Latest People and Communities News

people and communities

Greens commit to funding and delivering level crossing removals

The Green Party has committed to funding and delivering level crossing removals in Auckland, allowing for better safety outcomes, more frequent trains, and fewer delays.“The Green Party will work with Auckland Council to identify the best options to fund and deliver level crossing removals, so West Auckland can experience the full benefits of the City Rail Link,” says Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson. “This is fundamentally about safety. Right now, these crossings create risks for people every single day, whether...

Posted at October 12, 2026 1:02 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick and Marama Davidson and Julie Anne Genter

people and communities

Greens commit to pay equity for care workers

The Green Party is announcing it will restore pay equity law to the position it was in before Luxon's Government butchered it in 2025, along with funding a settlement for the roughly 65,000 care and support workers whose claim was stopped by those changes. "Care and support workers look after disabled people, older people and some of the most vulnerable people in New Zealand every day, yet their work has been undervalued for too long," says Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson....

Posted at October 01, 2026 2:00 PM by Marama Davidson

people and communities

Foreign Affairs Minister fails to seek advice on leaving Paris Agreement

The Green Party has discovered Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters, has neither sought nor received any advice on what it would mean for New Zealand to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, while his party campaigns on taking the country out of it. "The majority of current Government coalition parties are ramping up the campaign to remove our country from the world's main climate change agreement, but the Minister of Foreign Affairs hasn't asked his officials a single question about what...

Posted at September 30, 2026 11:41 AM by Chlöe Swarbrick

people and communities

Luxon undermines economic resilience

The Green Party says the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU) shows this Government has failed to deliver a resilient economy that works for New Zealanders.“Luxon’s fiscal hole is in New Zealanders’ wallets, the empty shops in our towns and the gap in action required to meet the climate crisis,” says Green Party Co-leader and Finance spokesperson Chlöe Swarbrick. “Hope is not a plan, but it’s clear that’s all this Government has as they sit on their hands and hope...

Posted at September 29, 2026 1:39 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

people and communities

New Zealanders overwhelmingly support Green’s wealth tax

The Green Party says other parties should get behind a wealth tax after a new Ipsos survey shows almost two-thirds of New Zealanders back the party's policy.“New Zealanders know our infrastructure is falling apart and they know that the super wealthy are not paying their fair share. They want a country that works for all of us, which is why they want a wealth tax,” says Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. The latest Ipsos Issues Monitor surveyed 1,003 people between...

Posted at September 25, 2026 12:34 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

people and communities

Green Party announce plan for city centre vibrancy

The Green Party has today announced a plan to get small businesses a fair deal by making sure market rent reviews can lower rents, and by giving councils the power to auction leases on shops that have been empty for more than a year."We want thriving towns and cities, which means filling vacant spaces with our country’s limitless talent, creativity and entrepreneurship. The Greens are here to support our local economy," says Green Party Co-leader and Auckland Central MP, Chlöe...

Posted at September 20, 2026 11:00 AM by Chlöe Swarbrick

people and communities

Government ignores disabled people and passes flawed disability law

The passage of the Disability Support Services Bill is a profound failure to listen to disabled people, carers and whānau, Green Party Disability spokesperson Kahu Carter says.“‘Nothing about us’ without us is supposed to mean something. Today, this Government has shown disabled people that when it comes to decisions about their own lives, their voices can still be pushed aside. “This Bill was developed without meaningful consultation with disabled people and rushed through Parliament despite thousands of people speaking up...

Posted at September 03, 2026 9:02 AM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

47,500 more children in poverty under Luxon Government

The Green Party says the Child Poverty Action Group Change Manifesto to Reduce Child Poverty confirms change is needed, reinforcing the need for a government that champions the wellbeing of children instead of the interest of large corporations.“The state of child poverty in Aotearoa is shocking. One in seven children, 169,300 of them, are now in material hardship. That’s 47,500 more than in 2022. New Zealand must take action to end the child poverty crisis,” says Green Party Co-leader Marama...

Posted at August 27, 2026 11:56 AM by Marama Davidson

people and communities

Nats under-16 social media ban lets social media giants off the hook

The Green Party is critical of the Government’s bill which would attempt to ban social media for under-16s. “A ban on social media for under-16s doesn’t solve the problem of social media platforms churning out harmful and dangerous content in the first place,” says Green Party Spokesperson for Media and Communications, Hūhana Lyndon. “We need to regulate social media platforms for all users so these platforms are free from harmful content, rather than just trying to limit access for young people...

Posted at August 25, 2026 9:35 AM by Hūhana Lyndon