Public Services

services and systems

New report shows NZ healthcare system heading the way of the United States

Green Party warns New Zealand’s healthcare system is going in the disastrous direction of Americanisation, after a new report shows almost half of all public health spending takes place in the private sector.“Luxon’s Government is responsible for Americanising our health system, in a deliberate attempt to run public healthcare into the ground to force privatisation,” says Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. The report by Public Futures Aotearoa, released today, revealed how public money is driving corporate expansion and giving windfall...

Posted at October 27, 2026 2:23 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

services and systems

Greens promise to reverse National’s Public Service cuts

The Green Party would cancel the National Party's $2.4 billion cuts to the public service if elected, says co-leader Marama Davidson. "National's reckless cuts to public services have left New Zealanders with crumbling essential services, and job losses that have devastated our local economy, including the hospitality and retail sectors.” "Instead of investing in our public service, and the people who bring their skills, talent and dedication to the sector, the National Party is proposing cutting another 8,700 more roles and...

Posted at October 15, 2026 1:15 PM by Marama Davidson

services and systems

Greens call for a halt and urgent review into misuse of public money for political advertisements

The Green Party has raised concerns about the government's potential misuse of public money to fund political propaganda about government health targets. “It’s concerning that the government has potentially used public money for political advertising. This is clearly a breach of the Cabinet Office guidelines, especially at this point in the election cycle” says Green Party Public Service Spokesperson Francisco Hernandez.  “These advertisements talk about the progress HealthNZ has made against government health targets that have been set by the National...

Posted at October 01, 2026 11:59 AM by Francisco Hernandez

democracy and international relations

Luxon Government captured by lobbyists and big business

Trust in law-making in Aotearoa is being eroded by the clear influence of commercial lobbying of Ministers along with large donations to political parties, the Green Party says.A new report from Victoria University of Wellington researchers shows how lobbying works, with examples of industry lobbyists shaping Government decisions on oil field clean-ups, tobacco tax, KiwiSaver, emissions pricing, and climate court cases, often against the advice of officials and public opinion.  “This report makes clear the risks to democracy when agri-business,...

Posted at September 17, 2026 1:22 PM by Marama Davidson

democracy and international relations

Government advertised just a quarter of senior governance jobs as two in three go to men

The Green Party is calling for senior governance roles at Crown entities to be publicly advertised, after new research shows only 18 of the 71 people appointed by the Government were recruited through a publicly advertised process. "Appointments to Crown boards and organisations should be fair and transparent. Looking at the data and there is a clear pattern in who this Government hands these jobs to," says Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson. "Three in four of these roles were filled without ever being advertised, two in three appointments went...

Posted at July 28, 2026 2:22 PM by Marama Davidson

Calls for Ombudsman to open wider investigation into private back-channel emails in Luxon's office

The Green Party is calling for a fulsome investigation into the use of private email in the Prime Minister's Office, after an answer to a written parliamentary question exhaustively listed staff private email – except for the Fonterra and Z Energy climate lobbying document sent to Luxon's former staffer.“Something fishy is going on in the Prime Ministers’ office when lobbyist documents that miraculously end up as Government law change after being handled by his Chief Policy Advisor manage to somehow disappear from the public record,” says Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick.  “We know this was at least partially possible...

Posted at June 09, 2026 3:51 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

services and systems

Luxon’s ‘DOGE style cuts’ will harm New Zealand

Luxon’s cuts to the public service will only put more pressure on frontline workers, meaning New Zealanders miss out on the support they need, says the Green Party.“In 2024, Luxon told New Zealanders that frontline services would be ‘protected,’ which has now been shown to be a sham,” says Green Party Public Services spokesperson, Francisco Hernandez.  “These are DOGE style libertarian fantasies right out of Elon Musk’s playbook.” “Nicola Willis is committing New Zealand to arbitrary headcounts which will eat...

Posted at May 19, 2026 12:10 PM by Francisco Hernandez

democracy and international relations

Open letter to Hon Judith Collins

It is with sadness that we write this open letter to respond to the blatantly partisan screed you wrote yesterday. We find it necessary to do so to correct the record and defend the hardworking teachers, nurses and doctors who are striking for fair pay and safe conditions for staff and the public they serve against your attempts to smear them.  But before we get to that - we would like to invite you to spend just one week walking...

Posted at October 20, 2025 11:11 AM by Francisco Hernandez

services and systems

Procurement proposals pose risk to people and planet

The Green Party is concerned by the impact the Government’s proposed changes to procurement processes could have on people and planet.“These proposals are nothing more than an attempt to weaken workers’ rights and erode environmental protections,” says Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson.  “Instead of undermining the accountability and responsibility Government agencies have to our people and Papatūānuku, we should be empowering our workers and protecting our environment from exploitation. “This government’s idea of creating value is zero-sum, short-term, and extractive...

Posted at March 12, 2025 12:48 PM by Marama Davidson

services and systems

Economists sound alarm on Government's slash-and-burn approach

A group of prominent economists has released an open letter to the Government, raising grave concerns about the far-reaching consequences of its fiscal policy. “The advice and evidence is clear: this Government’s slash-and-burn economic approach has hurt and will continue to hurt Aotearoa,” says the Green Party’s Public Services spokesperson, Francisco Hernandez. “Our public service needs to be supported so it can support our communities. Undermining our public servants at every opportunity will only lead to an erosion of the services...

Posted at November 20, 2024 5:28 PM by Francisco Hernandez