Today’s Independent Policy Conduct Authority (IPCA) report into the 2014 raid on Nicky Hager’s home confirms that Police conduct was wrong and overstepped the clear legal protections that journalists have to defend their sources and provide independent critical voices in our democracy, the Green Party said. “Police have questions to answer about whether journalists from now on can expect to receive better and more lawful treatment than Mr Hager did. Police need to assure all New Zealanders that they are...

Aucklanders will soon have a new community recycling centre as part of the Government’s plan to reduce the amount of waste ending up in landfills announced Associate Minister for the Environment Eugenie Sage alongside Auckland Mayor Phil Goff in Auckland today. A major new community recycling centre will be developed by Auckland Council in Onehunga supported by $2.2 million of funding from the Ministry for the Environment’s Waste Minimisation Fund. The Waste Minimisation Fund recycles the landfill levy into projects...

The Green Party welcomes grant funding that ensures more low emissions vehicle infrastructure for a clean green New Zealand. “As a Government we’ve set a priority for a clean green future and grants announced today show that being put into action”, said Green Party energy spokesperson Gareth Hughes. “With more resources put in by Government and the private sector, we are increasingly electrifying our roads, freeing us from polluting, gas guzzling vehicles. “There are 29 projects with grant funding that...

A research paper conducted by the University of Otago that was published today has shown a strong link between damp, mouldy housing and hospital admissions for young children with respiratory infections. "This research confirms the extra burden placed on too many families trying to keep their children safe. Poor housing standards that harm children are totally unacceptable”, said Green Party housing spokesperson Marama Davidson. “We need to see more urgent progress on enforcing the Government’s healthy homes standards. Housing New...

A programme to build a skilled tourism workforce and a recovery plan for the critically endangered kākāpō are among the first projects to receive funding through the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL), Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage announced today. An initial investment plan of ten tourism and conservation projects will receive $18 million from the IVL this year, with an expected $42 million to be invested in these ten projects over five years. Kelvin Davis said...

The Green Party has welcomed the release of the Waitangi Tribunal report, which has called for the legislative ban on prisoner voting to be overturned.   Green Party Justice spokesperson Golriz Ghahraman said:   “The Supreme Court, and now the Waitangi Tribunal, has confirmed that denying these New Zealanders the ability to cast their vote on Election Day is an unacceptable breach of their fundamental rights.   “As a result they are excluded from processes that engage them in society,...

As the clean-up of the Fox River draws to a close the Minister of Conservation and Associate Minister for the Environment Eugenie Sage is thanking volunteers and government agencies involved in the massive clean-up since the Government stepped in to unify efforts. “This is a beautiful part of the country and it’s been incredible to see the massive effort put into Operation Tidy Fox to clean up the rubbish in the Fox and Cook Rivers and along the coastline with...

The Government is proposing a new way to deal with environmentally harmful products before they become waste, including plastic packing and bottles, as part of a wider plan to reduce the amount of rubbish ending up in landfills. Associate Minister for the Environment, Eugenie Sage released a public consultation document titled, “Proposed priority products and priority product stewardship scheme guidelines” at the Sustainability Trust in Wellington today. “New Zealanders are proud of our country’s clean, green reputation and want to help...

The Green Party is glad special treatment for oil and gas industries has been winding down since this Government was elected and the last remaining taxpayer funded support measures for fossil fuel industries in New Zealand will be reviewed. In the work program response to the tax working group report the ‘seven-year spreading’ provision, which officials have described as ‘least defendable’, as well as the future of the non-resident oil rig exemption will be reviewed. “Special treatment for oil and...

The Green Party is calling for the controversial Anadarko Amendment to be rescinded after the Murdoch report released today. “Today’s report is a stark reminder of the corrosive effect of the Anadarko Amendment on the legitimate right to protest fossil fuel exploration”, Green Party spokesperson for Energy and Resources Gareth Hughes said today. “National passed this amendment to the Crown Minerals Act under urgency, with no public consultation or Bill of Rights Act vet to protect their friends in the...