The Green Party will support rural communities to build on their strengths and identities and develop local solutions to achieve their goals. We will ensure access to public services and other resources that enable the wellbeing and resilience of rural communities and rural ecosystems.
Vision
Resilient rural communities embrace nature, connection, and shared futures.
Values and Principles
- Honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi: The leadership of rural hapū and hapori must be respected and the mana of rural whānau Māori upheld.
- Ecological Wisdom: Rural communities are key to building mutually beneficial relationships between rural activities and local ecosystems.
- Social Responsibility: Rural communities thrive when social networks are strong and there is fair access to the opportunities and resources needed for wellbeing.
- Appropriate Decision-Making: Governance must be inclusive, collaborative, and supportive of local initiatives while also being adaptive to the unique challenges and opportunities of rural areas. Generations of local knowledge and practices must be respected.
- Non-Violence: Rural communities need support to overcome challenges, withstand pressures to act unsustainably, and maintain their vitality in the face of various economic, environmental, and social pressures.
Strategic Priorities
The Green Party’s strategic goals include:
“A more connected, compassionate, and equal Aotearoa”
Actions in this policy that will help achieve this include:
- Enabling rural communities to actively participate in governance decision-making, including catchment, regional, and district management plans. (2.1.1)
- Adopting community-led approaches to community development, resilience, and revitalisation. (2.2.1)
- Providing social housing, education, health, disability, financial, waste, and postal services that are accessible and equitable. (3.2.1)
- Adopting innovative service delivery models like remote services, mobile services, and community hubs. (3.2.3)
- Enabling Māori-led approaches to community development and climate adaptation. (4.1.2)
- Enabling community banking, local currencies, local markets, and other means of exchanging local goods and services. (4.3.3)
