John Key has completely invented a new poverty measure that drastically underestimates the extent of child poverty, presumably to avoid taking meaningful action in this week’s budget, the Green Party says. In the last week John Key has put the number of children in poverty as low as 60,000, by inventing a new threshold for material deprivation that is higher than anywhere else in the Western world. “John Key promised this budget would be a poverty circuit breaker, but his...

Both the IRD and the Treasury have produced previous advice supporting a capital gains tax, including advice about bright line tests – advice that conflicts with John Key’s statement today that National’s about-face on a capital gains tax was due to new advice, the Green Party revealed today. Documents released to the Green Party under an Official Information Act request show that IRD produced advice for the National Government on a capital gains tax on February 4, 2014 and that...

The Green Party will deliver Kiwi kids a more financially secure future, while reducing inequality, by introducing a national savings scheme for all New Zealand children. The Green Party announced a pre-Budget savings policy today, called Kids’ KiwiSaver, which will provide all newborns a kick-start deposit of $1,000, on-going top-up contributions, and matching savings incentives to assist families to save for their children’s future.

The Green Party is congratulating the Government for beginning to see sense on a capital gains tax, but is warning that limiting it to properties sold within two years of purchase doesn’t go far enough.

The Green Party today joined with dozens of current and former legislators in calling for New Zealand’s trade negotiators to beware of the potential for the United States Government to apply the process of ‘certification’ to the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA).

A new survey from Motu shows New Zealanders are taking action on climate change and that its time for the Government to catch up and reduce its emissions, said the Green Party.

Yesterday’s extreme weather, which caused chaos with Wellington’s transport network, will become more commonplace as climate change worsens, and shows the need for urgent Government leadership to prepare for climate change, the Green Party said today. “Scientists warn we will see heavier rainfall and more intense storms and droughts because of climate change, and the Government has a responsibility to assist communities to prepare and adapt,” Green Party Wellington issues spokesperson Gareth Hughes said. “The Government needs to show leadership...

Urgent action is needed to make the 100% Pure New Zealand slogan authentic, following the revamp of Tourism New Zealand’s marketing campaign with more emphasis on the natural environment, the Green Party said today. “New Zealand’s clean, green image is a major drawcard for tourists but the Government’s inaction on the environment means we run the risk of irreparable damage to the tourism brand,” Green Party tourism spokesperson James Shaw said. “Tourism Minister John Key says 100% Pure is just...

John Key’s lack of oversight of our spy agencies has once again made them the subject of an inquiry by the Inspector General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) into their political spying.

The Office of Auditor General’s (OAG) decision to not investigate Katherine Rich’s potential conflict on the board of the Health Promotion Agency (HPA) has revealed glaring holes in accountability over political appointments to Government agencies, the Green Party says.