Mr President, tena koe.
E nga rangatira, tena koutou.
The government that I am a part of, led by the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, has been in office for a little over one year.
In that period of time we have pursued an extensive agenda in relation to climate change action.
We have held a nationwide consultation on a new emissions reduction target for 2050, consistent with the 1.5 degree temperature threshold, and will soon present legislation to build the legal and policy framework to deliver it.
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop sending homeless people into thousands of dollars of debt with the Ministry of Social Development. Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson says that people at their wits end should not be charged for being put up in emergency housing.
“The use of recoverable loans by MSD has to stop because it is hurting the most vulnerable and makes a mockery of our compassionate approach,” Green Party Co-Leader Marama Davidson said today.
The Green Party welcomes the passage of medicinal cannabis legislation that provides certainty and clarity to patients and their whānau.
“This is a huge day for New Zealanders in pain and suffering who’ve been denied the only medicine that works for them”, Green Party drug law reform spokesperson Chlöe Swarbrick said today.
“Too many New Zealanders are going into debt to access expensive big pharma products, or being turned into criminals in having to access an unregulated black market for cannabis.
Four parcels of conservation land that are now included in the Korowai/Torlesse Tussocklands Conservation Park make up the biggest addition to the park since it was created 17 years ago, Conservation Minister, Eugenie Sage announced today.
First proposed by Forest and Bird 25 years ago, the conservation park was created in 2001 and now spans 24,000 hectares after strategic purchases by the Nature Heritage Fund.
“The parcels now added are part of ongoing reclassification of stewardship land being undertaken by the Department of Conservation,” Eugenie Sage said.
The Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor has delivered a report on preventing family violence and reducing incarceration rates today.
Dr Ian Lambie, Chief Science Advisor to the Justice sector, presented the paper Every 4 Minutes: A discussion paper on preventing family violence in New Zealand, to Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Domestic and Sexual Violence Issues) Jan Logie.
“This report confirms that prevention is possible, and we can ultimately end family violence in New Zealand,” says Jan Logie.
A report showing one in five New Zealand children don’t have enough food should prompt urgent action to roll out a national strategy for free food in schools, Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson said today.
“The Green Party have long-championed food in schools and we currently have a member’s bill in the ballot to establish a Ministry of Education fund for schools to apply to – or opt out of – based on need.
“Eligible schools would work with their community and existing organisations to make food available to children in the way that best suits their community.
The Green Party warmly welcome Government Ministers proactively releasing their Ministerial diaries from February 2019.
“The Green Party have been proactively releasing Green Minister diaries since we came into Government. We are really happy to see Labour and NZ First come on board”, Green Co-leader Marama Davidson said today.
“We have long advocated for Ministerial diaries to be proactively released. It demonstrates transparency and accountability and increases trust in Government.
The Green Party has wrapped up its investigation into New Zealanders being potentially discriminated against for mental ill health whilst applying for work.
The 59 submissions showed that potential discrimination may be occurring across the private and public sector, with large companies like Wishbone, Coca-Cola, Air New Zealand, New World, Countdown and PWC all being raised by New Zealanders for potential misconduct when managing mental ill health in the job application process.
The Green Party are welcoming the report by the Tomorrow Schools Independent Taskforce and are excited by the transformative, systemic changes that it recommends.
“I want to thank the Taskforce Chair Bali Haque and everyone else who contributed to this fantastic piece of work, on their collaboration, bold ideas, robust debate and meaningful work,” Green Spokesperson on Education Chlöe Swarbrick said today.
The Green Party have welcomed the report into mental health and addiction, and urge the Government to move quickly and implement the findings before more New Zealanders are harmed.
“The Government has held back from big change in delivering support while awaiting the report’s findings, which serves as a watershed moment for the mental health crisis in Aotearoa New Zealand,” Green spokesperson on mental health and drug law reform Chlöe Swarbrick said today.