The Government must urgently broaden its limited review of foreign trusts in light of new revelations of the extent of New Zealand’s involvement in the global tax avoidance industry, the Green Party said today. “Newly revealed leaked documents from Mossack Fonseca demonstrate that New Zealand has become an integral part of the global tax avoidance network,” said Green Party Co-leader James Shaw. “It’s time for the Prime Minister to stop defending the tax avoidance industry and broaden the review of...

The Prime Minster today should have come out and promised he’d throw everything he’s got at cleaning up foreign trusts, and stamping out the tax avoidance industry, the Green Party said today.   “It is extraordinary to see our Prime Minister call a press conference to defend tax avoidance and dodgy practices in the New Zealand foreign trusts industry,” said Green Party Co-leader James Shaw. “We are calling on the Prime Minister to come clean about New Zealand’s role in...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/79714914/the-panama-papers-new-zealand-link-revealed

The Government needs to up its game and do more to support dairy farmers into organics as payouts for organics continue to skyrocket, the Green Party said today. Today Fonterra announced a 2016/2017 market-linked forecast of $9.20 per kilo for organic milksolids – more than double the price for conventional farmgate milk ($3.90 per kilo) – reflecting a global surge in demand for organics. “Organic milk is better for our farmers’ backpockets and for our environment – it should be...

Simon Bridges’ lacklustre electric vehicle announcement today will do little to increase the number of electric vehicles on New Zealand roads, the Green Party said today. “Sadly, National has failed to make electric cars more affordable and accessible for New Zealanders,” said Green Party transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter. “The policy is actually unfair and counterproductive. Those wealthy enough to afford electric vehicles will be exempt from paying to maintain the roads we all drive on, and will be allowed...

Former Revenue Minister Todd McClay met twice with foreign trust lobbyists but met with no other stakeholder groups before deciding to stop a review into foreign trusts, the Green Party said today. The current Minister of Revenue, Michael Woodhouse, confirmed the one-sided process taken by his predecessor in Parliament at Question Time today. Minister McClay met with the Prime Minister’s lawyer, Ken Whitney, and others on December 18, 2014 in Auckland and then one other time with OliverShaw acting as...

The Green Party has announced today that former Cabinet Minister and child advocate the Hon Deborah Morris-Travers will be its new Chief of Staff and that communications specialist Joss Debreceny will take on the senior role of Political Director.  “We are excited to have such skilled and passionate New Zealanders as Deborah and Joss join the Greens’ senior staff team,” said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei. “Deborah’s experience as a Cabinet Minister, and her subsequent work leading campaigns to put...

Rising unemployment shows how National’s economic mismanagement has failed to deliver enough jobs for New Zealanders, the Green Party says. “Ten thousand more unemployed people is ten thousand real life tragedies for people hunting for work, and their families,” Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said. “The Government keeps saying that good times are just around the corner but actually, for the 144,000 New Zealanders who are looking for a decent job now, those good times never seem to arrive. “National is too...

The Green Party welcomes the announcement that Pharmac will get an extra $39 million in funding, but is calling for the Government to immediately release Pharmac’s advice on how much money it actually needs. “The Government needs to immediately release Pharmac’s advice about the true level of funding it needs to meet increased cost pressures, including the TransPacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA),” Green Party health spokesperson Kevin Hague said today. “The TPPA is the elephant in the room. The Government knows...

The Green Party is calling on the Government to rule out any funding or investment in the controversial Ruataniwha Dam. It’s been reported that ACC is considering investing in the Ruataniwha Dam and that Crown Irrigation Investments may yet help fund the $900 million scheme, despite widespread concern about the impact it would have on Hawke’s Bay rivers. “It’s time for the Government to put the environment ahead of the interests of a few people who stand to make money out...