News

  • National denying Kiwis their basic human right to adequate housing

    The Green Party whole-heartedly supports the Chief Human Rights Commissioner’s call for a cross-party accord on housing, and it’s time other political parties put their petty differences aside for the good of New Zealanders, the Green Party said today. “It’s time to stop playing politics with housing. New Zealanders want affordable, accessible, healthy housing now, and they’re looking at us, their elected politicians, to make that happen,” said Green Party housing spokesperson Kevin Hague. “As the Chief Human Rights Commissioner...
  • Christchurch City needs to step back on asset sales

    Christchurch City Council’s announcement that it has engaged Cameron Partners to provide financial advice on asset sales casts doubt over the value of the consultation process for its Long Term Plan, the Green Party said today. “Mayor Lianne Dalziel is insisting that no decision has been made on asset sales and that the decision will occur only after the consultation has concluded,” said Eugenie Sage, the Green Party’s Christchurch spokesperson. “If that is the case, why on earth would Christchurch...
  • John Key must introduce a Capital Gains Tax before it’s too late

    John Key needs to recognise his government’s policies are driving up house prices and instead adopt the Reserve Bank’s recommendation to introduce a Capital Gains Tax, the Green Party said today. “The Reserve Bank today said John Key’s policies are preventing Kiwis from owning their own homes and that a Capital Gains Tax is needed to stem the demand created by tax-free gains on property investments,” said Green Party housing spokesperson Kevin Hague. “It’s time for the Government to do...
  • Govt ignoring soaring public transport use in Auckland

    The Government should take note of huge increases in Auckland’s public transport patronage figures released today by Auckland Transport and bring forward funding for the City Rail Link, the Green Party said. “The Government should stop delaying and fund the City Rail Link immediately,” Green Party transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter said. “The Green Party will be looking for significant increases in public transport infrastructure investment in Budget 2015. Anything less is short-changing hundreds of thousands of commuters. “At the...
  • Government's Budget announcements for kids can't be trusted

    A huge underspend in special education shows that Government Budget promises can’t be trusted and Ministers have no idea about the real needs of children, the Green Party says. More than $32 million of funding for children with special needs has not been spent by the Government, despite families of children with special needs complaining for years that they’ve been denied the support they deserve. “It’s hard to know whether this is deliberate penny pinching or a complete lack of...
  • National equals the record: seven deficits

    Dark clouds are hanging over the National Government’s tattered image as a responsible manager of the economy following John Key’s hollow pre-Budget speech, the Green Party said today. “John Key’s speech lacks a vision for a better New Zealand. All he announced today is a lower-than-inflation adjustment for research and development spending and a standard school-building programme to keep up with population growth,” Green Party co-leader Russel Norman said. “For years, National has always said that returning the Government’s books...