-
Questions need to be asked following Super Fund’s $200 million loss
Serious questions need to be asked about how the New Zealand Superannuation Fund (the Fund) lost $200 million of taxpayers’ money from a high risk investment in a Portuguese bank. The Fund invested US$150 million through a Goldman Sachs investment vehicle into the Portuguese bank Banco Espirito Santo (BES). The loan reportedly generated a return of up to 3.5 percent yet the risk was assessed by ratings agency Moody's as being “speculative and a high credit risk”. Less than a...
-
Fruit fly discovery reveals inadequacy of biosecurity measures
The discovery of a Queensland fruit fly in Grey Lynn, Auckland, this week reinforces how flimsy New Zealand’s biosecurity measures are, the Green Party said today. “The Ministry of Primary Industries is insisting that this find is not evidence of an outbreak. However, this is the fifth time a Queensland fruit fly has been discovered in New Zealand since May 2012,” said Green Party biosecurity spokesperson Steffan Browning. “If this is not an outbreak, it still begs the question how...
-
Meridian privatisation lines pockets of investors
The partial privatisation of Meridian Energy has led to higher power prices and sent $625 million worth of bloated profits into the pockets of investors, the Green Party said today. Meridian announced today that revenue had risen 22 percent to $1.3 billion, and that it would pay out an additional special dividend of $625 million over five years. “Meridian was the largest of the power companies that National partially privatised and the Green Party always said that those strategic assets...
-
Investigation into pesticide a positive move for bee health
The Green Party welcomes a report by the Local Government and Environment Select Committee calling for the Government to review a pesticide that has been partially banned overseas and may be responsible for bee deaths. The report, which was tabled in Parliament today, is in response to a petition signed by nearly 6,600 people in 2008, calling for greater protection measures for bee health. It was driven by former Green Party MP Sue Kedgley. Among other recommendations, the report says...
-
Great that Govt has backed down on SkyCity handout but it still has questions to answer
This is a victory for everyone who has let the Government know that its plan to give SkyCity casino millions of dollars of taxpayers money for their building costs overruns was irresponsible
-
Better monitoring of pesticides and GE needed
New Zealand could be a world leader in green agriculture and food production but our reputation is at risk from our increasing reliance on pesticides and unsustainable practices.
-
NZ foolishly signs up to failed war strategies
The National Government is repeating a failed strategy by committing troops to the latest phase of the on-going Iraqi conflict said the Green Party today.
-
Green Party backing the Black Caps
The Green Party is sending its very best wishes to the Black Caps as they begin their quest to win the ICC Cricket World Cup tomorrow. “To win the World Cup on home turf would be an amazing achievement for the Black Caps and our country. With Brendon and the boys playing as well as they have been, we’re in with a real shot,” said Green Party MP (and cricket fanatic) Kevin Hague. “We have had some fantastic New Zealand...
-
Greens call on Super Fund to divest from fossil fuels
The Green Party today called on the New Zealand Superannuation Fund (the Fund) to divest from fossil fuels, starting immediately with coal
-
Report shows Government failing on violence against children
The Salvation Army’s report A Mountain All Can Climb shows the need for the Government to do more to address the issue of violence against children, said the Green Party today. The report, released today, shows that recorded offences against children increased by 3.5% over the year to 30 June 2014 and has increased 56% from 2009 figures. The increase in offences against children in the 2013-2014 year was almost entirely due to reported assaults on children, which increased by...