The Green Party has welcomed the release of the Waitangi Tribunal report, which has called for the legislative ban on prisoner voting to be overturned.   Green Party Justice spokesperson Golriz Ghahraman said:   “The Supreme Court, and now the Waitangi Tribunal, has confirmed that denying these New Zealanders the ability to cast their vote on Election Day is an unacceptable breach of their fundamental rights.   “As a result they are excluded from processes that engage them in society,...

The Green Party has welcomed today’s First Reading of the Electoral Amendment Bill, which will strengthen participatory democracy in New Zealand. The Green Party will be working to strengthen the Bill as it proceeds through the House.  “Changes outlined in the bill are very welcome, particularly the addition of Election Day enrolment and increasing the number of places where New Zealanders can cast their vote. We know this will reduce barriers to people who are more likely to change addresses,...

The Green Party welcome increased support for Community Law Centres so that more New Zealanders have access to justice, Greens Justice spokesperson Golriz Ghahraman said today. “Good legal support should be available for all.  “Everyone is entitled to legal representation and to know their rights. I’m glad this Government is working to ensure more people can access legal support across New Zealand. “For far too long, community legal centres have been buckling under pressure trying to provide fair and accessible legal support...

Budget spending to ensure New Zealanders can enrol to vote on Election Day will strengthen democracy in Aotearoa, Green Party Electoral Issues spokesperson Golriz Ghahraman said today. “We’ve seen overseas, particularly in places likes the United States, where voting is discouraged in an effort to maintain the status quo. “Here in New Zealand, I’m proud that we instead actively encourage participation in our election and broader democracy. “The higher the engagement in elections the stronger our democracy. “At the last...

The Green Party welcomes substantive work soon to begin on the family reunification review in time for a potential budget bid for family reunification in 2020, says Green Party Immigration spokesperson Golriz Ghahraman. “As part of our Confidence and Supply Agreement, we secured a review of the family reunification scheme for refugees. “I am happy to see that on World Refugee Day, that the Government is committed to completing this review in time for a potential budget bid in 2020,...

The Green Party warmly welcome the decision to withdraw all troops from Iraq by June 2020, Green Party Defence Spokesperson Golriz Ghahraman said. “This has been years in the making. I am thrilled that a withdrawal is finally on the horizon after years of advocacy from New Zealanders who strongly believe we don’t need to follow America and Australia into the Iraq war.  “It has been a very constructive experience working with Minister Ron Mark on these issues. The Greens...

The Green Party is deeply concerned by today’s report highlighting MSD’s gross intrusion into the private lives of New Zealanders, Green Party spokesperson on Human Rights Golriz Ghahraman said today. The Privacy Commissioner has released a report into illegal behaviour that saw phone records, birthing records and intimate images handed over to the state. “We need to be clear that this sort of privacy breach by the state is completely unacceptable. Human rights cannot be suspended just because people are...

The Serious Fraud Office investigation into political donations received by the National Party is deeply alarming and highlights why we need stronger and more transparent political donation rules says Green Party Electoral Spokesperson Golriz Ghahraman. “Currently there are too many grey areas in the donation rules which allow political parties to auction off our democracy to the highest bidder while hiding the donations.” “We have to strengthen our political donation rules to protect our democracy from being bought and sold...

Green Party Justice spokesperson Golriz Ghahraman has called on National Party leader Simon Bridges to follow the will of the people and add his voice to MMP changes that were recommended in 2012.

A suite of measures to strengthen democracy are being proposed by the Green Party with a Member’s Bill.