News

  • Key on the wrong side of history in ocean conservation vote

    The Green Party is calling on the Government to back a motion at the World Conservation Congress to preserve 30 percent of oceans as marine reserves. Prime Minister, John Key has said it was “very unlikely” that New Zealand would support a motion to make 30 percent of national waters Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) by 2030. Member states are voting on the motion at the World Conservation Congress being held in Hawaii this week. "By not supporting this motion, John...
  • Rushed housing law changes made up in six weeks

    The National Government rushed to change the law governing Special Housing Areas (SHAs) in just six weeks, the Green Party said today. Responding to an Official Information Act request, Building and Housing Minister Nick Smith said that on 28 June 2016 he had received no information or advice to date about the expiry of the Auckland Housing Accord, extending the Accord, or new initiatives to replace the Accord. SHAs in Auckland have been created through the Auckland Housing Accord. Smith...
  • Greens oppose band-aid housing Bill

    The Green Party will oppose Housing Minister Nick Smith’s latest hurried and inadequate attempt to fix the housing crisis, which is being pushed through Parliament under urgency today. “This Bill is a band-aid for a broken housing market and won’t do anything to fix the underlying problem that the market is not building enough affordable houses,” Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said. “The Government always knew the Special Housing Areas (SHAs) were going to expire, so there’s no good reason...
  • Pacific needs aid, not spin from Govt

    The National Government needs to provide much more dedicated aid to help Pacific countries adapt to climate change, rather than simply rebranding its economic development assistance, the Green Party said today.
  • One million reasons to change the Government

    Auckland’s average house price hit one million dollars today, as National tried to put a band-aid on the housing crisis with rushed new legislation to stop Special Housing Areas falling apart, the Green Party said. “Aucklanders wanting to buy their first home now have one million reasons to change the Government,” Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said. “National has shown time and time again that they’re focussed on helping their property speculator mates, not helping first home buyers. “John Key’s...
  • Govt failing duty of care for Indian students

    Indian students facing deportation from New Zealand are victims of fraud, and the Government should allow them to stay, the Green Party said today. The Government has issued nine students with deportation orders after discovering that their India-based education agents used fake documents to secure their study visas in New Zealand, and hundreds more students face a similar situation. “Punishing students whose families have invested tens of thousands of dollars in their education is completely unfair,” said Green Party immigration...
  • Green MP Kevin Hague is to leave Parliament to take up a new role as CEO of Forest and Bird

    “Kevin has made a huge contribution to the Green Party and the green movement and we are truly sorry he is leaving Parliament,” said Green Party Co-Leader Metiria Turei. “Kevin has been an excellent advocate for Green policies over many years. He has worked tirelessly and effectively, for the Green Party and with other political parties. We will miss his passion and his wisdom,” said James Shaw. “Kevin’s achievements in parliament include championing accountability and workplace health and safety in the...
  • National letting speculators control housing market

    Action is needed to rebalance the housing market in favour of families who need somewhere to live, the Green Party said today. New data from Core Logic shows that property investors who already own multiple properties are buying the largest share of homes in Auckland. “We need action to rebalance the housing market so that it’s serving people who need somewhere to live, not speculators looking to cash in on the housing crisis,” said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei. “The...