Articles by Celia Wade-Brown

democracy and international relations

Rates caps little more than a distraction from Govt’s own failings

The Government’s plan to limit council rates rises to four per cent will inevitably lead to poorer local service provision, and communities being worse off.“This is little more than a distraction tactic, and it will come at the expense of our communities across Aotearoa,” says the Green Party's Local Government spokesperson, Celia Wade-Brown. “Capping rates does nothing to fix the decades of significant underinvestment in local infrastructure, or the lack of alternative funding models across successive governments. It’s also completely...

Posted at December 01, 2025 4:55 PM by Celia Wade Brown

democracy and international relations

Govt revamp of regional councils hurts environment

The Government is weakening environmental management and local democracy with its changes to Regional Councils.“Not content with starving local government of resources, Luxon’s Government now wants to undermine regional councils and let the environment burn,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Local Government, Celia Wade-Brown. “Local government needs careful and considered reform, but Luxon’s version of reform here creates more uncertainty, risks downgrading environmental protection and erodes the agency of local communities.  “This is really about reducing rates at any...

Posted at November 25, 2025 6:00 PM by Celia Wade Brown

te tiriti o waitangi

Greens call for extension on Māori wards referendum

The Green Party is calling for the voting period for Māori wards to be extended after key information was left out of voting packs. “Key information about Māori wards missing from election packs could influence the course of the referendum. This is not good enough,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Democracy and Electoral Reform, Celia Wade Brown.  “We are calling for the voting period to be extended so people can make their decision with all the information they should have...

Posted at September 12, 2025 2:14 PM by Celia Wade Brown

democracy and international relations

Govt’s electoral reform weakens democracy

The Government is weakening our democracy by restricting voting rights and making it easier for the wealthy to donate to political campaigns under the cover of anonymity. “These changes represent a dark day for our democracy,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Democracy and Electoral Reform, Celia Wade Brown. “What we do with our democracy matters; who we shut out and who we afford special privileges shapes the decisions made in Parliament and the direction this country is taken in. “Requiring...

Posted at July 24, 2025 2:39 PM by Celia Wade Brown

democracy and international relations

Greens call for NZ Govt to take UK’s lead and lower voting age

The Green Party is calling on the Government to follow the lead of the United Kingdom and lower the voting age to 16.  “We are calling on the New Zealand Government to follow in the footsteps of the United Kingdom and lower the voting age to 16,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Democracy and Electoral Reform, Celia Wade Brown.  “Young people deserve to have a say in the decisions that affect their future. The choices we make today will determine...

Posted at July 18, 2025 11:05 AM by Celia Wade Brown

democracy and international relations

Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again

The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing.   “Our self-styled CEO Prime Minister is micromanaging our councils into austerity,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson on Local Government, Celia Wade Brown.  “Our councils should be supported to empower our communities, particularly in the face of climate change and the natural disasters that come with it. “However, this Government has persistently...

Posted at December 16, 2024 5:44 PM by Celia Wade Brown

democracy and international relations

Govt overreach on councils an assault on local democracy

The Government’s move to enforce austerity measures on councils is an assault on local democracy. “This shows how hollow Christopher Luxon’s commitment to localism is, but also how impervious he is to the challenges of local government,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Local Government Celia Wade-Brown. “Our councils should be supported to empower our communities, particularly in the face of climate change and the natural disasters that come with it. “However, the Prime Minister has instead chosen to punch down...

Posted at August 21, 2024 6:05 PM by Celia Wade Brown