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More oil company subsidies and more power price increases under National
Power prices are set to rise further under National along with our carbon emissions, as outlined in its Energy and Resources policy announced this morning, the Green Party said today. National has announced a further $8 million of new subsidies for oil companies and no new initiatives to curb rising electricity prices, up 27 percent since 2008 despite residential demand falling by 2.6 percent. “National is taking New Zealand down a path of dirty energy and rising electricity prices. Three...
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NZ on the cusp of more kids in poverty under National
Three more years of National will see even more New Zealand kids growing up in severe poverty because John Key has announced no plans during the election campaign to reduce child poverty, says the Green Party. Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei is campaigning in Wellington today promoting the party’s $1 billion plan to reduce child poverty. “Just last week John Key said he's confident his government has done everything it can to reduce child poverty. In fact, thirty five thousand...
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Key wrong to use cyber protection to justify spying
John Key is trying to scare and confuse New Zealanders by saying mass surveillance by the GCSB is needed to achieve the country’s cyber protection, the Green Party said today. The Green Party in Government would look to remove the cyber protection functions from the GCSB and put them into a separate agency solely focused on that activity. “Our cyber protection is undermined by being carried out by spies. What we need is a separate agency whose 100 percent focus...
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Pay decision great, but more needed for home care workers
The decision to pay home care workers for the time they spend travelling to clients is a great first step that should be followed by pay equity and a significant rise in their base pay, the Green Party said today. Unions representing care workers reached an agreement today with the Government and home support providers that will see workers paid for the hours they spend travelling between clients. "This decision was long overdue. The Human Rights Commission concluded more than...
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Greens to build three times more cycleways than National
"The Green Party will build three times the length of safe, separated cycleways than National over the next three years," said Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman today. Dr Russel Norman joined Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown to cycle the route of one of the new, planned cycleways connecting Island Bay to Wellington's city centre. "We've been waiting too long for National to build safe, separated cycleways to ensure New Zealanders can cycle safely around our towns and cities," Dr Norman...
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Go ahead for charters schools wrong
The Green Party is warning all four organisations named as new partnership schools by Education Minister Hekia Parata today that they will have no future under a new Government. Ms Parata's decision to name the four organisations breaks with a long held convention for the Government of the day to refrain from making significant political decisions in the days before an election. "This decision should not have been made just days before an election, which could ultimately lead to charter...
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Green Party launches plan for cleaner, cheaper, smarter energy
The Green Party today launched its plan for cleaner, cheaper, smarter energy with a target of reaching 100 percent renewable generation by 2030.
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Green Party launches plan to boost ICT and create jobs
The Green Party has today launched a $30 million plan to boost New Zealand's ICT sector, create jobs and drive innovation.
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Greens recommit to cross-party work to eliminate child poverty
The Green Party today recommitted to working with all other political parties on a cross-parliament plan to eliminate child poverty in New Zealand. The Child Poverty Action Group today launched its major policy paper of the election Our Children, our Choice: Priorities for Policy, which calls for cross party political agreement on an action plan to on child poverty. “The Green Party is the only major party committed to ending child poverty,” Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said. “We have...
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Public option for KiwiSaver will keep fees low
A public option for KiwiSaver will reduce fees, saving KiwiSavers tens of thousands of dollars over the lifetime of their investment, the Green Party said today. KiwiSaver research company Canstar released a report today showing KiwiSaver fees are rising faster than inflation. Canstar says a few dollars in fee savings can add up to a substantial difference over the life of an investment, and your retirement savings. "The Green Party is going to add value to people's KiwiSaver scheme by...