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Six years on and the Government is still denying Cantabrians regional democracy
National is attempting to control local government in Canterbury, and is denying its people the right to make their own decisions, the Green Party said today. The Government has proposed to have no regional council elections for Environment Canterbury Regional Council (ECan) until 2016 and then to have Ministers appoint six members of the 13-person regional council after the 2016 elections. ECan has been run by seven Government-appointed commissioners since 2010. "National doesn't seem to trust the people of Canterbury...
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Growing current account deficit shows why we need to diversify our economy
The growing Current Account Deficit is driven, in part, by falling dairy prices and shows why New Zealand needs to diversify its economy, the Green Party said today. “The overwhelming economic focus on dairy exports makes New Zealand extremely vulnerable to global dairy prices,” Green Party Co-leader Russel Norman said. “The National Government is failing to rebalance the economy or present New Zealand with a credible long-term economic strategy. “New Zealand needs a smart, green economy which adds value and...
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Constraining public sector pay is the real objective of the MP pay Bill
The real objective of the Remuneration Authority Amendment Bill is to use the public backlash against MPs’ pay rises to constrain the pay of public sector workers, the Green Party said today. “It became clear in the debate over this rushed law change last night that the Government’s objective is to constrain salaries across the whole public sector,” Green Party open government spokesperson James Shaw said. “Minister Michael Woodhouse said that the Bill would ‘shine a light on profligate spending...
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National’s motorway bribes won’t help Northland
Bringing forward the start date on the Puhoi to Wellsford motorway will not help Northland or the rest of country that will have to pay for it, the Green Party said today. National’s Northland candidate Mark Osborne announced the Government’s intention to start construction on the low value Puhoi to Warkworth motorway project next year in a bid to influence the outcome of the Northland by-election. “Building the Puhoi motorway sooner doesn't stop it being a waste of money,” says...
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Green Party opposes MP pay changes
The Green Party wants real constraints on MPs’ pay, not hurried superficial changes that continue large annual pay rises for MPs. “The Government has tabled yet more changes to MPs’ pay today, without consulting with the public or even giving other political parties time to consider the proposals,” said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei. “We oppose this latest change, because we are not convinced that it provides a fairer way to set MPs’ pay. “What’s needed is a completely different approach,...
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Government must back Pacific calls for climate action
In the wake of cyclone Pam, the National Government must respond to calls from our Pacific neighbours to take real action on climate change, the Green Party said today.
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Bridges’ tunnel doesn’t make sense
The Waitemata Harbour tunnel idea announced today by Transport Minister Simon Bridges doesn’t make sense unless the City Rail Link is built first, the Green Party said. “The Government is trying to sugar coat this tunnel announcement by saying it can include rail, but rail to the North Shore won’t work until Britomart is expanded for the City Rail Link,” Green Party transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter said. “The City Rail link should be the number one transport priority in...
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Greens block expansion of MP travel benefits
The Green Party has blocked the Government’s plan that could have increased travel benefits for MPs that entered Parliament prior to 1999.
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Green Party extends sympathies to Vanuatu
The Green Party’s thoughts and condolences are with people of Vanuatu who have been affected by Cyclone Pam, and believes this must serve as a wakeup call for action on climate change.
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NZ’s spying is damaging relations with our Pacific neighbours
New Zealand’s relationships with its Pacific neighbours have been damaged by the latest revelations that the GCSB has been spying on Cabinet Ministers and top level Government officials in the Solomon Islands, the Green Party said today. “Our relationships with Pacific countries are hugely important and the Government now needs to fix the damage it’s done by spying,” said Green Party security and intelligence spokesperson Kennedy Graham. “When it first became known that the GCSB was spying on the Pacific,...