Payday has been hard fought for by women who work in the aged-care, home support and disability service sector, thanks to Kristine Bartlett, unions and supporters around the country, the Green Party said today. The Government is expected to announce a settlement in the historic pay-equity case today, with 55,000 mostly female workers set to receive a pay rise. “Women have been consciously underpaid and have been fighting for more pay for far too long. Today’s announcement is long overdue,”...

The record number of children in Child, Youth, and Family (CYF) care shows large problems in the social fabric of New Zealand, the Green Party said today. The number of children and young people in CYF custody has increased from 5,159 to 5,453, according to new figures released. “All of our children deserve a fair go. But the record number of kids in CYF care shows we are going the wrong way. CYF is having to pick up the pieces...

The Green Party is congratulating Māori organisations on their victory after Anne Tolley today indicated that the Government is going back to the drawing board on reforms to Child, Youth and Family (CYFs) that would have removed the prioritisation of whānau-first placements for tamariki Māori.

The Government’s small steps on family violence announced today are a move in the right direction, but more needs to be done, the Green Party said today. “The Government has taken some important steps today, but there is still a lot that needs to be done to end domestic violence in Aotearoa New Zealand,” Green Party women’s spokesperson Jan Logie said.  “There are a couple of critically important issues that we would’ve liked the Government to address today. “The Government...

Unanimous support for Jan Logie’s bill to protect victims of domestic violence is a win for women on International Women’s Day, the Green Party said today. Jan Logie’s bill, the Domestic Violence Victims' Protection Bill, will give victims 10 days' paid leave to help them move house, attend court hearings and consult with lawyers. The Bill was passed to Select Committee stage this evening. “I am delighted that every MP at Parliament supported domestic violence victims today,” Green Party women’s spokesperson...

The Green Party is calling on the Government to do something meaningful for the women of New Zealand this International Women’s Day, by picking up a Member’s Bill on pay transparency that’s currently in the ballot.

Paula Bennett’s first speech as Minister for Women was underwhelming and will not change things for New Zealand women, the Green Party said today.

Working mothers are still being underpaid in New Zealand and will continue to be until we have a government that’s willing to take decisive action on gender pay equity, the Green Party said today. Statistics New Zealand released new figures today which show that the pay gap between mothers and fathers in New Zealand is 17 percent. “Women have been underpaid for far too long, and we need a strong government that prioritises women getting a fair deal,” Green Party...

The Government’s social bond plan to allow foreign companies to profit off mentally ill New Zealanders will put already vulnerable people at further risk, the Green Party said today. The National Government today announced that the first social bond to get people with mental illness into work has been launched. “Social bonds are a continuation of the Government’s attempt to privatise public services, which will always see the most vulnerable left out and National’s mates better off,” said Green Party...

The Green Party backs today’s open letter from the Human Rights Commission and others calling for a government inquiry into the abuse of children in state care, and for a formal apology to be made to the victims. “There is a growing list of organisations and people who are calling for a government inquiry into the abuse of children in the state’s care. It seems everyone but the Government realises that an inquiry and a formal apology are essential to...