The Green Party is welcoming the report- back of Country of Origin Food Labelling Members’ Bill by the Primary Production Select Committee. “I’m glad the committee has listened to submitters and put cured pork products back in as a food requiring country of origin labelling. “Over 80% of bacon consumed here is from overseas, many from countries with lower animal welfare standards so it is good Kiwi consumers will now have clear information where their bacon comes from.” “I thank...

The Green Party is celebrating the latest figures that New Zealand’s game development industry earned a record $143 million in the last financial year and is urging practical policies to kick this into overdrive. “While this growth is phenomenal, the New Zealand Government can do more to assist in growing it to a billion dollar industry,” said Green Party ICT spokesperson Gareth Hughes. “While income has been concentrated amongst the ten largest companies we think the Government needs to act...

The Green Party is celebrating the launch of the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme today, which will deliver warm, dry, healthy homes for a huge number of New Zealanders. “We’re incredibly happy to see our policy becoming a reality,” says Green Party energy spokesperson Gareth Hughes. “We’ve campaigned for proper home insulation for every Kiwi home for so long, and we’re making it happen in government. “Having a warm, dry, healthy home can literally be a lifesaver. It’s good for people,...

The Green Party has called for a review of MPI’s investigation of a milking shed after new footage of dairy cow abuse was released by Newsroom today. “The footage is absolutely shocking and beating animals with steel tubes should have no place on New Zealand farms,” says Green Party animal welfare spokesperson Gareth Hughes. “This should have been detected and prosecuted the first time the farm was investigated. “MPI needs to do its job and investigate or the entire country’s...

The Green Party is calling on the greyhound racing industry to better address animal welfare issues, following the release of a finding by the Judicial Control Authority for Racing that a dog was found to have traces of methamphetamine and amphetamine in its system after winning a race last year.

There is no future in burning coal to produce electricity in New Zealand, the Green Party said today. The comment comes after Genesis Energy today revealed its intention to finally put an end to using coal for electricity production by 2030. “While it’s all well and good that Genesis has made this announcement around its intentions, in reality the time to stop burning coal is now,” said Green Party energy spokesperson Gareth Hughes. “Coal belongs in the ground, not burnt...

The Green Party is calling on the racing industry to immediately address animal welfare issues, including the high rates of death, in the greyhound racing industry or risk losing its social licence to operate, following the release of a scathing report by Hon. Rodney Hansen QC today.

The Green Party today proposed creating a Taranaki-based Regional Research Institute focused on developing marine energy technology as part of the transition away from oil drilling. Green Party energy and resources spokesperson Gareth Hughes made the announcement at a First Union meeting in New Plymouth. Marine energy includes tidal and wave generation. “New Zealand risks falling behind in the global race to develop marine energy technology and the Green Party will help stimulate research into this exciting clean energy sector...

The Green Party is calling on the oil industry to hold itself to a higher code of conduct after it was alleged that some companies have paid private investigators to spy on Greenpeace activists and their families. “It is outrageous and unacceptable for private investigators to invade the personal lives of Greenpeace staff and volunteers. We are calling on the oil industry to strengthen their existing code of conduct and hold itself to higher standards,” said Green Party Energy and...

The Green Party is calling on the oil industry to hold itself to a higher code of conduct after it was alleged that some companies have paid private investigators to spy on Greenpeace activists and their families.