The Green Party is calling the concept of a 1.3 million hectare Forest Future a potential game-changer that could give New Zealand a real shot a creating a safer climate for future generations. Climate-focused business group Pure Advantage today released a report calling for the planting of 1.3 million hectares of forest to combat climate change and shift New Zealander to a low-carbon economy. “Planting on this scale is a huge but necessary step towards creating a safer climate for...

Wellington bus operator Infratil’s decision to repower its iconic electric trolley buses with electric drivetrains is a victory for the environment and all those who campaigned to keep clean buses in the capital, the Green Party said. “Electric buses will be excellent for Wellington’s air quality and for reducing our contribution to climate pollution,” said Green Party transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter. “I want to congratulate Infratil for making a good decision, and also congratulate the people who signed postcards...

The Green Party is calling for the Government to charge water-bottling companies for the water they bottle and sell, after the enormous profits companies are making from selling a free resource was revealed yesterday. “The National Government is sitting on its hands, pretending it’s powerless to stop water barons bottling up New Zealand’s precious natural resource for free and making millions selling it overseas,” Green Party water spokesperson Catherine Delahunty. “In fact there are ways New Zealand can charge these...

The New Zealand Initiative’s report on a sugar tax is deeply flawed, and the fact that the junk-food lobby are members and funders of this so-called independent “think tank” highlights a credibility gap, the Green Party said. “The New Zealand Initiative cares more about junk-food barons’ bottom lines than it cares about Kiwis who are getting sick and dying because of obesity-related illnesses,” said Green Party health spokesperson Kevin Hague. “Taxing sugary drinks to help curb obesity is not some...

A major report detailing the impacts of climate change on New Zealand is a reality check for the Government, and shows National needs to stop talking and start acting to combat climate pollution, the Green Party said today. A major report released today by a group of top scientists and academics at the Royal Society of New Zealand shows that a failure to reduce climate-damaging pollution will put coastal property and infrastructure at risk, double the frequency of droughts in...

The Finance Minister has refused to allow the Treasury to cost Green Party policy despite rules allowing political parties to access such a costing.

Low inflation in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) hides the way the housing crisis is hitting peoples’ pockets and distorting our economy, the Green Party said today. The CPI showed that inflation was 0.2 percent in the March 2016 quarter and 0.4 percent for the year to March 2016, but housing costs rose 3 percent in the year. MBIE data shows rents across the Auckland region rose on average 5.2 percent in the last 12 months. “Low oil prices mean...

The Green Party is calling on the National Government to immediately promise not to use any of the emission reduction units it knows to be fraudulent, in order to meet its global commitments to cut climate pollution.   Today the Morgan Foundation released a report claiming the Government allowed “fraudulent” emission reduction units from the Ukraine and Russia to be bought by New Zealand polluters so that the country could meet its 2020 climate target on the cheap.   ‘Emission...

The Green Party welcomes the decision by Countdown Waiheke to stop using single use plastic shopping bags in their store following a nationwide campaign by Green Party MP Denise Roche. “It’s fantastic that Waiheke is leading on phasing out plastic bags, and I urge other supermarkets around the country to take up the initiative. However, it is easier for the Government to introduce legislation than each and every community having to convince each and every supermarket to start charging for...

An urgent nationwide inquiry is needed to address the strain that mental health services are under following a damning review into Waikato’s mental health services, the Green Party said today. “Mental health services in DHBs are under-resourced and the Minister’s slow erosion of budgets has stretched services past breaking point. Families around the country need to know that mental health services are able to do their job,” Green Party health spokesperson Kevin Hague said. Dr John Crawshaw, Director of Mental...