A marine conservation milestone - the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve - is being celebrated today at a community event in Tairāwhiti/East Coast attended by the Minister of Conservation, Eugenie Sage. “The creation of this marine reserve in November 1999 was a game changer for marine protection, with Tairāwhiti iwi, Ngāti Konohi playing a significant role in establishing the reserve and providing for its review after 25 years,” said Eugenie Sage. “Ngāti Konohi...

Experienced campaigner and party strategist Gareth Hughes is moving on from Parliamentary politics to open a new chapter in his life and focus on his kids.

The Green Party has welcomed reforms to the Residential Tenancies Act that begin to fix the huge power imbalance between landlords and tenants, but are calling for further action to truly correct inequities.    “Housing is a fundamental right which means we need to guarantee safe, secure and affordable housing for everyone regardless of whether they rent or own”, Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson said today.   “Decisions by previous Government have resulted in a huge power imbalance between landlords...

Associate Health Minister Julie Anne Genter says today’s release of sexual and reproductive health data reinforces the significance of the Government’s commitment to providing free or very low-cost contraception.

A Bill to improve the court system’s response to sexual violence has passed its first reading in Parliament today.

The Government welcomes PHARMAC’s decision to fund a vaccine to protect young people from meningococcal disease from 1 December this year.

A Bill to clarify the legal definition of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has been introduced to Parliament by women MPs from the Green Party, New Zealand First, Labour, and National working together as members of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians New Zealand Group (CWP). The Bill has been jointly sponsored by Jo Hayes MP (National), Priyanca Radhakrishnan MP (Labour), Jenny Marcroft MP (New Zealand First) and Golriz Ghahraman MP (Green Party). “ Today we begin the process of ensuring the Crimes (Definition of Female Genital Mutilation) Amendment Bill is updated so that...

The recently crowned Bird of the Year, the hoiho/yellow eyed penguin, is getting a much needed helping hand alongside more than 168 other community conservation projects announced Minister for Conservation Eugenie Sage today. 168 community conservation projects throughout New Zealand are benefiting from $8 million in government grants, including $500,000 to three Otago projects supporting the nationally endangered hoiho /yellow eyed penguin. “The Department of Conservation’s Community Fund is designed to support practical on-the-ground projects that back nature, help restore...

Steeped in Māori and European history, the recent reopening of Banks Peninsula’s Ripapa Island has been celebrated today by Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke and Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage.

Associate Minister of Transport Julie Anne Genter today officially opened a separated pathway, following the completion of the Kaiwharawhara Stream bridge, which will improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians along Hutt Road.