The Salvation Army’s report Taking Stock: The Demand for Social Housing in New Zealand, released today, confirms that the National Government’s policies have been a driving factor in creating the housing crisis, the Green Party said today. The report shows a net decrease of state housing stock by Housing New Zealand from around 69,000 in 2009 to 67,282 in 2016 (including Tamaki Regeneration houses). The Green Party’s own analysis of a Question for Written Answer shows that Housing NZ only...

Mental health workers need to be paid fairly so that droves of people don’t leave the sector while it is in crisis, the Green Party said today. “The Government needs to act quickly to ensure that mental health workers are being paid fairly, otherwise essential staff will choose to leave to work in better paid sectors,” Green Party social development spokesperson Jan Logie said. “Mental health work is a female dominated industry  but that is no excuse to continue underpaying...

The Government’s plan to send 14-17 year-olds to an army boot camp is heartless and illogical, the Green Party said today. National announced yesterday that it would send young offenders to an army-organised training camp in Waiouru, with the threat of adult prison if they do not complete the course. “National need to own up to the fact that society has failed these children, and punishing them further by sending them far from their family and their community will not...

The Green Party is calling on Bay of Plenty Regional Council to notify Cresswell NZ Ltd and Nongfu Spring’s application to take up to 580 million litres of water annually from Otakiri Springs, so that the community can have a say. “Bottling companies have consents to take up 23 billion litres of water a year in New Zealand and aren’t paying anything for it," said Green Party environment spokesperson Eugenie Sage.  “Water is a community asset and the public must be...

The Green Party has welcomed the Government’s recent announcement that one in three cars in its vehicle fleet will be electric by 2021, but it is still ‘low power.’ “While this is a good start, we need to charge up the ambition to ensure that New Zealand is keeping pace with the rest of the world,” said Green Party transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter.  “Aotearoa should be leading the world in electric vehicle adaptation. Instead, National’s lack of leadership has...

The Green Party has announced today that it will make public sector chief executives responsible for achieving pay equity for employees of core Government departments within its first term in Government. The Green Party will make gender pay balance a performance expectation for each chief executive across the core state sector. Green Party MP Jan Logie announced the move at a Pay Equity Coalition rally in Auckland today.  “Women have been underpaid and undervalued for too long. The Green Party...

The Green Party is calling on the oil industry to hold itself to a higher code of conduct after it was alleged that some companies have paid private investigators to spy on Greenpeace activists and their families. “It is outrageous and unacceptable for private investigators to invade the personal lives of Greenpeace staff and volunteers. We are calling on the oil industry to strengthen their existing code of conduct and hold itself to higher standards,” said Green Party Energy and...

The Green Party is calling on the oil industry to hold itself to a higher code of conduct after it was alleged that some companies have paid private investigators to spy on Greenpeace activists and their families.

This Government has refused to properly quantify need and has not funded additional learning support adequately, the Green Party said today. The Government has today announced that 30 more Communities of Learning will be able to access additional learning support services (previously described as special education). “There are thousands of children throughout New Zealand with extra learning needs, like dyslexia and autism, that will not be helped by today’s announcement,” Green Party education spokesperson Catherine Delahunty said. “Currently there is...

The Green Party will stop destructive sea-bed mining in Taranaki with a moratorium on all sea-bed mining, to protect the habitat of several whale species, including blue whales. The comments follow a decision by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to grant consent for Trans-Tasman Resources Limited (TTRL) to mine iron ore off the coast of Taranaki. “The Green Party is standing up Taranaki iwi and the thousands of New Zealanders who oppose sea-bed mining. TTR’s proposal is in the place...