first step we...

The Green Party welcomes the Government’s move to provide a funding boost to kōhanga reo, said Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson. “We have seen huge progress revitalising te reo over recent decades, and we owe a lot to the kōhanga reo movement for their role in bringing te reo back from the brink to where we are today. “The government has a responsibility to ensure our indigenous language thrives in Aotearoa, and this begins with our tamariki. “Strengthening te reo...

The dedication by many recipients of Queen’s Birthday Honours to looking after our native plants and wildlife and natural landscapes, and improving environmental management is an example of exemplary leadership, says Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage. “I’m delighted to see the decades of dedication to conservation and the environment recognised today,” Eugenie Sage said. Gary Taylor of Auckland has been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services for the environment and natural resource management.  ...

Parliament has today passed legislation enabling the collection of the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) from 1 July 2019. It will also enable digital processing of the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA), which will be mandatory from 1 October this year.

E te Māngai o te Whare, tēnā koe. Ki a koutou ōku hoa Pāremata, huri noa i te Whare, ngā mihi o te tau hou ki a koutou katoa. 1.         The Wellbeing Budget is based on Green Economics Mr Speaker, for years – many years – the Green Party and our predecessor, the Values Party, have advocated an approach to economics that delivers human prosperity within ecological limits. A growing Gross Domestic Product does not, by itself, deliver a fair...

“The Green Party is proud to welcome New Zealand’s first Wellbeing Budget to deliver change for New Zealanders,” Green Party Co-leader James Shaw said today. “Budget 2019 is a massive boost for the delivery of the Green Party’s Confidence and Supply Agreement. “The major new investments in mental health, strong action on climate change, sustainable land use, and better rail options are a direct result of the Green Party’s campaigning, and we are now in a position to deliver them....

“The Wellbeing Budget is a first step in changing the way we look at the economy and our place in it”, said Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson. “The wellbeing of our people and environment should be at the centre of everything the Government does. I am pleased to see the Government is starting to take this approach for the first time. The economy exists to serve our people and the environment, not the other way around. “Where we spend money...

“The Green Party is proud to welcome New Zealand’s first Wellbeing Budget to deliver change for New Zealanders,” Green Party Co-leader James Shaw said today. “Budget 2019 is a massive boost for the delivery of the Green Party’s Confidence and Supply Agreement. “The major new investments in mental health, strong action on climate change, sustainable land use, and better rail options are a direct result of the Green Party’s campaigning, and we are now in a position to deliver them....