News

  • Te Wiki Tiaki Ao Turoa/Conservation Week call to action for nature

    Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage is calling on kiwis to get involved in Conservation Week or Te Wiki Tiaki Ao Turoa. Eugenie Sage today joined the Department of Conservation (DOC) and Auckland Council to celebrate environmental heroes, including more than 400 community conservation groups, at Auckland’s Pestival. The event, the second hosted by Auckland Council with support from DOC and the Predator Free New Zealand Trust, is one of several being run as part of Te Wiki Tiaki Ao Turoa or...
  • Native threatened freshwater fish bill passes first reading

    A bill to better protect indigenous freshwater fish passed its first reading in Parliament today. The Conservation (Indigenous Freshwater Fish) Amendment Bill amends the Conservation Act 1987. The bill enables the Minister of Conservation to review and improve regulations on fish passage, and develop regulations to address threats such as damage to fish spawning sites and fish being killed by activities such as drainage works and pump stations. “Just under half our indigenous freshwater fish are threatened with extinction,” said...
  • Electricity price review welcome, Greens will continue to push for cheaper, cleaner, power for Kiwis

    The Green Party is welcoming the release of stage one Electricity Price Review report and will continue to push for a transition to 100% renewable energy whilst ensuring fair pricing for houses and businesses alike, Green Party Energy spokesperson Gareth Hughes said today.  “We welcome the report and look forward to the next stage. The report is timely as the electricity sector is facing the biggest change in decades from technologies like electric vehicles and solar.  “We agree with the...
  • Former Chief Science Advisor’s emissions report adds a valuable contribution to the discussion

    The Prime Minister’s former Chief Science Advisor has provided a valuable contribution to the discussion on how to handle agricultural greenhouse gas emissions with the release of his report on this issue, says James Shaw, Minister for Climate Change. “As Sir Peter Gluckman states in his report on mitigating agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, New Zealand is well-placed to lead the word in dealing with these global warming pollutants,” says James. “Sir Peter’s report sits alongside the recent publications released by...
  • Te reo Māori must be a core curriculum topic in all schools by 2025, say Greens

    Green Party Co-Leader Marama Davidson has re-affirmed the Party’s commitment to universal te reo in schools, and has announced that the Greens will now work with the education sector on a plan to make the language a core curriculum subject. “Our vision of a bilingual nation will only be reached when all of us are comfortable and confident with te reo Māori.  We have a responsibility to ensure that our indigenous language not just survives, but thrives in Aotearoa, and introducing all...
  • Thousands of New Zealanders have their say on plastic bags

    Submissions are rolling in from across New Zealand on the Government’s proposed phase-out of single-use plastic shopping bags, with more than 4,000 received so far. Now with just over a week of the consultation to go, Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage is encouraging all Kiwis who want to have their say on this issue, to do so. “New Zealanders have called on the Government to take action on single-use plastic bags, and we’ve listened. Earlier this year I received a...