The Green Party is challenging the Education Minister to say whether she has instructed officials to refuse to issue information under the Official Information Act in order to protect the Government from being held accountable. “The Government is refusing to release information related to 30 mouldy and leaking schools, and possibly 30 or more additional schools, and the Minister needs to explain why,” Green Party education spokesperson Catherine Delahunty said. “It appears the Ministry of Education is being used to...

The Green Party is appalled by the lack of compassion John Key is showing by refusing to increase the refugee quota immediately.

The Green Party has launched a climate plan today showing it’s possible for the Government to set a much more ambitious emissions reduction target that New Zealanders can be proud of. 

The Green Party is calling for herbicide tolerant (HT) swedes to be removed from sale after a Dairy NZ report today confirmed high levels of toxins in the swedes have led to cows dying. “Dairy NZ are telling farmers to stop feeding HT swedes to cows in spring when the animals are in late pregnancy or early lactation, but we want to see the use of HT swedes stop altogether,” said Green Party GE spokesperson Steffan Browning. “HT swedes have...

The Green Party is calling on the Government to follow through with a recommendation from the Cycling Safety Panel to protect people who cycle with mandatory safe passing distances. “It’s vital that the Government follows through on the Cycling Safety Panel’s recommendation for mandatory safe passing distances to protect people who cycle,” Green Party transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter said. “It’s good to see practical solutions recommended like different safe passing distances for low speed and high speed roads. “The...

The Green Party is calling on the Prime Minister to guarantee that the refugee quota will be filled to the maximum this year in light of the growing crisis around the world.

John Key must listen to the people of Coromandel and walk away from the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) negotiations because of the power the TPPA could give overseas corporations like Oceana Gold over the New Zealand Government, the Green Party said. “Oceana Gold, which is buying the Waihi Gold Mine, is already suing the El Salvador government for $470 million and if New Zealand signs up to the TPPA, we could be next,” Green Party Coromandel-based MP Catherine Delahunty...

The Green Party is encouraging gardeners to use untreated seed for their spring planting to protect bees from pesticides this September, which is Bee Aware Month. A group of pesticides known as neonicotinoids have been implicated as one cause of declining bee populations. Seeds are frequently treated with neonicotinoids to kill soil plant pests but get taken up in plants right through to the flowers. “By treating seed with neonicotinoids, manufacturers put bees at risk,” said Green Party pesticide spokesperson...

John Key has once again been caught overstating how many refugees New Zealand has accepted under his Government.

New data that shows slowing economic activity and record low business confidence confirms that National’s brand of complacent economic management and protecting the status quo isn’t working, the Green Party said.   The Treasury’s Monthly Economic Indicators, released today, show GDP growth falling to around 2 percent and job creation slowing. ANZ’s business confidence survey shows the lowest level of confidence since 2009. “With economic activity slowing, unemployment rising, and business confidence at its lowest since the Global Financial Crisis, it’s...