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...

Instead of hosting US-style weapons expos like that being held in Palmerston North, New Zealand could be a world leader in peace mediation, humanitarian work and neutrality like Norway, Switzerland and Finland, Green Party Defence spokesperson Golriz Ghahraman said today.

Aotearoa New Zealand’s Defence Force (NZDF) should be used for peacekeeping, search and rescue, disaster relief, and fisheries protection. Our armed forces must only be deployed with the explicit approval of Parliament on behalf of the people of Aotearoa New Zealand. Non-violent conflict resolution must always be the priority New Zealand has played, and can continue to play, an important role as a specialist international peacekeeper. We should help develop other countries’ peacekeeping forces. Equipment that is not suitable for...

The Green Party is calling on the New Zealand Government to use its presidency of the UN Security Council to introduce a determination, in the form of a presidential statement or resolution following the Open Debate, that climate change is a threat to international peace and security. “New Zealand can use its UN Security Council presidency to highlight the threat that climate change poses to international peace and security,” said Green Party global affairs spokesperson Dr Kennedy Graham. “There is...

New documents released to the Green Party show that Prime Minister John Key used New Zealand's intelligence services for the National Party's political ends a few days out from the 2014 election, the Green Party said today.

The Green Party has today written to the Prime Minister asking him to engage in wider consultation prior to changing any laws as a result of the recently announced terrorism law reviews, said the Green Party today.