John Key needs to properly explain what is special about the situation in Iraq that merits deployment of New Zealand troops, and New Zealand needs to demonstrate a consistent and constructive approach to international human rights violations, the Green Party said today. “The best way New Zealand can help lessen the misery caused by ISIL in Iraq and Syria is by providing humanitarian assistance and other constructive action there. This is the most urgent need for the people of Iraq...

The Green Party has set its two key political priorities for the next term as tackling climate change and inequality and has issued a challenge to the Government to make 2015 the year it wages war on both.

The Government must show SkyCity who’s the boss and walk away from the dodgy pokies-for-convention-centre deal, the Green Party says. Prime Minister John Key caved to more pressure from the casino bosses today confirming he hadn’t ruled out putting more taxpayer funds into the supposedly free convention centre at the Auckland casino. “As the song goes, you’ve got to know when to walk away and know when to run. It’s time for John Key to run from this dodgy deal,”...

“Kua hinga te whatukura o Ngāti Porou. Kua hinga he rangatira mīharo rawa atu o Te Āo Māori, o Aotearoa hoki. E rere haere ana ngā mihi aroha o Te Rōpū Kākāriki ki te whānau pani me ngā uri katoa o Ngāti Porou e tangi ana i tēnēi wā pouri.” The Green Party is saddened by the death of Dr Apirana Mahuika and extends its love and condolences to his whanau and the Ngati Porou people. “Dr Mahuika was a...

Unpopular changes to the Christchurch district plan are a sign that democratic decision making is still being withheld from the people of Christchurch, the Green Party said today. The significant changes are being made by the Christchurch Central Development Unit (CCDU) and include removing urban design standards, creating the ability to bypass the resource consent process for some new developments, and removing the requirement to notify resource consent applications. “Up to 97% of people who submitted on these changes oppose...

A report released today by the Productivity Commission underlines the need for New Zealand to change its economic direction and invest in smart green innovation, to improve New Zealand’s economic performance, create well paid sustainable jobs, and protect the environment, the Green Party said. The report shows that New Zealand’s labour productivity performance has been poor in recent years and that little of the limited productivity gains have been passed onto workers in increased purchasing power. “The Productivity Commission working...

The Green Party is pleased to see the impacts of climate change taken into account in the Tai Tokerau Northland Growth Study Opportunities Report, released today. “It’s great to see that the authors of this report are thinking about climate resilience in regions like Northland that are likely to experience increased droughts and floods due to climate change,” Green Party economic development spokesperson James Shaw said. “I hope the Government acts on the report’s findings that droughts and floods will...

The Green Party today commended the Government for attempting to redress what has been a chaotic restructuring at the Department of Conservation (DoC) but said the response doesn’t go far enough. “National’s funding cuts caused a major restructuring at DoC 18 months ago which destabilised the department and has put endangered habitats and species at further risk because of the loss of technical expertise and fewer staff,” said Green Party conservation spokesperson Eugenie Sage. “Piloting a new structure in Nelson/Marlborough...

Data released today by Statistics New Zealand shows that the Government is not doing enough to close the digital divide between those who have internet access and those who don’t, said the Green Party. Over 340,000 households – one in four – don’t have internet access, and this rises to as much as 45% of households in poorer areas. Green Party ICT spokesperson Gareth Hughes said: “Programmes like Computers in Homes can reach 1500 households a year with current levels...

A new study on increasing ocean temperatures released today highlights the urgent need for the Government to take action on climate change, the Green Party said today.