News

The decision by Cabinet to continue to deploy troops to Iraq and Afghanistan is strongly opposed by the Green Party, who believe the money would be better spent on humanitarian aid in the regions.

“We opposed the extension of the troops in Iraq in 2016 and we are opposing it now. John Key make a broken promise that the Iraq deployment would only last two years. It’s been a total of four years now and yet troops remain in an ongoing capacity”, Green MP Golriz Ghahraman said today.

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.

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 Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage.

Green Party education spokesperson Chlöe Swarbrick will be moving to amend the Education Amendment Bill to ensure students get a stronger say in how our universities are run.

“Universities wouldn't exist without students, so their voices should be central to decision making.

“Tertiary councils that decide how our universities are run should include staff, teachers, and students, but the previous Government changed the law, resulting in bureaucratic appointments and removing any guarantee of democratic representation.