The Green Party in government would double New Zealand’s refugee quota as a matter of priority. “We’ll double the refugee quota at our first Cabinet meeting,” said Green Party Co-leader James Shaw. “While Bill English stays quiet about what’s going on in the USA, we want to make it clear that when the Green Party is in government, New Zealand will be a counterweight to Donald Trump’s bigotry. “Bill English needs to hurry up and make his position clear on...

The Green Party is calling on the Prime Minister Bill English to condemn Donald Trump’s racist law change to ban people from Muslim countries entering the United States. “France and Germany have condemned Trump’s Muslim ban, and Canada has said it is open to those who need refuge. Sadly, New Zealand is missing from this conversation and looks weak by not standing up,” said Green Party immigration spokesperson Denise Roche. “New Zealand has stood up for what’s right in the...

The New Zealand Government needs to recognise what is happening in Syria right now as a humanitarian crisis and increase its refugee quota to take in more Syrian refugees, the Green Party said today.  "What we are seeing in the media about Aleppo demands a humanitarian response, and New Zealand can do that by increasing the refugee quota to help save people’s lives," Green Party immigration spokesperson Denise Roche said.  "When the New Zealand Government recently increased the refugee quota...

The Prime Minister could pay more than just lip service to the Syrian refugee crisis on the global stage by offering more funding and more resettlement places to refugees in New Zealand, the Green Party said today. Tomorrow’s (NZ time) meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC) will be chaired by John Key, following a historic meeting of world leaders to discuss the global refugee crisis. “The Prime Minister is talking a big game in New York, but resettling more...

Refugees in New Zealand need more Government support to help them make a good life for their family, not judgemental political dog-whistling, the Green Party said today. “The Government has the ability to substantially increase support services for refugees in New Zealand to help them with language learning, employment and social integration,” said Green Party immigration spokesperson Denise Roche. “Increased support from the Government and community groups will help refugees adapt to the Kiwi way of life – not forcing them to...

Monday's announcement that National will put off a 250-place increase in the refugee quota until 2018 is another example of this Government’s commitment to only doing the bare minimum to help people in desperate need, the Green Party said. The Green Party supported this year’s 20,000 strong petition to increase the quota and funding for refugees in New Zealand. The Greens also have a Member’s Bill in the ballot which would double the amount of refugees that we welcome to...

Denise Roche today amended her Member’s Bill to increase the refugee quota to 1500 permanently.

The Green Party is calling on the Government to put its heart first and double New Zealand’s refugee quota immediately, a move that the Greens and Labour would make in government. An ActionStation petition of 20,000 people will be presented to politicians today asking for a doubling of the annual refugee quota, which has stagnated at 750 for 28 years. “Doubling our refugee quota is a heartfelt political statement that says New Zealanders care and want to do our bit,”...

The National Government has set up new-arrival refugees and the services that look after them to fail by not providing adequate funding, said the Green Party today.

Refugees coming to New Zealand need better support than what they’re currently getting, the Green Party said today.