Poor New Zealanders forced to keep their heater turned off

Low-income New Zealanders are struggling to keep warm this winter, the Green Party said today.

A new report by Statistics New Zealand revealed that around one in three New Zealand households are experiencing some form of energy hardship.

“It’s disgraceful that almost one in three New Zealand households are having to keep the heater turned off because they can’t afford to pay the electricity bill,” said Green Party social housing spokesperson Marama Davidson.

20 Kiwi kids are dying every year from cold, damp housing, and there are more than 40,000 hospital admissions for children a year from conditions related to poor housing – that’s a national disgrace.

“Poorer families shouldn’t have to choose between putting food on their table or keeping their house warm.

“In the long-term, the Green Party will permanently lower the cost of heating through insulation subsidies, and a mandatory rental warrant of fitness,” said Ms Davidson.

Latest Housing Announcements

Story

Enough posturing, let’s get on and build enough public housing

The Green Party is urging the Government to take its own advice and come up with a long-term plan to build thousands more public homes.
Read More

Story

Long-term commitment needed on public housing

Budget 2023’s investment in public housing falls short of what’s needed.
Read More

Story

Greens join call for immediate rent freeze after floods

The Green Party is joining more than 20 community organisations to call for an immediate rent freeze in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, after reports of ...
Read More

Story

HRC report shows need for more action on housing

The Green Party will continue pushing for change to ensure people don’t need to access emergency housing in the first place. 
Read More

Story

Healthy Homes for all means a WOF and Landlord Register

The Government’s decision to exclude landlords from property management regulations means more than half of Kiwi rentals will be left out in the co...
Read More

Story

Crown closes the door for Waimana Housing programme

The Green Party is calling out the Government for its role in Te Waimana Kaaku whānau losing their deposits and the homes they were promised.
Read More

Latest Energy and Resources Announcements

Story

Government must stop all new oil and gas exploration

The Green Party are welcoming a pause on all remaining oil and gas exploration, and call on the Government to stop it all together. 
Read More

Story

Crown mineral change does not go far enough

Long overdue changes to the Crown Minerals Act are a welcome step in the right direction but the Government needs to go further to end the nonsensi...
Read More

Story

Fix electricity market to help both climate and cost of living

The four big electricity companies should be required to reinvest massive profits into cutting both household bills and climate pollution, the Gree...
Read More

Story

Luxon risks burning down five years of climate progress

Chris Luxon’s plan to reopen new gas projects in the middle of the climate crisis is about as irresponsible as it gets. 
Read More

Story

Global energy agency calls for end to oil and gas

Fossil fuel corporations claiming gas as a suitable “transition” fuel is jeopardising New Zealand’s chances of achieving its net zero climate chang...
Read More

Story

The search for fossil fuels must come to an end

Following a High Court decision yesterday the Green Party is calling on the Government to amend the Crown Minerals Act to end fossil fuel extractio...
Read More

Latest Building and Construction Announcements

Story

Let’s build better, warmer, and climate-friendly

The Government must take steps to ensure that the way we build our homes is helping to meet New Zealand’s climate change targets, the Green Party s...
Read More

Sustainable buildings and warm dry homes

Everyone has the right to a warm, dry home. Instead, housing in Aotearoa often makes us sick from damp and cold. In Aotearoa, much of our housing s...
Read More

Story

National would rather save landlords some cash than look after sick kids: Green Party

The National Party is more concerned about the back pocket of property investors than sick kids and the elderly, Green Party Co-leader Marama David...
Read More

Story

Stop charging homeless people for emergency housing

The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop sending homeless people into thousands of dollars of debt with the Ministry of Social Develop...
Read More

Story

Green Party: Building code out of date and won’t ensure warm, dry homes

In response to calls for a compulsory energy rating for buildings the Green Party is renewing calls for the building code to take better account of...
Read More

Story

Green Party calling for bold steps to tackle issues in Salvation Army report

The Green Party agrees with the Salvation Army that bold new steps are needed to stop a worrying trajectory of increased rent rises and homelessnes...
Read More