The Green Party is calling on Labour to expand the temporary cost of living payment to those most in need.

CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Mr Speaker, It has taken four-and-a-half years to even start to turn the legacy of inaction and neglect from the last time they were in Government together. And we have a long journey in front of us!

The Green Party says the Government needs to do more for those on the lowest incomes as inflation outpaces wage and benefit increases.

The Green Party says urgent action is needed to soften the blow of inflation for New Zealanders on the lowest incomes.

Stats NZ’s monthly rental and food price indexes released today continue to show that over the last 12 months the essentials have gotten increasingly expensive for thousands of New Zealanders.

The Green Party has published an open letter to the Prime Minister calling for an immediate rent freeze and for that to remain in place until rent controls are made meaningful and permanent.

The Green Party is calling on the Government to simplify the welfare system by getting rid of the complicated calculations that mean many people will not receive Friday’s benefit increase in full.  

The Green Party is calling on the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, David Clark to break up the supermarket duopoly.

The Green Party calls on the Government to stop tinkering and immediately increase benefits to liveable levels, following the release of data by Fairer Futures which shows some of the country’s worst-off families need $300 a week more in support to make ends meet.

The Green Party is calling on the Government to boost support directly to people so they are not put at greater risk by a change in COVID-19 protections, despite the pandemic continuing to take a toll on our communities and public health system.