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Green Party

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The Green Charter The charter is the founding document of The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand. The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand accepts Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the founding document of Aotearoa New Zealand; recognises Maori as Tangata Whenua in Aotearoa New Zealand; and commits to the following four Principles: Ecological Wisdom: The basis of ecological wisdom is that human beings are part of the natural world. 

Joined August 2007
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Politics 25 May 2010
Time for Government to come clean on gutting state housing

It is time for John Key’s Government to admit they have gutted the budget to build and upgrade state houses, said the Green Party today.

130 views

Council 24 May 2010
Minority Report: Auckland Super City

AUCKLAND CITY — The Super City Bill has been flawed from the beginning because of the shoddy process, its undemocratic nature, and, the fact that it sets Auckland’s assets up for privatisation, the Green Party said in a minority report presented to the Auckland Governance Legislation Committee today.

133 views

Environment 23 May 2010
Will the NZ taxpayer subsidise Solid Energy's climate vandalism?

Solid Energy’s lignite proposals will be a disaster for the climate, Green Party Co-Leader Dr Russel Norman said today.

128 views

Conservation 23 May 2010
Kiwis say love it, don't mine it. Again

New Zealanders have once again reaffirmed their commitment to the protection of our wild spaces, voicing opposition to mining in protected areas of the conservation estate, the Green Party said today.

141 views

Education 21 May 2010
Essentially a cut for tertiary education

Steven Joyce has a deficit of vision for the tertiary education sector, the Green Party said today.

141 views

Real Estate 20 May 2010
No housing for those in need

The gutting of state house funding by John Key’s Government will hurt New Zealand’s most vulnerable people, said the Green Party today.

215 views

Politics 20 May 2010
Dr Russel Norman Budget Speech: The Triple Deficit Budget

This Budget is a deficit Budget.

136 views

Politics 20 May 2010
Key's triple deficit Budget

John Key’s Government has chosen a Budget of fiscal, social and environmental deficits when smarter options were available, the Green Party said today.

128 views

Politics 20 May 2010
Mining extension backfires on Brownlee

The more Kiwis learn about the Government’s mining plans, the less they like them, according to a ShapeNZ poll released today.

108 views

Politics 19 May 2010
Borrowing for tax cuts irresponsible, unfair

Borrowing to fund tax cuts for the wealthy, new motorways, and subsidies for greenhouse polluters is fiscally irresponsible, the Green Party said today.

160 views

Politics 18 May 2010
John Key defends inequality

John Key’s patronising comment that Kiwis shouldn’t be jealous if the rich get big tax cuts in Thursday’s Budget show his Government’s real attitude towards inequality, the Green Party said today.

194 views

Crime 18 May 2010
Stopping child abuse needs to be top priority

Stopping child abuse needs to be a top priority for the Police, the Government and society as a whole, said the Green Party today.

151 views

Health 18 May 2010
Warnings on mobile phones needed

The Green Party is calling for health warnings on mobile phone packaging in the light of findings from the Interphone Study which shows extended use of mobile phones may increase the risk of brain tumours.

101 views

Environment 17 May 2010
ERMA's irresponsible position on methyl bromide

The Green Party is calling for the immediate phase out of methyl bromide, a highly toxic and ozone depleting gas, and use of recapture technology within one year, when it appears before the Environmental Risk Management Agency (ERMA) today.

132 views

Politics 17 May 2010
Progressive power prices among Budget ideas to reduce inequality

A multi-billion dollar pre-Budget proposal from the Green Party shows how the Government can help New Zealand’s poorest families and help everyone else in the process.

111 views

Council 14 May 2010
New super mayor will be stuck with huge bill

AUCKLAND — Victory in the Auckland local body elections will be bittersweet, as the incoming Auckland Council will need to manage the massive costs of reorganisation, said the Green Party today.

133 views

Education 14 May 2010
Pitifully-poor planning by Joyce

Victoria University of Wellington's (VUW) decision to stop up to 1500 students from attending university this year is because of pitifully-poor planning by the Key Government, the Green Party said today.

116 views

Science 12 May 2010
R&D funding boost should prioritise green tech

The reinstitution of funding to support research and development is a step in the right direction but the new spend needs to prioritise research in green technology, the Green Party said today.

189 views

Politics 10 May 2010
Will Key be responsible for political imprisonment of Pete Bethune?

The Key Government must act fast to obtain the information required for the Maritime New Zealand investigation into the alleged ramming of the Ady Gil.

238 views

Politics 8 May 2010
OIO investigation should be a wake-up call to the Key Government

The Overseas Investment Office decision to investigate a Hong Kong based investment group that wants to buy a huge chunk of New Zealand’s dairy assets should be a wake-up call to the Key Government, said Green Party Co-Leader Dr Russel Norman.

135 views

Education 6 May 2010
Education Bill Signals Public Private Partnerships

John Key’s Government is softening up New Zealand’s education system for Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and privatisation, the Green Party said today.

147 views

Environment 6 May 2010
National buries plans to protect the best of our coastline

John Key’s Government seems intent on burying the revised Coastal Policy Statement that could protect New Zealand’s beaches from overdevelopment, the Green Party said today.

124 views

Community 6 May 2010
Lost opportunity for whanau and New Zealand

The National Government’s failure to invest in Whanau Ora could doom it to failure, said the Green Party today.

113 views

Electricity 6 May 2010
Government fails to protect electricity consumers

John Key’s Government has failed to protect householders from rising electricity prices, by voting against the Green Party’s Smart Meter (Consumer Choice) Bill tonight.

196 views

Politics 5 May 2010
Extra student loan fee is interest by stealth

Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce plans to get around the popular interest-free student loan policy by charging an extra fee to over 500,000 New Zealanders, the Green Party said today.

167 views

Food 4 May 2010
Poisonous Plum Problem

Contaminated food is being sold in New Zealand despite testing by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) showing high residues of lead and other poisons on some imported food, the Green Party said today.

171 views

Politics 4 May 2010
Greens oppose electoral finance loophole

John Key’s Government will allow third parties to spend as much as they like on election campaigns under electoral finance legislation to be debated today, the Green Party said.

111 views

Transport 3 May 2010
KiwiRail should be built by Kiwi workers

AUCKLAND — The Government needs to assist KiwiRail to bid successfully for the contract to build Auckland’s electric train units in order to future proof our economy, Green Party Co-Leader Metiria Turei said today.

155 views

Agriculture 3 May 2010
Parliamentary inquiry needed into Ruakura animal experiments

An urgent parliamentary inquiry is needed into the ethics and animal welfare issues of GE trials at AgResarch’s Ruakura facility, Green Party Animal Welfare spokesperson Sue Kedgley said today.

107 views

Water 30 Apr 2010
Water profits into private pockets

AUCKLAND — Private management of Auckland’s water on a long term basis is effectively privatisation — it takes control out of Aucklanders hands and puts profits into private pockets, the Green Party said today.

324 views

Alcohol 27 Apr 2010
Govt rejection a slap in the face to Law Commission

Minister of Justice Simon Power basically ruling out raising the tax on alcohol in any reform is disappointing, the Green Party said today.

205 views

Environment 26 Apr 2010
Only 500 metres away

WELLINGTON CITY — The Green Party is protesting against the routine use of the highly toxic and potent ozone destroying gas, Methyl Bromide, in close proximity to a workers' break room and nearby apartments and office buildings at the Wellington Port.

238 views

Politics 23 Apr 2010
Privatisation of ACC will hurt accident victims

WELLINGTON CITY — The Government’s plan to privatise ACC will fundamentally undermine a world leading system that is fair for accident victims, said the Green Party today.

355 views

Diplomacy 22 Apr 2010
Burmese officials will be loyal foot-soldiers of regime

Foreign Minister Murray McCully’s failed to reassure refugees from Burma this afternoon that officials representing Burma’s junta would not monitor the political activities of expatriate Burmese in New Zealand, said Green Party MP Keith Locke.

333 views

Business 22 Apr 2010
Government ignores impacts of GST rise on Small Business

Small businesses have been kept out of the loop on the Government’s decision to hike up GST, the Green Party said today.

134 views

Environment 22 Apr 2010
The ultimate Earth Day present

Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei couldn’t be happier that her Member’s Bill giving permanent protection to New Zealand’s wild places was pulled from the ballot on Earth Day, at a time when these places are under assault from mining.

178 views

Environment 22 Apr 2010
Independent environment reporting essential

A report calling for legislation to guarantee regular independent reporting about the environment in New Zealand was welcomed by the Green Party today.

141 views

Transport 22 Apr 2010
Transport Minister wrong about rail

Transport Minister Steven Joyce continues to make short-sighted decisions that will harm the New Zealand economy and hit Kiwis in the back pocket, said the Green Party today.

167 views

Politics 21 Apr 2010
National's duplicity on water revealed

National’s duplicity on water issues has been revealed by news that senior ministers were working to weaken Water Conservation Orders and advance irrigation in Canterbury, at the same time as telling the environment movement they were committed to collaborating on water management, the Green Party said today.

122 views

Environment 21 Apr 2010
500% increase in use of dangerous gas

New Zealand's use of the highly toxic and ozone depleting fumigant Methyl Bromide has increased by 500% over the past decade, despite a solemn pledge to reduce our use of this dangerous fumigant, the Green Party said today.

728 views

Politics 20 Apr 2010
McCully's backroom aid meddling could hurt frontline efforts

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully’s political interference with independent aid agencies could have disastrous consequences for those working on the front lines, Green Party MP Kennedy Graham said today.

135 views

Politics 20 Apr 2010
Time to fix a tax system where millionaires pay less tax than their secretaries

Sam Morgan’s helpful admission that he effectively pays no tax is the reason why the Key Government needs to roll out a comprehensive capital gains tax on Budget day, the Green Party said today.

147 views

Politics 17 Apr 2010
Taxpayers could be $1.2 billion better off

Government figures revealed today show that the taxpayer would be nearly $1.2 billion better off had Labour and National acted to keep New Zealand’s greenhouse emissions down at 1990 levels, the Green Party said today.

157 views

Science 15 Apr 2010
Former top spy paves way for Frankenstein animals

The decision by the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) to approve genetically modified goats, sheep and cows at AgResearch’s Ruakura research facility is a decision Dr Strangelove would be proud of, said the Green Party’s GE spokesperson Sue Kedgley.

181 views

Corrections 14 Apr 2010
Private prisons are a recipe for disaster

Building private prisons will make New Zealand’s criminal justice system worse, said the Green Party today.

227 views

Politics 14 Apr 2010
English reveals plans to subsidise agribusiness

CHRISTCHURCH — The Government should not use taxpayer funds to subsidise loss-making irrigation schemes in Canterbury, as these schemes will result in further destruction of the region’s rivers for the benefit of a few big corporations, said the Green Party today.

213 views

Conservation 14 Apr 2010
Greenpeace calls for investigation into Japanese whale meat scandal to be re-opened

Greenpeace today filed papers calling on the Japanese Government to re-open its investigation into the whaling industry’s corruption as the Japanese whaling factory ship, the Nisshin Maru, returned from the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

226 views

Health 13 Apr 2010
Stop cutting Public Health Services

AUCKLAND — The restructuring of the Auckland Regional Public Health Service will mean increased costs and decreased health outcomes the Green Party said today.

170 views

Politics 13 Apr 2010
Greens concerned trade nuking our foreign policy

John Key must speak out strongly about New Zealand’s proud record of being nuclear-free and push the Obama administration to commit to a timetable to eliminate all nuclear weapons, said Green Party Co-Leader Dr Russel Norman today.

138 views

Transport 8 Apr 2010
Oversize Trucks Already Costing the Public

The taxpayer is currently subsidising overweight trucks, said the Green Party today.

194 views

Politics 8 Apr 2010
Will Whanau Ora address inequality?

Whanau Ora may help address inequality if the right funding and structures are in place, said the Green Party today.

197 views

Politics 8 Apr 2010
PM must read letter about David Carter and the Hurunui

The Prime Minister or one of his staff must find and read a letter sent months ago regarding Agriculture Minister David Carter, said Green Party Co-Leader Dr Russel Norman.

172 views

Health 7 Apr 2010
Mentally ill paying cost of Government's shortcomings

Health Minister Tony Ryall’s pressure on health budgets has meant that District Health Boards are spending fund for mental health elsewhere the Green Party said today.

156 views

Diplomacy 6 Apr 2010
Whaling countries mock IWC compromise

Pro-whaling countries have hiked up their whaling quotas in an attempt to skew the negotiations at the upcoming IWC meeting, and are manipulating New Zealand’s negotiating position, the Green Party said today.

390 views

Electricity 6 Apr 2010
Mokihinui decision disastrous

WEST COAST — The decision to grant resource consent for an 85m hydro dam on the Mokihinui River is the wrong one, the Green Party said today.

475 views

Politics 3 Apr 2010
New Zealand's stance about saving face in Tokyo, not saving whales or Pete Bethune

The Key Government’s support of commercial whaling and terrible advocacy for detained New Zealand Skipper Pete Bethune smacks of kowtowing to Tokyo, Green Party Oceans spokesperson Gareth Hughes said today.

307 views

Crime 1 Apr 2010
An equal society is a safe society

Crime statistics show that John Key’s Government’s irrational, punitive and populist approach to the justice system is making things worse, said the Green Party today.

265 views

Transport 1 Apr 2010
Greens announce new focus on Transport

The Green Party today announced a renewed focus on transport issues by appointing new spokespeople to several key transport-related portfolios.

387 views

Politics 31 Mar 2010
Agriculture Minister may have conflict of interest

CANTERBURY — Agriculture Minister David Carter may have a conflict of interest in relation to the Bill that is being rushed through Parliament to sack the Canterbury Regional Council, the Green Party said today.

254 views

Trucking 31 Mar 2010
Big trucks are big trouble

Longer, heavier trucks will soon be on our roads meaning drivers should brace themselves for more road carnage, and more road damage, the Green Party said today.

720 views

Politics 31 Mar 2010
Bullying no way to start Foreshore and Seabed consultation

John Key’s threat to retain the current foreshore and seabed legislation if Māori don’t like his proposals is a patronising and inappropriate way to begin consultation, said the Green Party today.

239 views

Politics 30 Mar 2010
Minister of Finance: where the bloody hell are you?

The Minister of Finance confirmed in the House today that he has no idea what the fiscal impacts of the Government’s Schedule 4 mining proposals will be, the Green Party said.

230 views

Council 30 Mar 2010
Stripping Canterbury of local democracy

CANTERBURY — John Key’s Government has taken extreme and unnecessary steps in its sacking of Environment Canterbury (ECan), the Green Party said today.

205 views

Politics 30 Mar 2010
Nats break election promise with welfare changes

The Government's welfare changes break the National Party's 2008 election promises, the Green Party said today.

295 views

Politics 29 Mar 2010
Government to blame for mining fury

The Government is out of touch with reality when it blames public fury and international condemnation over its mining proposals on hysteria, the Green Party said today.

202 views

Transport 29 Mar 2010
Hamilton to Auckland commuter rail must roll

HAMILTON — The Green Party is urging the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) to support the passenger train service between Waikato and Auckland.

376 views

Politics 28 Mar 2010
Open cast mining ruled out in Paparoa

The National Government has ruled out open cast mining in Paparoa National Park effectively meaning old growth forest will be sacrificed solely for the extraction of coal, the Green Party said today.

257 views

Politics 25 Mar 2010
Spending caps needed for MMP referendum

The MMP referendum needs campaign spending caps, said the Green Party today.

223 views

Politics 25 Mar 2010
Government needs to come clean on dirty mining

New Zealanders can expect open cast mining in Paparoa National Park despite the Government’s assurances, the Green Party said today.

213 views

Politics 25 Mar 2010
Welfare Bill is pure beneficiary bashing

The Government has no evidence that its regime of benefit cuts will move anyone from a benefit into work, the Green Party said today.

204 views

Economy 24 Mar 2010
John Key is damaging our economy

An article in The Economist magazine pointing out the lack of reality behind New Zealand's 100% Pure branding, shows that John Key's attacks on the environment are damaging our economy, the Green Party said today.

520 views

Tourism 23 Mar 2010
Minister of Tourism: where the bloody hell are you?

It is fiscally reckless for the Government to fossick about with Schedule 4 mining without taking any advice on how this would affect tourism, our second largest export earner, the Green Party said today.

243 views

Deaths 23 Mar 2010
Greens pay tribute to Lady Raiha Mahuta

The Green Party today honours the work and vision of Lady Raiha Mahuta of Ngati Manu and Ngati Rangi of Nga Puhi who passed away today.

243 views

Politics 22 Mar 2010
Despite Key's retreat, mining companies rule the roost

John Key’s Government is running scared from public opposition to mining, but won’t let go of the idea, the Green Party said today.

248 views

Agriculture 19 Mar 2010
Mackenzie decision a victory, but battle not over yet

CANTERBURY — The decision to withdraw effluent disposal applications for factory-style dairy farms in the Mackenzie Country is a victory for the green movement, but the Mackenzie is still not safe, the Green Party said today.

325 views

Politics 19 Mar 2010
Spy agency's become only area of Government growth

The transformation of the External Assessments Bureau into the National Assessments Bureau should not have occurred without proper consultation, said Green Party Foreign Affairs spokesperson Keith Locke.

461 views

Politics 18 Mar 2010
TVNZ cost-cutting strategy worthy of Dilbert's boss

TVNZ’s proposal to make savage cuts to its news and current affairs is an idiotic strategy worthy of the bosses of the Dilbert comic strip, said Green Party Broadcasting spokesperson Sue Kedgley.

254 views

Agriculture 18 Mar 2010
Time for Govt to regulate dairy pollution

The latest Clean Streams Accord report shows that the time has come for the Government to step in to prevent further pollution of New Zealand’s rivers and streams by dairy farming, the Green Party said today.

424 views

Politics 18 Mar 2010
Consumers need to know if products contain palm oil

New Zealand must require food products containing palm oil to be labelled, in light of the latest report from Greenpeace, Green Party Food spokesperson Sue Kedgley said today.

274 views

Court 18 Mar 2010
Waihopai acquittal a victory for peace movement

Green MP Keith Locke has greeted the acquittal of three men who slashed a dome at the Waihopai spy base as a victory for the peace movement.

524 views

Diplomacy 17 Mar 2010
New Zealander's detention in Japan Unlawful?

The Government could explore the legal opportunity in the Maritime Crimes Act 1999, to release New Zealander Pete Bethune, the Green Party said today.

382 views

Politics 16 Mar 2010
Put whaling on trial, not Pete Bethune

The New Zealand Government should denounce the arrest of whaling protester Pete Bethune and use all available diplomatic channels to bring him home, the Green Party said today.

298 views

Politics 16 Mar 2010
Say no to CCOs

The Green Party is calling on the Government to remove the creation of Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs) from the third Super City Bill.

239 views

Politics 16 Mar 2010
Mining Schedule 4 is a dead rat

John Key’s attempt to shift the debate away from Schedule 4 land proves the unpopularity of the Government’s mining proposals, the Green Party said today.

266 views

Health 15 Mar 2010
Damning Report on Health Effects at Mapua

MAPUA — The Ministry of Health’s media around the Public Health Mapua Report is an attempt to whitewash a very serious situation, the Green Party said today.

838 views

Environment 15 Mar 2010
Coromandel mining plans threaten Thames

COROMANDEL — Plans to open up a protected area above Thames to mining threaten the security of the entire township, Green MP Catherine Delahunty said today.

529 views

Environment 15 Mar 2010
Paparoa National Park must remain wild

Plans to punch holes into Paparoa National Park for profit are a misguided assault on our clean green image, Kevin Hague, Green Party MP said today.

198 views

Diplomacy 13 Mar 2010
Free the whale-defender; put whaling on trial instead

New Zealand authorities must do everything they can to bring whale-defender Peter Bethune back home, the Green Party said today.

363 views

Transport 12 Mar 2010
Cut back on motorways before cutting the elderly's entitlements

Transport Minister Stephen Joyce should start looking at cut-backs to roading before attacking the elderly’s right to get about, said Green Party Aged Care spokesperson Sue Kedgley.

273 views

Conservation 12 Mar 2010
Beware of thieves bearing gifts

The Green Party is warning that John Key’s Government will offer already protected land in exchange for the protected land it wants to mine.

337 views

Council 10 Mar 2010
Council Controlled Organisations not Rodney Controlled Organisations

AUCKLAND — The third Super City Bill needs to be changed to remove the clauses which detail Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs), the Green Party said today.

285 views

Energy 10 Mar 2010
Govt's $21 billion bet on cheap petrol

It is economically irresponsible to continue to invest in new roading infrastructure while fuel prices push new heights, said the Green Party today.

309 views

Education 4 Mar 2010
Greens join call to save our services

New Green Party MP and Tertiary Education spokesperson Gareth Hughes today welcomed the launch of a national campaign to ‘Save Our Services’ from Roger Douglas’ voluntary students’ association membership Bill.

334 views

Transport 4 Mar 2010
Higher fares leave bus and train users stranded

Bus and trains fares are set to rise significantly in Auckland and Christchurch if the Government pushes ahead with their plans to raise a greater share of the costs from passengers, the Green Party said.

245 views

Traffic 3 Mar 2010
Lower speeds mean fewer fatalities

The Government should take action to protect the most vulnerable road users — pedestrians and cyclists — by lowering urban speed limits, the Green Party said today.

209 views

Transport 3 Mar 2010
Government downplays single biggest road safety recommendation

The Government has chosen to place the blame on young people rather than highlight the most important recommendation to come out of the Ministry of Transport’s Safer Journeys discussion paper, the Green Party said today.

235 views

Politics 3 Mar 2010
National going way beyond 2008 industrial relations policy

National appears to be going significantly further than it said it would prior to the 2008 election with new policy regarding probationary periods for workers, Green Party Industrial Relations spokesperson Keith Locke said today.

243 views

Council 27 Feb 2010
Taking the "Local" out of Local Government

The Auckland Transition Agency (ATA) is taking the “local” out of local government, the Green Party said today.

212 views

Agriculture 26 Feb 2010
Pig-headed Pork Board damaging their own industry

The pig-headed Pork Industry Board continue to damage their own brand with the revelation they are fighting to keep pigs in sow crates, Green Party Animal Welfare spokesperson Sue Kedgley said today.

285 views

Conservation 26 Feb 2010
Govt bends under public pressure on mining

News that the Government may scale down its plans to mine the conservation estate shows how public opposition is working, the Green Party said today.

262 views