Click here to read our easy read version of this policy Everyone deserves to be able to fully participate in our society. This means recognising the rights of disabled people and making changes to end discrimination. Nearly one in four people in Aotearoa lives with a disability, and many more of us have a whānau member or close friend who does. Current laws, policies, and social norms mean there are many barriers in the way of disabled people being able to...

The Green Party supports evidence-based, compassionate drug law reform that reduces harm. Drugs are a health, housing, employment, and education issue and criminalising people doesn’t solve any of those problems. Both legal and illegal drugs can cause harm, especially if used to excess or at a young age. Our social and legal response can either increase or decrease that harm. We know prohibition fuels organised crime and causes far more damage than it prevents. Many people in Aotearoa use drugs,...

Aotearoa can have a flourishing democracy with te Tiriti o Waitangi as its foundation. We can be proud of our democracy compared to many other countries, but secretive donations and unequal access by lobbyists creates an uneven playing field. Human rights are not protected enough, and we have not honoured tino rangatiratanga, as set out in Article Two of te Tiriti o Waitangi. The Green Party has consistently pushed for civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. We are the...

Every child deserves a high-quality, free, accessible public education that gives them the best possible start in life. We want all children to reach their full potential, but unfortunately, not all learners get equal opportunities and recognition. We know it’s not only the school system that affects a child’s education, but also housing, income, and health. Aotearoa has an unequal education system, where there is a difference between the haves and the have-nots, achievers and non-achievers. We must fix this...

All people, regardless of gender, should be respected for their innate human dignity. Everyone should be able to enjoy their fundamental rights and freedoms without discrimination. Our current economic and political system does not adequately recognise the needs and experiences of women and gender minorities, leading to entrenched disadvantage. With the Green Party in Government, the past three years have seen significant improvements for gender equality. We have overhauled pay equity legislation to make it fairer for women in work,...

Everyone has the right to control their own lives and be free from violence. Children have a right to be safe. But Aotearoa currently has high rates of intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and child abuse. This causes both immediate and long-term harm. The Green Party in Government has secured paid leave for victims of domestic violence, helping people keep their jobs while leaving an abusive relationship. Over three years, we committed over $440 million for frontline community services dealing...

Aotearoa can play a leading role creating a connected and compassionate world, where the global community works together to address issues including climate change, human rights, and public health by upholding the international rule of law, and promoting peace and shared responsibility. The world is going through a period of instability, with the impacts of climate change, COVID-19, war, international inequality, mass displacement, pollution, and biodiversity loss among the challenges. Lack of political resolve to combat these challenges leads to...

COVID-19 has shown us how much we rely on each other. It has also shown us that strong health services are critical. The key to this is quality healthcare provided by a publicly funded health system. There should be no financial or other barriers to anyone accessing the healthcare services they need. In Aotearoa, not everyone is able to get the treatment they need. Our health and wellbeing is shaped by the environment we live in and the personal circumstances...

Everyone deserves a warm, dry, affordable home that supports their wellbeing and helps them to be part of a connected community. Successive governments have allowed speculation to drive up prices, and failed to build enough public housing, or support our community housing sector. Owning a home has become unachievable for many families, and many people who rent are forced to settle for substandard, overpriced homes. With the Green Party in Government there has been a reset to the approach to...

The Green Party welcomes people who want to make Aotearoa their home. The global refugee crisis continues to see millions of people displaced, and as a responsible member of the international community we should help more refugees find a home here. We look forward to welcoming people into our communities who bring their experiences and perspectives, as well as much-needed skills. For too many new migrants, decent housing and good jobs aren’t available, so we need to build more houses...