The Green Party has written to the Environment select committee asking for it to consult the public on banning the private sale and use of fireworks.
“Fireworks cause hundreds of accidents each year, start fires and cause distress and sometimes injuries to animals. It’s time for private sales to fizzle out and be replaced by safer, better, public displays”, Green Party spokesperson for animal welfare Gareth Hughes said today.
Instead of hosting US-style weapons expos like that being held in Palmerston North, New Zealand could be a world leader in peace mediation, humanitarian work and neutrality like Norway, Switzerland and Finland, Green Party Defence spokesperson Golriz Ghahraman said today.
“This American style event where arms manufacturers showcase weapons like pocket machine guns, killer drones and self-steering bullets that are then sold for huge profits to be used in global conflicts would shock most New Zealanders.
In response to calls for a compulsory energy rating for buildings the Green Party is renewing calls for the building code to take better account of energy efficiency.
“New Zealanders are living in damp and cold homes that have low energy efficiency due to a failure to retrofit our old housing stock and bring it up to modern standards”, Green Co-leader Marama Davidson said today.
“Each and every home in Aotearoa should be meeting high standards for energy efficiency, especially when being rented out.
New Zealand has joined an international pledge to cut plastic wastes from our economy and environment, Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage announced today.
“The New Plastics Economy Global Commitment sees the countries involved commit to a ‘circular economy’ approach to plastics, preventing them from becoming waste and ensuring they don’t end up in the environment,” Eugenie Sage said.
Green Party MP Jan Logie has welcomed the Law Commission’s briefing on alternative approaches to abortion law.
“At the moment in New Zealand abortion is treated like a justice issue instead of a health issue.
“Women are forced to jump through hoops to get an abortion. Our law doesn’t reflect contemporary values and creates inequalities and unnecessary delays. The current 40 year old abortion law is just not working.
Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage is inviting everyone with an interest in whitebait to share their views on whitebait management in an online survey and/or at drop-in sessions around the country.
“Whitebait are a key part of Kiwi culture. They’re taonga to iwi and fishing for whitebait is an important tradition for many New Zealanders,” Eugenie Sage said.
Southland has set itself the ambitious goal of becoming a carbon neutral region which the Government is backing with a $190,000 grant from the Government’s Community Environment Fund.
Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage announced the funding today for the Carbon Neutral Advantage project which will see local business, industry and communities work together to transition Southland to a carbon neutral region.
The deaths of three men in yesterday’s helicopter crash in Wanaka is a huge and deeply felt personal loss for the Department of Conservation (DOC) whanau and New Zealand conservation, Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage said today.
Scott Theobald, Ranger Biodiversity, Paul (Hondy) Hondelink, Senior Ranger Biodiversity and Nick Wallis, Director and General Manager of Alpine Helicopters were flying to undertake tahr control in the Haast area when their helicopter crashed.
Auckland-based business Asona is getting $185,000 from the Waste Minimisation Fund to help develop a recycling system for acoustic ceiling panels, Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage announced today.
“The Government is committed to reducing the amount of waste going to landfill and to increasing recycling,” Eugenie Sage said.
The Green Party is calling for a major rethink of how political parties accept donations in New Zealand.
“The Greens want stricter rules on anonymity and increased public funding, so that political parties aren’t influenced by powerful vested interests”, Green Co-leader Marama Davidson said today.
“The fact of the matter is, as long as political parties are accepting donations from powerful vested interests, there is a constant risk of corruption.