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...

Lianne Dalziel’s budget plan, announced today, will see Christchurch’s profitable assets sold in three years, said the Green Party. 

The Green Party is calling for the Government to immediately insulate and fix the 30 percent of state homes that it has neglected to insulate so far, despite promising to do so. “Every New Zealand child deserves to live in a warm, healthy home. We cannot have another case like Emma-Lita Bourne – it’s an absolute disgrace that this is happening in 21st century New Zealand,” said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei. “We know this Government has been a negligent...