The Green Party today announced that, in government, it will create New Zealand’s largest marine mammal sanctuary, to protect a blue whale feeding ground off the South Taranaki coast from destructive activities, including seabed iron sands mining. Green Party leader James Shaw made the announcement together with Ngāti Ruanui on a beach near Patea, Taranaki, where people formed a human chain to show their opposition to a recently granted seabed mining permit off the coast. “Critically endangered blue whales are...

The Green Party has welcomed the Government’s recent announcement that one in three cars in its vehicle fleet will be electric by 2021, but it is still ‘low power.’ “While this is a good start, we need to charge up the ambition to ensure that New Zealand is keeping pace with the rest of the world,” said Green Party transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter.  “Aotearoa should be leading the world in electric vehicle adaptation. Instead, National’s lack of leadership has...

The Green Party is calling on the oil industry to hold itself to a higher code of conduct after it was alleged that some companies have paid private investigators to spy on Greenpeace activists and their families. “It is outrageous and unacceptable for private investigators to invade the personal lives of Greenpeace staff and volunteers. We are calling on the oil industry to strengthen their existing code of conduct and hold itself to higher standards,” said Green Party Energy and...

The Green Party is calling on the oil industry to hold itself to a higher code of conduct after it was alleged that some companies have paid private investigators to spy on Greenpeace activists and their families.

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...

Conservation Minister Maggie Barry will have to go against the will of the New Zealand public if she pushes ahead with more open-cast coal mining on conservation land on the West Coast, the Green Party said today. It has been revealed that the Government is planning to open up areas of the West Coast’s Buller Plateau for open-cast and underground coal mining, home to kiwi, geckos, and other rare plants and animals. “It looks like Maggie Barry herself is at...

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 Government’s decision to allow oil drilling in 35.5 percent of the North Island Maui’s dolphin sanctuary, as well as along the shores of picturesque Lake Te Anau and close to Fiordland National Park, creates major risks for New Zealand’s clean and green tourism brand, the Green Party said today. “There are only 63 Maui’s Dolphins alive and drilling for oil and gas in the area that’s supposed to be their sanctuary puts every one of them at risk,” said...

The Government faces a bill of up to $855 million over the next 25 years as New Zealand’s aging oil rigs come to the end of their life, the Green Party revealed today. The Crown is liable for tax and royalty rebates equal to 42-48 percent of the total decommissioning cost for each of the five oil rigs in New Zealand waters, according to documents released to the Green Party under the Official Information Act. Energy and Resources Minister Judith...

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...