The Green Party will take a Tiriti-based approach to income equity and security. We will ensure that workers’ wages are sufficient and - while working towards a universal basic income - simplify the income support system, ensure that its levels are sufficient and that transition to work is non-punitive. We will support and value unpaid work and participation in our communities, including that done by parents, volunteers, and seniors.   Vision Every individual and household has enough income and resources to...

The Green Party are calling for an increase to the core benefit following the Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report that shows growing inequality in New Zealand.

Mā te oranga o te taiao, ka ora ai te iwi, mō te takitini kāore mō te torutoru anake. Nei ra taku mihi tuatahi ki a koe e te koka o te ao, korua ko te matua ki runga ra – me o tamariki katoa huri noa I te ao turoa. Ko Papa, Ko Rangi, ko ngā Atua katoa tēnā koutou. Ki ngā tūpuna hei takoto te ara tika mō tātou te iwi o nāianei, tēnei te mihi ki a...

The Green Party acknowledges the Government’s progress report on implementing the recommendations of the Welfare Expert Advisory Group, as highlighted by the Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni in a speech to the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) today.

The Green Party has welcomed the Council of Trade Unions’ call for a people-led, people-focused response to climate change, including increasing benefit levels and implementing the recommendations of the Welfare Expert Advisory Group. “We must ensure people are supported to live good, fulfilling lives as we deal with the consequences of climate change,” says Marama Davidson, Green Party Co-Leader. “Right now, too many whānau are unable to thrive and this is going to get worse unless we take action now...

The Government will introduce law changes later this year to ensure that the justice system, in prosecuting sexual violence cases, does no more harm to victims and survivors. “Everyone who has been harmed by sexual violence deserves to have justice delivered without going through more, avoidable, trauma,” says Jan Logie, Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Justice, at HELP Auckland today. “Research consistently shows that giving evidence is the hardest part of the justice process for sexual violence victims. We...

New family violence laws will increase the safety of victims and their families, create effective interventions for people who use violence, and ensure every branch of the justice system is responding in a joined-up, appropriate way to the problem of family violence. The Family Violence and Family Violence (Amendments) Acts, which come into effect on 1 July, make a number of significant changes: updating the definition of family violence to include coercion and control, with examples such as dowry abuse,...

From 1 July, family violence agencies and social services practitioners will be able to share information to better respond to family violence. Today the Government released Sharing information safely: Guidance on sharing personal information under the Family Violence Act 2018. This guidance supports the family violence sector to implement new information sharing provisions in the Family Violence Act 2018. “Sharing information safely will help protect people from harm and promote more consistent responses to family violence,” said Jan Logie, Under-Secretary to...

The Green Party is deeply concerned by today’s report highlighting MSD’s gross intrusion into the private lives of New Zealanders, Green Party spokesperson on Human Rights Golriz Ghahraman said today. The Privacy Commissioner has released a report into illegal behaviour that saw phone records, birthing records and intimate images handed over to the state. “We need to be clear that this sort of privacy breach by the state is completely unacceptable. Human rights cannot be suspended just because people are...

The Green Party welcomes the release of the Welfare Expert Advisory Group report Whakamana Tāngata: Restoring Dignity to Social Security in New Zealand, Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson announced today.