News

Articles by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

Government rushes disability bill through Parliament without disabled people at the table

The Green Party says the Government has failed disabled people by rushing the Strengthening Disability Support Services Bill through its first reading just days after it was quietly introduced, with little warning and no meaningful consultation with the disability community.“Nothing about us without us is supposed to mean something in Aotearoa. Instead, disabled people were blindsided,” says Green Party Disability Spokesperson Kahurangi Carter. “This bill was introduced on Monday night with no consultation with disabled people and, incredibly, disability groups...

Posted at May 22, 2026 1:55 PM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

Luxon backs anti-trans bill as families struggle to pay the bills

The Government should be focused on the cost-of-living crisis facing whānau across Aotearoa, not pushing through NZ First's Definition of a Woman and Man Bill, says the Green Party."People are struggling to pay the rent and the power bills. There is so much this Government should be focusing on," says Green Party Rainbow communities spokesperson Kahu Carter.  "Luxon has chosen to vote in favour of this Bill while communities are warning it will cause real harm, kids are going hungry, and people...

Posted at May 21, 2026 10:43 AM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

Greens oppose rushed disability support law changes

The Green Party is opposing the Government’s Disability Support Services Bill, saying disabled people and whānau have once again been shut out of decisions that directly affect their lives.“The Government introduced this Bill without consultation with disabled communities, despite acknowledging that the proposals were sensitive and directly affected disabled people and carers,” says Green Party Disability spokesperson Kahu Carter.  “Nothing about us without us. Disabled people and whānau deserve to be part of decisions that affect our rights, wellbeing, and daily lives.” ...

Posted at May 20, 2026 10:16 AM by Kahurangi Carter

services and systems

Green Party Bill to protect overdose emergency callers from legal risks receives cross party support

The Drug Overdose (Assistance Protection) Amendment Bill has passed its first reading in Parliament, marking an important step toward ensuring that no one hesitates to call for help in a medical emergency.“The Bill will provide protection from prosecution for low-level drug offences for people who call for emergency help during an overdose,” says Green Party Drug Reform spokesperson Kahu Carter. “Around three New Zealanders die each week from treatable, accidental overdoses. Evidence shows that fear of legal consequences can delay...

Posted at April 29, 2026 10:47 PM by Kahurangi Carter

culture and innovation

Bill to protect artists against outdated copyright laws passes first reading

Tonight, Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter’s Copyright (Parody and Satire) Amendment Bill passed through its first reading.“This common-sense amendment would improve how our copyright laws work in a modern media landscape, and provide more protections for artists, like Australia, Canada, and parts of Europe,” says Green Party spokesperson for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Kahurangi Carter. “Satire makes us laugh and makes us think. This Bill would help protect New Zealand’s comedians from legal threats and outsized egos.” “Aotearoa can be...

Posted at April 01, 2026 8:51 PM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

Greens welcome launch of People's Select Committee report on Pay Equity

The Green Party has welcomed the release of the report from the People's Select Committee on Pay Equity. "This report makes clear what we have said all along: the Government's decision to make it easier to underpay people and limiting pay equity access is yet another attack on women," says the Green Party's spokesperson for women, Kahurangi Carter.  "The Government underestimated how badly this would go down with the public. Today, the workers this Government tried to silence have found their voice, and it is powerful."  "Make no mistake: this...

Posted at February 24, 2026 10:39 AM by Kahurangi Carter and Julie Anne Genter

people and communities

First step toward recognition of trans rights in healthcare

The Green Party welcomes this morning’s High Court decision granting The Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa’s (PATHA) application to halt a ban on life-saving medication for trans youth, until a full review can be heard.“Trans rights are human rights and our trans whānau deserve access to critical healthcare,” says Takatāpui and Rainbow Communities spokesperson, Kahurangi Carter. “This is a step in the right direction in the fight for trans rights to be recognised and upheld, and it affirms the...

Posted at December 17, 2025 3:16 PM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

One year on from apology, Government still missing in action

Today marks one year since the Government’s formal apology to survivors of abuse in state care. On that day, words were spoken that recognised the harm done, acknowledged the suffering that was endured, and promised change.“One year on, we must question the value of an apology made by a Government that refuses to listen and respond to the voices of survivors,” says the Green Party’s Spokesperson for Children, Kahurangi Carter. “Survivors have repeatedly called for the Government to implement all...

Posted at November 12, 2025 8:45 AM by Kahurangi Carter

services and systems

Member’s Bill an opportunity to save lives

A Member’s Bill in the name of Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter which aims to prevent deaths from drug overdose, the Drug Overdose (Assistance Protection) Legislation Bill, has been pulled from Parliament’s ‘biscuit tin’ today.“If someone is experiencing or witnessing a drug overdose, they should receive healthcare, not handcuffs,” says the Green Party’s Drug Reform spokesperson, Kahurangi Carter.  “Whatever the situation, when an overdose occurs, the priority must be to save lives, not to punish those seeking emergency assistance. “We...

Posted at September 11, 2025 12:37 PM by Kahurangi Carter

services and systems

Green Party calls for law change to aid overdose response

The Green Party is launching a Member’s Bill that would allow people to call for help for someone experiencing a drug overdose without fear of criminal prosecution. “If someone is experiencing a drug overdose, they should receive healthcare, not handcuffs,” says the Green Party’s Drug Reform spokesperson, Kahurangi Carter.  “Whatever the situation, when an overdose occurs, the priority must be to save lives, not to punish those seeking emergency assistance. “Yesterday, the Drug Foundation released its annual overdose statistics, showing on...

Posted at September 01, 2025 9:01 AM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

Greens support union action against pay equity changes

The Green Party supports five major unions taking the Government to the High Court over its changes to pay equity laws.“Working women deserve to be paid what is fair, and they deserve so much better than this Government,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Women, Kahurangi Carter.  “We can and must ensure that women are paid fairly. Workers should be valued and treated as equals, regardless of gender, ethnicity or age. “Unions have rightly highlighted where the Government’s pay equity...

Posted at August 18, 2025 10:10 AM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

New report confirms Oranga Tamariki is failing tamariki and Government is failing Māori

A new report, ‘Outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi Māori and their whānau in the oranga tamariki system 2023/24,’ has confirmed that Oranga Tamariki is severely failing our most vulnerable Māori youth. “The Government is setting our tamariki up to fail by throwing them into a system that harms instead of helps our kids who are most in need," says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Children, Kahurangi Carter. “Our tamariki and rangatahi deserve to be loved, nurtured and safe in whānau and...

Posted at June 11, 2025 3:55 PM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

Report exposes damage of rushed cuts to Oranga Tamariki

Today’s report into last year’s Oranga Tamariki contract procurement process confirms the Government’s brutal cuts were rushed, poorly managed, and made with no concern for the impact on tamariki.“It is now crystal clear that these cuts have come at the expense of the safety and wellbeing of our children,” says the Green Party spokesperson for Children, Kahurangi Carter. “All tamariki in Aotearoa have the right to be loved, nurtured and safe in whānau and communities that have what they need...

Posted at May 15, 2025 4:01 PM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

Govt takes workplace equity efforts backwards

The Green Party has called out the Government’s latest attack on workers with the announcement that it is halting all pay equity claims.“Women deserve fair pay. This move to undo years of pay equity progress is a monumental step backwards from the Government,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Women, Kahurangi Carter.  “Workers should be valued and treated as equals regardless of their gender, ethnicity or age. We can and must ensure that women are paid fairly, are treated with...

Posted at May 06, 2025 12:28 PM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

Gender-affirming care must centre evidence and health needs, not political posturing

The Ministry of Health has today released an evidence brief regarding the use of puberty blockers in gender-affirming healthcare, amid moves by the government to limit access. “Trans rights are human rights and our trans whānau deserve access to critical healthcare,” says Green Party spokesperson for Rainbow Communities, Kahurangi Carter. “Today, ACT have espoused some incredibly transphobic rhetoric that aims to cause harm and division. We need to do better for our young people than spread misinformation and resort to scare...

Posted at November 21, 2024 3:57 PM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

Green Party stands in support of survivors of abuse in care

Today, the Green Party stands alongside the survivors of abuse in state care and faith-based care as the Government issues an historic apology.“Today marks a long-awaited acknowledgment of the harm and trauma endured by survivors," says the Green Party’s Spokesperson for Children, Kahurangi Carter. “This is a significant milestone which recognises the years of courage and resilience required to bring these survivor experiences to light, despite efforts by the state over the decades to cover up the abuses they suffered....

Posted at November 12, 2024 11:00 AM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

Without action, an apology will be empty air

For tomorrow’s apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care to hold any water, the Government must not pursue the same policies that drove the abuse in the first place.“An apology without accountability - or worse, actively perpetuating the same harms - is nothing more than empty air" says the Green Party’s Spokesperson for Children, Kahurangi Carter. “This Government has a responsibility to ensure that no one ever again suffers the horrific abuses these survivors have. The Government...

Posted at November 11, 2024 12:01 PM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

Govt fails disabled communities again

The Government’s move to limit the role of Whaikaha is a major setback for disabled people. “The Government is reverting to a tried, tested and failed model while neglecting the voice of disabled communities,” says the Green Party Spokesperson for Disability Kahurangui Carter. “Disabled people know best about the support they need and should be empowered to make the choices that are best for them. Weakening this Ministry does not empower our disabled people - it erodes their agency. “Once again,...

Posted at August 15, 2024 11:04 AM by Kahurangi Carter

democracy and international relations

Govt failing to keep communities safe from extremism

The Government’s decision not to implement eight of the 44 recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the March 15th attacks is an affront to those affected by this atrocity and communities at risk of hate crimes.“What has the Government learnt from that day if it’s unwilling to take up key recommendations on how to prevent such terror attacks recurring?” says the Green Party spokesperson for the Government Response to March 15th, Kahurangi Carter. “Failing to follow through on...

Posted at August 02, 2024 1:25 PM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

Govt undermines OT frontline services, breaks pledge

The Minister for Children Karen Chhour’s pledge that cuts to Oranga Tamariki would not impact frontline services has been broken.“This Government’s broken promises and callous cuts to frontline services will see our rangatahi continue to suffer,” says the Green Party spokesperson for Children Kahurangi Carter. “The minister promised that her cuts wouldn’t affect frontline services, but just this week we’ve seen a core provider, Tākai, announce its closure - a sad demise for an organisation that provided critical support to...

Posted at July 31, 2024 1:00 PM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

Govt must listen to experiences of abuse survivors

The Government must do all it can to bring abuse in care to an end following the release of the independent inquiry. “We cannot let history repeat itself, we must learn from our mistakes and bring abuse in care to an end,” says the Green Party Spokesperson for Children, Kahurangi Carter. “The difficult journeys and harrowing testimonies from survivors who contributed to the Royal Commission of Inquiry cannot be ignored. It is incumbent on the Government to listen and learn from...

Posted at July 24, 2024 4:01 PM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

Government ignorant of evidence in neglect of tamariki

Today’s justification from the Minister for Children for scrapping protections for our tamariki was either a case of ignorance or deliberate deception. “Severe neglect and tremendous incompetence have completely consumed this Government’s approach to our tamariki. Minister Chhour is attempting to use a mixture of smoke, mirrors and blatant disinformation to cloud over the damage the repeal of 7AA will do,’ says Green Party spokesperson for Children, Kahurangi Carter.  “Minister Chhour’s comments that Section 7AA creates conflict for Oranga Tamariki when...

Posted at May 14, 2024 2:52 PM by Kahurangi Carter