Green Party MP Barry Coates won the Sustainability Champion award at last night’s Sustainable Business Network Awards in Auckland. The awards recognise those who are working to create a more sustainable New Zealand. “I’m really grateful to receive this award. Creating a more sustainable world was a huge part of my life before I became an MP, and I am pleased to be continuing with that work in my new role too,” said Mr Coates. “It was great to see...

18 November 2016   Green Party MP Barry Coates won the Sustainability Champion award at last night’s Sustainable Business Network Awards in Auckland. The awards recognise those who are working to create a more sustainable New Zealand. “I’m really grateful to receive this award. Creating a more sustainable world was a huge part of my life before I became an MP, and I am pleased to be continuing with that work in my new role too,” said Mr Coates. “It...

Hypertargeting of students, through “a risk index”, in a new education funding review has missed the point that the whole public education system needs more funding, the Green Party said today.   The education funding review decisions announced today by Minister of Education Hekia Parata will see 19 indicators used to make a risk index for each student, and the controversial bulk funding proposal has been dropped.   “Schools desperately need extra money, but this hyper targeting is going to...

Results from the New Zealand Health Survey (NZHS) show that many young Kiwis are not getting the primary healthcare that they need, the Green Party said today. There has been an increase in the number of 15-24-year-olds who can’t afford to see their GP, from 12.3 percent to 16.2 percent. This represents 108,000 young New Zealanders who are not able to access the healthcare that they need. “Our young people need to be able to go to their GP when...

National's two Fossil of the Day awards for hypocrisy on climate change shows it’s not doing much better than climate denialists like Donald Trump, the Green Party said today. At the international climate conference in Marrakech, New Zealand received two Fossil of the Day awards – presented by environmental NGOs to countries obstructing action on climate change. New Zealand received one award for calling on other countries to end fossil fuel subsidies, despite continuing to subsidise oil and gas exploration in...

The Green Party wishes to offer its condolences to the loved ones of the people who died as a result of yesterday morning’s earthquake. The Party also wants to thank the countless number of emergency services personnel, civil defence staff, and media who are helping to keep people safe and informed following the quake. “It’s heart-breaking that two people have lost their lives, and others have been injured, because of yesterday morning’s events,” said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei. “On...

Global climate experts have exposed an enormous credibility gap between the National Government's rhetoric on climate change and its actions, the Green Party said today. New Zealand’s response to climate change has today been labelled ‘inadequate’ for the fourth year in a row by Climate Action Tracker – an international group of climate science researchers. New Zealand is ranked below the European Union, China, USA and India. "Climate experts are effectively calling out the National Government for greenwashing," said Green...

The eye health of 44 New Zealanders’ has been compromised, and some have suffered partial sight loss, because of an overwhelmed health system that is not able to treat patients quickly enough, the Green Party said today. The latest annual report from the Health Quality & Safety Commission into “adverse events” in our hospitals also shows a large increase in clinical management issues across the country in a range of departments, up from 205 in 2014-15 to 245 in 2015-16. Clinical...

New Zealand and other countries must step up and take the lead on climate change action following Donald Trump’s election, the Green Party said today. Donald Trump has previously said he would take the US out of the Paris Climate Agreement, and rescind President Obama's executive actions on climate change. “Now more than ever, we must put our planet’s future first, and ensure the progress we’ve made on climate change doesn’t go to waste," Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said....

The National Government has abused the parliamentary process to push through changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will increase ministers’ power and stop the public from having a say, the Green Party said today. The Government has today announced that it has made a deal with the Māori Party to get the Resource Legislation Amendment Bill through its second and third readings, which will make sweeping changes to the RMA. “Changes to the RMA will give more power...