14 June 2017   The Government's dairy climate announcement is a small step in the right direction but lacks a serious commitment to actually reducing climate damaging pollution from the dairy industry, the Green Party said today. “Paula Bennett should have used today to set a firm date for when the dairy industry will need to start paying for the pollution it emits, just like other businesses have to in New Zealand,” said Green Party Co-leader James Shaw. “Instead, she...

Nathan Guy must immediately order the removal of herbicide tolerant (HT) swedes from the market following new reports of cows experiencing ill-health after eating them, the Green Party said today. Dairy NZ today updated an advisory on its website about HT Swedes, saying “in 2017, there have been two farms experiencing ill-health with cows on swedes". In 2014 hundreds of dairy cows died in Southland from liver damage after eating swedes. “It's simple, HT swedes should be taken off the...

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) needs to prioritise and put its resources behind containing the further spread of the Bonamia ostreae parasite, and meet the challenge of eradicating it as best they can, the Green Party said today.

The Green Party is applauding the decision by the Ports of Auckland to require total recapture of the toxic gas methyl bromide at the port by the end of the year, and says other ports must now follow suit. Methyl bromide is used to fumigate logs for export. Exposure to the gas, when it’s not safely recaptured, can pose serious risks to people’s health and contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer. “We’re really pleased by this decision. The...

Laws allowing overseas ownership of key New Zealand companies such as Silver Fern Farms need to be tightened to protect our economy and all New Zealanders, the Green Party said today. The comments come on the back of news that Silver Fern Farms, part-owned by Shanghai Maling, is to close a meatworks in Ashburton, costing 370 jobs. “Laying off nearly 400 people is a disaster for Ashburton. Shanghai Maling’s part-ownership of Silver Fern Farms was meant to bring substantial benefits...

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) must take every precaution possible to stop the spread of myrtle rust disease, including stronger movement controls, after news of it being detected in a nursery in Taranaki, the Green Party said today.

The Green Party welcomes news from Dairy NZ that dairy farmers have made good progress in improving farm management to exclude dairy cattle from waterways. The comments come on the back of a Dairy NZ report showing nearly all farmers who signed up to the Water Accord have fenced out dairy cattle and have bridges or culverts at stock crossings points. “Fencing dairy stock from waterways and bridging stock crossing points is the new normal. Hard work by dairy farmers has...

The Government must immediately put the full resources of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and the Department of Conservation (DOC) towards finding the cause of the myrtle rust incursion and preventing a wider outbreak, the Green Party said today.

It’s time for a moratorium on new dairy farms and to start thinking about how to reduce the number of cows on our paddocks to halt water pollution, the Green Party said today. “Even Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy has admitted that there’s no room for more cows because of the impact they have on our rivers, lakes and aquifers,” said Green Party primary industries spokesperson Eugenie Sage. “The Government has all the reports it needs to show the...

Weak forestry regulations proposed by the National Government will do little to prevent forests being planted on steep, erosion-prone country, or avoid forestry debris harming streams, the Green Party said today. The comments come on the back of news that Northland’s Mangakahia River has been clogged with forestry debris from plantation forests in the catchment. “With heavy rain from more intense storm events as a result of climate change, care and thought around plantation forests is important to protect our...