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Green Party MP Chlöe Swarbrick has welcomed the extension of funding for Te Kūwatawata mental health service in Gisborne while the Government conducts its review of mental health services.
“Security of funding for mental health services is one of the top issues raised with me by constituents. I visited Te Kūwatawata clinic and their work was incredibly inspiring, effective and fit-for-purpose,” Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick said today.
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.
News that the family living in an Auckland ‘swamp house’ have been evicted for daring to speak out further proves the need for a housing Warrant of Fitness (WoF) in Aotearoa.
“This family were paying $520 a week to live in a house that had drainage issues that created swamp like conditions, causing dangerous mould”, Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson said today.
“They dared to speak up and now they’ve been issued a 90 day eviction notice, creating uncertainty for that family with two small children.
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.
The Green Party is welcoming the release of stage one Electricity Price Review report and will continue to push for a transition to 100% renewable energy whilst ensuring fair pricing for houses and businesses alike, Green Party Energy spokesperson Gareth Hughes said today.
“We welcome the report and look forward to the next stage. The report is timely as the electricity sector is facing the biggest change in decades from technologies like electric vehicles and solar.
The Prime Minister’s former Chief Science Advisor has provided a valuable contribution to the discussion on how to handle agricultural greenhouse gas emissions with the release of his report on this issue, says James Shaw, Minister for Climate Change.
“As Sir Peter Gluckman states in his report on mitigating agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, New Zealand is well-placed to lead the word in dealing with these global warming pollutants,” says James.
Green Party Co-Leader Marama Davidson has re-affirmed the Party’s commitment to universal te reo in schools, and has announced that the Greens will now work with the education sector on a plan to make the language a core curriculum subject.
“Our vision of a bilingual nation will only be reached when all of us are comfortable and confident with te reo Māori. We have a responsibility to ensure that our indigenous language not just survives, but thrives in Aotearoa, and introducing all children to it at school is one of the best ways to make that happen,” Marama Davidson said.
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling for a comprehensive Rental Warrant of Fitness (WOF) scheme to ensure that everyone in New Zealand lives in a warm, dry, healthy home.
“I am proud to say that this Government is now taking major steps to ensure that people who live in rented accommodation are guaranteed the right to a warm and healthy home, submissions are now open on the Healthy Homes Guarantee which will see a major lift in the legal standards for housing.
Submissions are rolling in from across New Zealand on the Government’s proposed phase-out of single-use plastic shopping bags, with more than 4,000 received so far.
Now with just over a week of the consultation to go, Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage is encouraging all Kiwis who want to have their say on this issue, to do so.
“New Zealanders have called on the Government to take action on single-use plastic bags, and we’ve listened. Earlier this year I received a petition signed by 65,000 people calling for an outright ban on these bags.
The Green Party has welcomed the record level of investment for Wellington in clean, green transport choices like walking, cycling, new trains, and faster public transport.
Wellington based Green Party MP Gareth Hughes, said today:
“Wellington locals love cycling and walking in and around our city. That’s why I am stoked that this Government has announced funding for a separated pathway connecting the city and the Hutt Valley as part of the transport package.