The Government needs to correct how it pays Working for Families and the accommodation supplement to stop the value of them decreasing, the Green Party said today. The Government has been criticised today for deliberately running down the value of Working for Families and the accommodation supplement to the point that Kiwi families receiving the payments are falling into further hardship. These supports were introduced to help families sustain themselves and make sure they could afford rent and the basics....

The Green Party is calling on Prime Minister John Key to bring the women’s portfolio back into Cabinet. While portfolios like racing remain with Ministers inside Cabinet, the women’s portfolio has been locked out since John Key removed it from Cabinet in 2011. “To mark International Women’s Day today, John Key could signal a commitment to reverse the decline for women that’s occurred under his Government by elevating the women’s portfolio to a Cabinet-level position,” Green Party women’s spokesperson Jan Logie...

The report into the treatment of a diplomat found guilty of indecent assault highlights a failure of Government Ministers to show political leadership over sexual violence, the Green Party said today.

The Green Party is calling for the immediate release of the Government report into the treatment of a Malaysian diplomat convicted of indecent assault now that the diplomat has been found guilty and sentenced.

The staggering difference between the salaries of men and women within Government departments shows how much work needs to be done to close the gender pay gap, said the Green Party today. The report from the State Services Commission (SSC) showed that in some departments men were paid up to 39 per cent more than women. “The fact that there’s such a large pay gap shows how far we have to go on getting women a fair go,” Green Party...

The National Government must make achieving equal pay for New Zealand women a priority in 2016, or risks further contributing to the growing gender pay gap, the Green Party said today. The New Zealand Herald today revealed that the gender pay gap is the worst it’s been in almost 10 years, with the median wage for Kiwi men almost $8,000 more than Kiwi women. “We are at a crisis point with the gender pay gap in this country,” said Green...

The Government’s refusal to end child poverty is putting children lives at risk as a report reveals the rate that children are dying from conditions associated with poverty has skyrocketed in the past few years, the Green Party says. The Children’s Commissioner’s Child Poverty Monitor, out this morning, shows an additional 45,000 Kiwi kids have been forced into poverty in the past year alone, and that illness and death caused by poverty is on the rise particularly among Pacifika children.....

A Committee of MPs from across Parliament has today called for better, and more sustainable funding for specialist sexual violence services after finding that current funding is not enough to keep people safe, the Green Party said today. The Social Services Select Committee reported back to Parliament today following the Green Party-initiated review of funding for specialist sexual violence social services. “That MPs from across Parliament were able to reach agreement on these wide ranging recommendations means there is huge potential...

Resolving state care compensation cases in a just and prompt manner should be a priority for the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), the Green Party said today. It has been revealed today that MSD has withheld people’s personal information that they need to help resolve historical abuse compensation cases. “Not only is MSD denying personal information to people abused in state care which they are legally entitled to, it is also making unfair low-ball offers of compensation. We understand people...

The review of Child, Youth, and Family’s (CYFS) involvement and investigations into the Roastbusters case has raised further questions about whether New Zealanders can trust those meant to protect our vulnerable members of society, the Green Party said today. “New Zealanders should be able to go to the police and to CYFS and trust that their complaints will be taken seriously. That is the foundation of a safe society, ” said Green Party Women’s spokesperson Jan Logie. “It’s pleasing to...