The Government needs to pick up the pace on cleaning up toxic sites, following new analysis that shows its Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund has been underspent almost every year since it was established, the Green Party said. The funding analysis comes after a RadioNZ investigation highlighted the slow pace of toxic site clean-up. “The Government talks the talk on cleaning up toxic contamination, but if it’s not spending the money it says it will on actually cleaning up the sites,...

The 5,000 children and young people in Child Youth and Family (CYF) care need an immediate child-centric approach, including a transition plan, to prioritise their wellbeing in the planned Government reforms of CYF, the Green Party said. The Children’s Commissioner’s State of Care report, out today, is an independent monitor of CYF services that are provided for our most vulnerable children, and raises concerns about how the transition process will affect the children already in care. “The 5,000 children and...

The Green Party says the Environment Canterbury Regional Council is failing in its role to protect Canterbury’s rivers and the natural environment, following the release of new information showing it didn’t bother to monitor over 80 percent of the resource consents it was meant to.

The Green Party is reiterating its call for Health Minister Jonathan Coleman to urgently undertake an inquiry into mental health services, or risk more people needlessly suffering and dying because of inadequate care and oversight. The call comes after the release of a damning ombudsman’s report into the treatment of Ashley Peacock, and after the mother of Wellington man Samuel Fischer has spoken out about issues with the care her son received from Capital and Coast District Health Board leading...

National’s decision to veto Labour’s paid parental leave Bill today is another example of the Government choosing to make excuses instead of doing what’s right for families, the Green Party said. The Bill had enough support from other parties in Parliament to become law and extend paid parental leave from 18 weeks to 26 weeks. “The Government should be doing what’s right for babies, parents, and families because that’s what’s right for the whole country, but National is full of...

Today’s GDP numbers fail to capture the increasing numbers of families sleeping in cars and declining water quality in our rivers and lakes, the Green Party said today. Gross domestic product (GDP) statistics released today by Statistics New Zealand show that the economy grew by 0.7 percent in the March 2016 quarter, but only grew 0.1 percent when population increases were accounted for. “Once increasing population pressures are factored in, the economy grew by just 0.1 percent this quarter,” said...

The Government must learn from its mistakes with the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), not repeat them with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade deal, the Green Party said today. RCEP is a proposed trade agreement between 14 Asian countries, Australia, and New Zealand. Negotiations were held in Auckland this week. These included a public engagement session at which Trade Minister Todd McClay and officials heard questions and concerns from organisations and business stakeholders. “Comments from the Government suggest...

The Government’s continued undermining of Te Puea Marae is disgraceful, and does a disservice to the homeless people who are being helped by the marae, the Green Party said today. “The Government has spent more time undermining Te Puea Marae than supporting its exceptional work in helping the homeless. Paula Bennett’s office leak is the worst example of this underhanded and unnecessary behaviour,” said Green Party social housing spokesperson Marama Davidson. “The fact is, Te Puea Marae has made the...

The Green Party is joining with youth, justice and disability groups in calling on the National Government to raise the age of youth justice to include 17-year-olds today, and help improve the lives of thousands of young people. A Government Bill before the House today will consider changes to the Child Youth and Family Act and has the ability to raise the age of youth justice from 16 to 17-year-olds. “Allowing 17-year-olds to be included in the youth justice system...

Refugees in New Zealand need more Government support to help them make a good life for their family, not judgemental political dog-whistling, the Green Party said today. “The Government has the ability to substantially increase support services for refugees in New Zealand to help them with language learning, employment and social integration,” said Green Party immigration spokesperson Denise Roche. “Increased support from the Government and community groups will help refugees adapt to the Kiwi way of life – not forcing them to...