The Government is failing New Zealand households by letting residential electricity prices rise 3.8 percent while inflation is nearly zero, new data released today in the annual ‘Energy in New Zealand’ publication shows, the Green Party said. “Power prices have risen 3.8 percent in the twelve months to March 2015 while inflation was only 0.1 percent in the same time period,” Green Party energy spokesperson Gareth Hughes said. “When an essential household cost like electricity is rising so much faster...

The Green Party is concerned that a Government review of the law that governs state spy agencies may be used to expand their powers, after the Minister in charge of the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) and Security Intelligence Service (SIS) refused to rule out expanding their surveillance powers today.

The Green Party is supporting David Seymour’s Rugby World Cup Bill to Select Committee stage following assurances from the ACT MP and the Government that concerns around public safety will be addressed. “The Bill, as it was yesterday, was undoubtedly problematic – we were concerned that it would allow any bar, anywhere to serve up booze at any hour, and be detrimental to public safety,” said Green Party health spokesperson Kevin Hague. “However, after having discussions with National over the...

John Key needs to unequivocally say whether Foreign Minister Murray McCully misled Cabinet over his actions in the Saudi sheep deal, or provide evidence that he didn’t, the Green Party said today. “All we keep hearing is more obfuscation and word-games from John Key about whether Minister McCully misled Cabinet over his role in this shonky deal,” said Green Party Co-leader James Shaw. “There’s a very simple question here that the Prime Minister needs to answer: Did McCully mislead Cabinet...

The Government’s decision to accept the Green Party’s request to bring a responsible Bill to Parliament to allow more bars to open during the Rugby World Cup games, is being welcomed by the Greens The Green Party yesterday denied leave for an Act Party Bill that would have allowed every licenced premises in New Zealand to stay open in the morning, during many of the 48 rugby world cup games, regardless of where that pub was, or what previous licensing...

National showed in the House today that they have learned nothing from the dairy price collapse and are failing to take reasonable steps to turn a crisis into an opportunity, the Green Party said today. “Bill English showed he’s taking no new initiative in response to collapsing dairy prices in response to questions in the House today,” said Green Party Co-leader James Shaw. “National continue to downplay the impact a $7 billion hole would leave on the economy, the effects...

The Green Party will today be opposing David Seymour’s Bill which will see bars open for longer during the Rugby World Cup. “David Seymour is hijacking Parliament’s time today for a cheap gimmick,” said Green Party health spokesperson Kevin Hague. “This is his ham-fisted attempt to be a ‘man of the people’ but it actually has the potential to cause some real harm to communities up and down the country. “Under David Seymour’s Bill, boozed-up people will be spilling out...

Farmers and rural communities are wearing the cost of the National Government and Fonterra’s strategy of unlimited growth in milk supply, the Green Party said today. “Fonterra’s announcement today that its forecast farmgate milk price has fallen to $3.85/kg of milk solids will put dairy farmers under even more pressure, will increase farm debt, wipe billions off the rural economy and hit communities hard,” said Green Party primary industries spokesperson Eugenie Sage. “The National Government and Fonterra’s preoccupation with growth...

The Government’s attempt to set new rules for more modest pay rises for MPs has failed because the next pay rise will be in line with the average for the previous six years under the old rules, the Green Party said. “After all the fuss for the Government to urgently change the rules earlier this year, it looks like the results of the new system for setting MP pay are pretty much the same as under the old system,” Green...

Genesis Energy’s announcement that it will end coal-fired generation at Huntly in 2018 is welcome news for the environment and shows leadership where the Government has failed to take action, the Green Party said today. “This is the beginning of the end for coal use in New Zealand. This move by Genesis will reduce our carbon emissions significantly and gives us hope for the future,” said Green Party co-leader James Shaw. “Genesis’ coal use at Huntly generated 1,624kt of CO2...