A new gas power plant granted consent today in southern Waikato is a step backwards for New Zealand’s efforts to generate more renewable electricity, the Green Party said today. “New Zealand is blessed with an abundance of renewable electricity options like solar, geothermal, and wind, so there’s no good reason we should be allowing new power plants that burn fossil fuels in the era of climate change,” Green Party energy and resources spokesperson Gareth Hughes said. “It’s irresponsible that climate...

The Green Party has today launched a plan for cheaper power bills, cleaner electricity generation, and a smarter electricity network. The Empowering New Zealand comprehensive plan for the electricity sector includes: $112 million for winter warm-up payments to help low-income households cover their power bills setting a goal for 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030 (in average hydrological conditions) an investigation into the electricity wholesale market encouraging lines companies to work together and embrace new technology to bring down costs...

The Green Party in government will prioritise reducing climate pollution to net zero in New Zealand by 2050. The commitment follows the release of a cross-party report outlining how New Zealand could eliminate climate pollution this century. The ‘Net Zero in New Zealand’ report, commissioned by a cross-party group of MPs, shows a fundamental shift is needed in the way we farm and the way we power our transport system and heavy industries, if New Zealand is to compete in...

Extreme flooding in Auckland over the weekend shows the urgent need for central government-led investment into aging infrastructure to prepare for more frequent and extreme weather events, the Green Party said today. It has been forecast that the capacity of Auckland's storm water systems may be exceeded more frequently in future because of climate change-induced heavy rainfall events, according to the Ministry for the Environment. “There is a real risk flooding on this scale will happen more frequently if the...

National is not taking seriously its responsibility to protect future generations and eliminate climate-damaging pollution, despite its high-profile commitment last year to the Paris Climate agreement, the Green Party said today. Information obtained by the Green Party shows neither Climate Change Minister Paula Bennett nor Energy Minister Judith Collins sought advice about the impact on climate change of opening up huge reserves of gas hydrate off the East Coast. “Ministers Bennett and Collins have chosen to stick their heads in...

The wild fires burning in Hawke’s Bay and near Christchurch are an unfortunate sign of things to come if action isn't taken by governments to halt the climate crisis, the Green Party said today. The Ministry for the Environment estimates that longer and more frequent droughts, combined with water shortages, are likely to increase the risk of wildfires in Hawke's Bay and parts of Canterbury. “The wild fires we are seeing in the Hawke’s Bay and around Christchurch mirror long-term...

Official briefings show that the Government will fall short of its target for reducing climate pollution by 85%, despite Climate Change Minister Paula Bennett saying the Government is on track to meet it, the Green Party said today. In October 2016 Paula Bennett wrote an opinion piece titled ‘We're on the Right Track on Tackling Climate Change’, in which she claimed the Government had a plan to meet its targets, including an “ambitious” electric vehicles programme. However, a briefing to...

The extreme weather around New Zealand is a sign of things to come if action isn't taken by governments to halt the climate crisis, the Green Party said today. On Wednesday, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared 2016 as the hottest recorded year on earth, surpassing 2015 and 2014 as the previous hottest years. “The extremely dry conditions Northlanders are facing right now, and the storms that are rolling through the upper South and lower North Islands, mirror...

KiwiRail’s plan to replace its electric locomotives with a dirty diesel-powered fleet is backwards and bad news for New Zealand, the Green Party said today. The Green Party understands that KiwiRail will today announce a plan to phase out its 16 electric locomotives responsible for freight between Hamilton and Palmerston North. The electric locomotives will be replaced with Chinese-made diesel locomotives. “We are very disappointed by KiwiRail’s decision to abandon our electric freight trains and infrastructure. Many New Zealanders will...

News that just one small exploration permit has been awarded in the latest oil and gas Block Offer shows it’s time for the Government to give up its fossil fuel strategy and embrace clean energy, the Green Party said today.  Previous Block Offers have usually seen 10 or more permits awarded for total areas up to 46,000 sq km, while this year the single permit awarded has an area of just 219 sq km. “With just one local company getting...