Agriculture

Government inaction leaves Hawke's Bay growers without processing factory

The Green Party says the Government's failure to move quickly to support Hawke's Bay growers has contributed to the region being left without a facility to process their vegetables."The Government failed to act fast enough to keep this factory in local hands. There were people ready to buy it and keep frozen vegetable production going in Hawke's Bay, but the Government's foot-dragging on financial support means New Zealand has lost more local food production and processing," says Green Party agriculture...

Posted at July 30, 2026 5:24 PM by Steve Abel

nature and climate

Overwhelming farmer support for equal welfare standards for pork imports

The Green Party says a new poll has found strong farmer support for fairer import standards for animal products, consistent with the intent of a Member's Bill from Green MP Steve Abel. The Curia poll released today by Animal Policy International found 79 per cent of farmers agree that imported animal products should be required to meet New Zealand's animal welfare standards, while only 10 per cent disagree.  "It's great to see the strong farmer support for closing the welfare gap and ensuring...

Posted at May 06, 2026 9:36 AM by Steve Abel

nature and climate

Greens call for urgent inquiry into food factory closures

The Green Party is calling for an urgent select committee inquiry into the closure of Heinz Watties, Greggs, and McCain food processing facilities.Green Party spokesperson for agriculture Steve Abel, a Member of the Primary Production Select Committee, has written to the Committee expressing serious concern at the closure of long-standing food production facilities. "Understanding the extent of the impact and risks is a matter of urgency that the Primary Production Select Committee should open an inquiry into," says Steve Abel. ...

Posted at March 30, 2026 12:55 PM by Steve Abel

nature and climate

Govt must own its role in Canterbury nitrate emergency

The Green Party welcomes Environment Canterbury’s decision today to carry a motion declaring a nitrate emergency, and is calling on the Government to take responsibility for the crisis its own policies have fuelled.“The Government can’t wash its hands of its responsibility in worsening this health and environmental emergency,” says Green Party Agriculture Spokesperson, Steve Abel. “Every New Zealander should have confidence that their drinking water is safe and not contaminated by pollution from intensive dairying. “In just six months, Canterbury...

Posted at September 17, 2025 4:15 PM by Steve Abel

nature and climate

Biodiversity credit won’t fix damage done by Luxon Govt

The Green Party says the Government’s newly announced Biodiversity Credit scheme is a tiny positive that doesn’t undo the biodiversity harm caused by the Luxon Government.“This is a bandaid on a gaping wound which does nothing to address a deepening crisis and runs the risk of being mere greenwashing,” says the Green Party spokesperson for Agriculture Steve Abel. “While credit schemes and covenants are an important pathway to protecting vital biodiversity on farmland, these alone are not nearly enough to...

Posted at June 12, 2025 12:20 PM by Steve Abel

nature and climate

Luxon needs to address the cow in the room

The Green Party was appalled to hear Prime Minister Christopher Luxon claim we are “doing everything we can” on climate change, while his government does nothing to address emissions in our most polluting sector. “Christopher Luxon's commitment to climate action is a national disgrace and global embarrassment," says the Green Party Spokesperson for Agriculture, Steve Abel. “Agriculture is the biggest emitting sector in Aotearoa - accounting for more than half of our emissions. Luxon has done everything he can to make...

Posted at October 29, 2024 1:47 PM by Steve Abel

nature and climate

Farmers among first and worst hit by climate change

The Government has once again kicked the climate action can down the road by removing agricultural emissions from the Emissions Trading Scheme. "Climate delay is the new denial. Today’s announcement from the Government that it will shred progress on agricultural emissions pricing is just the latest episode of disregard for our climate and environment,” says Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick.  “The Climate Minister’s sheepish statement that we’ll still somehow meet climate change commitments is a far cry from reality. He and...

Posted at June 11, 2024 12:10 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Greens celebrate passing of Organic Products and Production Bill

Following decades of work by the Green Party alongside the organics sector, people will finally be able to be confident that products labelled organic have met standards.“Clear, trusted, national organic standards are crucial for giving people confidence in the products they are buying. The Green Party has been working alongside advocates for years to get mandatory organics standards and we are delighted this bill has passed today,” says Green Party agriculture spokesperson Teanau Tuiono. “Until now, the organics market in...

Posted at March 30, 2023 11:01 AM by Teanau Tuiono