Analysis of the more than 15,000 submissions made about the Zero Carbon Bill provide a critical insight into New Zealanders’ thinking on our country’s path to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, says the Minister for Climate Change.
The Ministry for the Environment has today released a summary of submissions made during consultation on the proposed Zero Carbon Bill and a full report of the submissions is available at: http://www.mfe.govt.nz/node/24411
Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage today launched the South Island’s first large-scale predator free project in Dunedin.
Government company Predator Free 2050 Ltd will contribute $4.33 million towards Predator Free Dunedin, an umbrella group of 20 community groups supported by Dunedin City Council, Otago Regional Council and the Department of Conservation. It aims to save native plants and wildlife from predators across 31,000 hectares of land.
“This is an important step towards Dunedin seeking to become the South Island’s first predator free city,” Eugenie Sage said.
Families living in dilapidated conditions in a boarding house in Whanganui further demonstrates why a Warrant of Fitness for housing is required, Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson said today.
“The Pink Flats, where a single mum is having to bathe her kids in a mouldy bathroom, is a textbook example of why we desperately need a Warrant of Fitness in Aotearoa.
“People who live there have repeatedly asked for repairs and have been ignored. Now children are ill.
The Green Party support teachers and principals who continue to ask for better pay that meets the huge pressures that come with educating our kids.
Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson said:
“Teachers have been underpaid and undervalued for decades and the Green Party is 100% behind their efforts to achieve pay that properly reflects the immense amount of work they do.
“New Zealand prides itself on having one of the best education systems in the world. Teachers deserve to be remunerated to match the stellar education they provide.
The Green Party Caucus has officially assigned the Mental Health portfolio permanently from Julie Anne Genter to Chlöe Swarbrick.
Green Co-leaders Marama Davidson announced and welcomed the move today.
“Chlöe has been working with communities around the country that are affected by a lack of accessible community mental health services. The Green Party has a commitment from the coalition Government for high quality and timely mental health services, and Chlöe will be championing this issue for us” Marama Davidson said.
Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage says the National Party’s petition to stop control of Himalayan tahr shows that National doesn’t understand conservation, and is resorting in opposition to a bizarre form of shouting for the sake of political point scoring.
“Truly, a petition by National to “save tahr” is absurd,” Eugenie Sage says.
“Whilst in government, National were missing in action protecting our special alpine landscapes and ecosystems from heavy browsing and trampling by a ballooning population of Himalayan tahr.
The Green Party welcome the introduction of the Crown Minerals Amendment Bill, which will legislate to officially stop new offshore oil and gas exploration permits.
“This is a special day for the planet, and proof that this Government are now meaningfully acting to address climate change”, Green Party energy spokesperson Gareth Hughes said today.
“This is Greens in Government at its best and represents an important step to stopping new offshore permits, so that our environment is better protected.
A report by Housing New Zealand has shown that under the previous National Government, Housing New Zealand pushed vulnerable kiwis onto the street whilst charging them millions in testing and clean-up costs for meth residue that is scientifically proven not to be harmful.
“The approach by Housing New Zealand, borne from moral panic inflamed by National, resulted in 800 vulnerable tenants being pushed out of their home and approximately $6.8 million charged for testing and clean up”, Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson said today.
The Green Party have welcomed the Government’s decision to increase the refugee quota to 1500 annually, meaning more families, women and children fleeing war and persecution will have a safe place to call home.
Green Co-leader Marama Davidson, said:
“To those who have fled persecution and need a safe place to call home, we want you to know New Zealand welcomes you.
“We are a kind, compassionate and safe country. New Zealanders want to help and we can.
Green spokesperson on immigration and human rights Golriz Ghahraman, said:
On the 125 year anniversary since New Zealand women won the right to vote, the Green Party are celebrating wins in Government for women, and commit to keep working in the space to achieve full equity.
“Of course New Zealand was at the forefront of getting our wāhine the vote, 125 years on and women are still doing incredible work to ensure equity in work, safety and happiness in our homes, and fairness in our parliament” Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson said today.