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.

The Government is taking immediate action to support people into work and improve income security for New Zealanders on benefits, in response to the release of the Government’s Welfare Expert Advisory Group (WEAG) report today.

An increase in the public housing waiting list, now more than 10,000 New Zealanders, shows exactly why the Greens are working with Government to put the heart back into the social support system whilst addressing a growing housing crisis, Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson said today.

The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report shows the importance of putting the heart back into social support so that all New Zealanders can live with dignity.

The Ministry of Justice has released a summary of feedback on draft guidance for information sharing under new family violence legislation. The Family Violence Act 2018 outlines how and when family violence agencies and social services practitioners can share information about victims or perpetrators of family violence. “The purpose of the new law is to encourage agencies to work together to identify, stop, prevent and otherwise respond to family violence,” says Jan Logie, Under-Secretary to the Minister of Justice (Domestic...

Hardship grants rising demonstrates why the baseline benefit needs to increase, Green Co-leader Marama Davidson said today.  

The Ministry of Social Development’s Household Income report shows that this Government is focusing on the right areas, with it becoming increasingly clear that our poorest are not receiving their fair share, and renters are struggling more and more.