The National Government needs to rethink its multibillion-dollar motorway expansion projects and prioritise investment in public transport and cycling, with new figures showing that young New Zealanders are falling out of love with the car, the Green Party said. Statistics New Zealand figures show there are now fewer teens on the road than those aged over 75, while Ministry of Transport numbers show the number of licences issued each year had been increasing until 2010, before dropping back to levels...

The National Government's infrastructure plan, released today, completely ignores the reality of climate change, the Green Party said. "I am disappointed at the backwards direction National is taking New Zealand. There is a complete absence of investment into a low-carbon economy in this plan," said Green Party transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter. "We have just ratified the Paris Agreement, which says we will reduce carbon pollution. How can Kiwi families and businesses do that if we don't build modern, clean...

The record-high provisional annual suicide statistics released today by the Chief Coroner shows why the Government should urgently initiate a nationwide mental health inquiry, the Green Party said today. 579 people died by suicide in the 2015/16 year, which is the highest number of suicide deaths since provisional statistics were first recorded by the Coroner’s Office in 2007/08. “The number of Kiwis who are tragically taking their own lives reflects the failings in our mental health system,” Green Party health...

More and more New Zealand children are being hospitalised for tooth decay issues, and the Government needs to implement a sugary drinks tax to help turn this around, the Green Party said today. Ministry of Health figures show the rate of hospitalisation for dental caries (or basic tooth decay) for young people has increased 13 per cent from 2008-09 to 2013-14. 6471 young people were hospitalised for tooth decay in 2012-14. “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out...

National has put key rail projects in Auckland on the backburner, choosing to delay light rail to the airport for a decade and a possible rail line to the North Shore for another two, the Green Party said today. The Government and Auckland Council this afternoon laid out a decade by decade plan outlining the major transport projects it wants to progress over the next 30 years. "With rapid population growth and the urgent need to cut climate pollution, now...

National needs to commit to the full electrification of the Main Trunk Line between Auckland and Wellington so KiwiRail can upgrade to new clean-energy electric trains, the Green Party said today. KiwiRail is expected to reveal on Monday whether it will replace its existing fleet of electric locomotives with new electric ones, or revert back to diesel locomotives. “It would be ridiculous to revert back to dirty diesel trains, particularly given National’s promise to move away from climate-polluting fossil fuels...

The Green Party today welcomed the Government's campaign to raise the profile of electric vehicles (EVs), but warned that the absence of any plan to make them affordable means EVs will be out of reach for most New Zealanders. The comments follow the release of Treasury advice which said that the Government's only electric vehicle incentive (an exemption from Road User Charges until 2021) would be an ineffective subsidy and cost the country $40 million. Treasury also described the Government’s...

The National Government needs to now take responsibility and set some bottom lines around investment in cluster bombs, landmines, and nuclear weapons, the Green Party said today. The Police have today decided not to prosecute fund managers who have made investments in cluster bomb manufacturers, saying such investments do not breach the Cluster Munitions Prohibition Act. The legality of those investments now remains up in the air. “New Zealanders haven’t changed their opinion on the ethics of cluster bombs so...

The Green Party in Government would dump BNZ as a default KiwiSaver provider if it continues to invest in cluster bomb makers, the Green Party said today. BNZ is the last of nine default KiwiSaver providers selected by the Government to move to divest and screen for companies manufacturing cluster bombs, landmines, and nuclear weapons. KiwiBank, Mercer, and ASB are still reviewing their responsible investment policies. “It’s unacceptable to invest in companies that manufacture cluster bombs, landmines, or nuclear weapons,...

Information uncovered by the Green Party showing the Government’s $31 billion ACC Investment Fund has been illegally investing New Zealanders’ money into cluster munitions companies is further evidence of National’s disregard for the laws and ethics of investment. The Green Party asked the ACC Fund in November 2015 whether it had any exposure to illegal investments in cluster munitions companies through pooled or collective investment vehicles. Seventy-six working days later*, the ACC Fund admitted that it had $1.4 million invested...