The Green Party are calling for common-sense legalisation of festival drug testing before the summer festival season begins.

Vulnerable New Zealanders owing $1.5 billion in debt to the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) shows just how low benefits are, and how we desperately need to put the heart back into our social support system so people aren’t spiralling into further poverty and owing the state money.

Supermarkets should be the next industry to come under scrutiny once the law has passed that allows for the Commerce Commission to properly investigate petrol companies in New Zealand, says Green Party MP Gareth Hughes. 

The Ministry of Social Development’s Household Income report shows that this Government is focusing on the right areas, with it becoming increasingly clear that our poorest are not receiving their fair share, and renters are struggling more and more.

The Green Party is launching a campaign in Auckland to put the heart back into our social support system, so that no one gets left behind, and are urging the community to get involved and come along. 

The Green Party is warning the Government not to pursue a costly war on synthetic drugs that is destined to fail, and to look instead at broad-scale drug law reforms and common sense resourcing to address addiction and mental health rather than criminalising drug users.

As part of Mental Health Awareness week, Green Party mental health spokesperson Chlöe Swarbrick says we have an opportunity to help normalise conversations about mental ill health and well-being.

The Nauruan Government’s decision to ask Doctors Without Borders to immediately leave shows continued callousness towards asylum seekers desperately seeking a safe place to call home, Green MP Golriz Ghahraman said today.

Like many New Zealanders, I am incredibly keen to see the results of the Mental Health and Addictions Inquiry Report.

The Green Party has welcomed a better than expected surplus, which should allow us to invest in communities and ensure increased wellbeing for New Zealanders.