All New Zealanders should reflect on the situation of LGBTIQ+ people in New Zealand and around the world, say the Chairs of the New Zealand Parliamentary Rainbow Network. “We should all be proud of who we are and while the LGBTIQ+ movement has made significant strides, there is still work to be done,” say Jan Logie, Louisa Wall and Chris Bishop. “The Human Rights Act 1993 protects people in New Zealand from unlawful discrimination because of sexual orientation, yet every...

The Green Party is deeply concerned by today’s report highlighting MSD’s gross intrusion into the private lives of New Zealanders, Green Party spokesperson on Human Rights Golriz Ghahraman said today. The Privacy Commissioner has released a report into illegal behaviour that saw phone records, birthing records and intimate images handed over to the state. “We need to be clear that this sort of privacy breach by the state is completely unacceptable. Human rights cannot be suspended just because people are...

Action is underway to enhance the protection of our precious marine biodiversity in the face of the global biodiversity crisis. An area of South Island coast and ocean the size of Auckland or three quarters the size of Rakiura/Stewart Island is being tagged for protection under a proposal supported by Minister of Fisheries Stuart Nash and Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage. The Ministers have decided to progress a comprehensive marine protection network in the south eastern South Island. Public views...

The Government is today delivering landmark action on climate change – the biggest challenge facing the world and New Zealand. “To address the long-term challenge of climate change, today we introduce the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill to Parliament,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said. “We’ve built a practical consensus across Government that creates a plan for the next 30 years, which provides the certainty industries need to get ahead. “In March this year, tens of thousands of New...

The Green Party has succeeded in Government negotiations to secure a clear legal regime for cannabis legalisation, Chlöe Swarbrick confirmed today. Today’s announcement by the Minister of Justice Andrew Little confirms that: A referendum will be held at the 2020 election The referendum will be on a detailed law, so New Zealanders can see what they are voting for Private cultivation will be regulated There will be a ban on advertising of cannabis products Purchase will only be legal in...

The Green Party welcomes the expansion of free youth mental health support announced today, says Green Party mental health spokesperson Chlöe Swarbrick. “We understand that mental health services are in crisis and that we need urgent solutions grounded in communities. That’s why the Green Party made this a priority in our Confidence and Supply Agreement with the Labour Party,” Chlöe Swarbrick said. “For the last two years I’ve worked with dedicated advocates at Victoria University Students’ Association in their fight...

The Green Party welcomes the release of the Welfare Expert Advisory Group report Whakamana Tāngata: Restoring Dignity to Social Security in New Zealand, Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson announced today.

The Government is taking immediate action to support people into work and improve income security for New Zealanders on benefits, in response to the release of the Government’s Welfare Expert Advisory Group (WEAG) report today.

The Government is backing New Zealanders with innovative ideas to solve our waste crisis Associate Minister for the Environment Eugenie Sage said today as she opened a fresh round of Waste Minimisation Funding.  Applications to this funding round of the Waste Minimisation Fund open on today and close on 29 May 2019.  For more information on the Waste Minimisation Fund visit http://www.mfe.govt.nz/more/funding/waste-minimisation-fund. "I am excited to open this new round of Waste Minimisation Funding. The fund backs New Zealanders with innovative ideas for new projects that help tackle...

“We’ll continue to work with Labour to make our tax system fairer,” Green Party Co-leader James Shaw said today following the Government response to the Tax Working Group release. “The Green Party has long called for a capital gains tax as a way to level the playing field for hard working New Zealanders who have struggled to get ahead. “Taxing income from capital the same way we tax income from work would reduce the wealth gap, fix the housing crisis...