Green Party

New Zealand must end its addiction to the highly toxic ozone destroying gas methyl bromide, the Green Party said today.

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24 February 2010 Kia ora Mr Speaker.

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Meters will be smarter and householders will be given more control over their power bills, thanks to the Smart Meters (Consumer Choice) Bill being drawn from the ballot, the Green Party said today.

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A new code of welfare for dairy cows that completely ignores the issue of factory-style dairy farming is a major concern, Green Party Co-Leader Dr Russel Norman said today.

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CANTERBURY — The findings of a review of the Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury or ECan) are an attack on democracy and could be disastrous for the Canterbury environment, the Green Party said today.

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A decision condemning Demon Energy Drink’s marketing methods highlights the lengths corporate interests will go to hook Kiwi kids on their products, Green Party Food Spokesperson Sue Kedgley said today.

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The legislation to undermine ACC that is before the house today is both unfair and unnecessary, said the Green Party.

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The three strikes legislation is being forced through the Select Committee process with no regard to the public’s right to have its say, the Green Party said today.

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The “Step Change” report on Education misses the point that the only real way to lift educational performance is to address underlying inequality, the Green Party said today.

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The Government reforms for electoral finance need to include spending caps for groups campaigning in elections, said the Green Party today.

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It is only fair to have spending caps for campaigning in the MMP referendum, said the Green Party today.

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The Green Party is calling on our Government to prepare for a significant oil crunch, in light of an industry led report warning the UK Government about the threat of rising oil prices.

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International condemnation of plans to mine the conservation estate shows how John Key’s proposal will damage the New Zealand economy, the Green Party said today.

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The Law Commission’s report on controlling and regulating drugs is an important step in the right direction, Green Party Co-Leader Metiria Turei said today.

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New Zealanders will soon be able to access some of our most picturesque countryside on their bikes with today’s addition of thirteen more rides to the next funding round, the Green Party said today.

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Excerpts On the beginning and the end.

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The Key Government is intent on digging New Zealand into an economic and environmental black hole, said Green Party Co-Leader Dr Russel Norman today.

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OTAGO — The Green Party is calling on the Government to stop obstructing the Department of Conservation from protecting public land in the Mackenzie high country, said Green Party Co-leader, Dr Russel Norman today.

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If the Government really wants to raise national standards of literacy and numeracy it needs to get serious about reducing socio-economic inequalities in our society, the Green Party said today.

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Any legislation increasing penalties for animal cruelty must include all forms of animal cruelty not just individual acts of cruelty to pets, Green Party Animal Welfare spokesperson Sue Kedgley said today.

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The Government has just two days to make a serious commitment to reduce emissions under the Copenhagen Accord, the Green Party said today.

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Green MP Jeanette Fitzsimons announced her resignation today, bringing a 13-year Parliamentary career to a close.

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A twenty-five cent increase in the minimum wage will do little to help some of New Zealand’s most vulnerable families make ends meet, said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei today.

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OMARAMA — The Green Party today welcomed Environment Minister Nick Smith’s decision to make the right call and call in consent applications for factory dairy farms in the Mackenzie country.

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The Department of Conservation (DOC) is allowing commercial fishers to harvest endangered eels from rivers on conservation land, the Green Party said today.

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The Green Party offered its support of tax reform legislation today, noting that the right type of change to the tax system would help reduce the gap between rich and poor in New Zealand.

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Creating greater inequality by cutting taxes for the rich is bad for the economy, said Green Party Co-Leader Russel Norman today in response to the release of the findings of the Tax Working Group (the Group).

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Green MP Keith Locke has warmly welcomed the government decision to accept 13 Tamil asylum seekers picked up by the Australian customs boat, Oceanic Viking.

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The Green Party is calling on Environment Minister Nick Smith to make the right call and call in resource consent applications for factory dairy farms in the Mackenzie Country.

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Proposed changes to four weeks annual leave will see New Zealanders' family life suffer for little or no productivity gains, Green Party Industrial Relations spokesperson Keith Locke said today.

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New Zealand needs to tighten its rules around overseas investment as China and the Gulf States go on a world-wide shopping spree for prime land, said Green Party Co-Leader Dr Russel Norman.

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A leaked UN report shows that New Zealand needs to come to the party and lift its emissions target to stop catastrophic runaway climate change, said the Green Party today.

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The assessment by the Speaker, Hon Dr Lockwood Smith, that clauses in a Government Bill conferring benefit on Doug Schmuck may be private clauses and should not have been included, was welcomed today by Green Party Co Leader Dr Russel Norman.

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The pig-headed Pork Industry Board is holding a gun to the Minister of Agriculture, David Carter, and delaying the release of a new pig code, Green Animal Welfare spokesperson Sue Kedgley said today.

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New Zealand needs to work on preventing climate change rather than bullying its vulnerable Pacific neighbours, said the Green Party today.

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John Key needs to cut emissions at home, not pay poor countries to do our share, said the Green Party today.

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WELLINGTON — The Government’s decision to spend $2.4 billion on the Wellington Northern Corridor road project will have devastating effects on the sustainability and liveability of the region, the Green Party said today.

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AUCKLAND — Councillors on the new Auckland supercity will have their hands tied when it comes to running the city, due to the unprecedented powers granted to the Minister of Local Government in a Bill to be debated today, the Green Party said.

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New Zealand’s climate change targets are well below those being proposed at Copenhagen, said the Green Party today.

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New Zealand is dramatically increasing coal production and exports at the same time it tells the world it can do nothing to reduce its carbon emissions, the Green Party said today.

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The move by Coca Cola and Pepsi to no longer supply sugar-filled fizzy drinks to schools is just a ploy to keep vending machines and their brands in schools, Green Party Food spokesperson Sue Kedgley said today.

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The Prime Minister wants other countries to cover New Zealand’s climate change responsibilities while we shirk doing our fair share, the Green Party said today.

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The Green Party today urged the Government to get its act together and investigate what can be done to protect New Zealand’s international reputation from plans to begin factory-farming dairy cows in New Zealand.

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ACC should be funded on a year-by-year basis to stop massive levy increases and cuts to ACC services, said the Green Party today.

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The Government must have an open mind and be ready to join forces with world leaders at Copenhagen and make bold, fair and binding commitments to fight climate change, said the Green Party today.

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New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Murray McCully must press Indonesia to accept responsibility for the execution of New Zealand journalist Gary Cunningham in 1975, Green Party MP Keith Locke said today.

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The Green Party today urged the Prime Minister to show leadership to protect New Zealand’s reputation and export industries from being damaged by plans to begin factory-farming dairy cows in New Zealand.

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The response today from Federated Farmers’ leadership to the spectre of factory-farm dairying contradicts the line they took just six months ago, said Green Party co-leader Russel Norman.

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New Zealand is on the brink of introducing factory farming of dairy cows, the Green Party said today.

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The Green Party marks the 10th anniversary of its entry to Parliament tomorrow, Monday, December 7th.

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New Zealand can create thousands of jobs and store millions of tonnes of carbon according to new research from the Green Party.

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ACC's failure to address the concerns of a record number of submitters in its levy recommendations is disappointing but comes as no surprise, Green Party ACC spokesperson Kevin Hague said today.

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Revisiting the disastrous policies of the 80s and 90s will lead to increased inequality and environmental damage, and will not put New Zealand on the road to long-term economic prosperity, Green Party Co-Leader Russel Norman said today.

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The Green Party today confirmed rumours that the Government is considering removing mining protection from 20 percent of Mount Aspiring National Park.

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Green MPs today joined union actions across the country against the wage freeze in the public sector.

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News that Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will attend the climate summit in Copenhagen next month puts further pressure on Prime Minister John Key to do the right thing and also attend, the Green Party said today.

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New Zealand must use the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting to put pressure on Sri Lanka over its shameful human rights record, the Green Party’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson Keith Locke said today.

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Court cells won’t work for housing prisoners.

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With the news this morning that US President Barack Obama will briefly attend the Copenhagen Climate talks next month, there really is no excuse for John Key’s continued refusal to join other world leaders there, Green Party Co-leader Russel Norman said today.

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Innovative farmers got a big ‘good on you’ from the Green Party today.

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PALMERSTON NORTH — News that the Manawatu River is one of the most polluted in the Western world, with a pollution measure that is literally off the scale, drives home the urgent need for Government action on water quality, Green Party Co-leader Russel Norman said today.

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An independent review of New Zealand’s standard for telecommunications facilities is urgently required said the Green Party, in light of a new select committee report.

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Legitimate Treaty settlement concerns are not a good reason for Maori to support flawed legislation that will cost both Maori and Pakeha dearly, the Green Party said today.

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The Government is clearly embarrassed about its ‘unofficial’ boycott of the Dalai Lama when he visits New Zealand next month, said Green Party MP Keith Locke today.

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Today's Commerce Commission warning that Inghams’ poultry risk breaching the Fair Trading Act by claiming that their chickens are GE-free highlights the need for proper GE labelling laws in New Zealand, Green Party MP Sue Kedgley said today.

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Passing a Green Party Bill in Parliament today would see Government taking the lead on driving a more fuel efficient and therefore cheaper vehicle fleet, said Green Party Co-Leader Russel Norman today.

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A Bill regulating the import of illegal and unsustainable tropical timber could benefit New Zealand forestry to the tune of $270 million per year as well as help save the rainforests, Green MP Catherine Delahunty said today.

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Excerpts.

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CANTERBURY — Appointing former Deputy Prime Minister Wyatt Creech to oversee an investigation into Environment Canterbury’s resource management functions is like former US President George W Bush’s practice of appointing industry cronies to senior regulatory positions, Green Party Co-leader Russel Norman said today.

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Revelations that Climate Change Minister Nick Smith’s proposed changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme are going to cost taxpayers an extra $105 billion is something really worth swearing about, Dr Russel Norman, Green Party Co-Leader said today.

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All cellphone packaging and advertising should include information on how much radiation the phones emit, said the Green Party today.  “Members of the public have a right to know the radiation level of their cellphones.

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Now is the right time for an inquiry into how the two giant supermarket chains set their prices, said Green Party Food spokesperson Sue Kedgley.

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Serious disagreements have arisen about the true costs of the Government’s Emissions Trading Scheme proposals and the Minister needs to explain himself, the Green Party said today.

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The National Government can no longer be complacent about the state of play within our banking and financial sectors given their central importance to our economic prosperity, said Green Party Co-leader Russel Norman today.

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The final report of Tonga’s Constitutional and Electoral Commission recommending a democratic form of Parliament for Tonga is welcome news, said Green Party Foreign Affairs spokesperson Keith Locke.

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The turning of the first sod in the New Zealand Cycle Trail project will hopefully mark a turning point for central government’s commitment to cycling in New Zealand, said Green Party Cycling spokesperson Kevin Hague today.

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BANKS PENINSULA — Green Party MP Sue Kedgley today paid tribute to Sir Don Beavan for his outstanding work on diabetes treatment and prevention.

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National must start investing in job creation rather than following the extremist job slashing policies of their coalition partner ACT, Green Party Co-Leader Metiria Turei said today.

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The Government has finally acknowledged that there are palm kernel biosecurity risks, including from foot and mouth disease, following Green Party questioning and pressure in past months.

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This morning’s New Zealand Institute of Economic Research report on environmental priorities fails to connect the dots between modern environmental challenges, particularly when it suggests that reducing climate change emissions is a low priority for New Zealand, claimed the Green Party.

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Investing New Zealanders’ retirement savings in a risky retail business is a poor first attempt at investment in the local market, said Green Party Co-Leader Russel Norman today.

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Reports from animal welfare group SAFE that an urgent review of the Pig Code had been delayed and may not be completed this year are alarming, said Green Party Animal Welfare spokesperson Sue Kedgley.

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It is crucial that any new foreshore and seabed legislation respects M
ori customary rights, said the Green Party today.

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The Government must immediately withdraw its approval for a genetically engineered corn that is no longer being commercially developed in Europe because of safety concerns, Green Party Food Safety spokesperson Sue Kedgley said today.

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AUCKLAND — The Green Party has been briefed about proposals to restructure the Auckland Council along corporate lines, and place control of Auckland’s assets in the hands of eight companies, Green Party Local Government Spokesperson Sue Kedgley said today.

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Statements from the Government on the issue of water privatisation are confusing and contradictory and give no assurance to the public that private interests won’t soon be profiting from the provision of water, the Green Party said today.

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The Reserve Bank’s reliance on one tool, the Official Cash Rate (OCR), is not sophisticated enough to rebalance our economy onto a more sustainable, productive footing, said Green Party Finance Spokesperson Russel Norman today.

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Excerpts A well-paid privilege I know it is an enormous privilege to be elected as a Member of Parliament, and to be paid a high salary to represent the parties and voters that put us here.

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Cabinet decisions released by Local Government Minister Rodney Hide today show complete disregard for the environment and would effectively privatise all aspects of water supply services, the Green Party said today.

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The failure of the Trans-Tasman Food body to require labelling of artery-clogging, artificially produced trans-fats in foods will lead to poor health outcomes for New Zealand, said Green Party MP Sue Kedgley.

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The Green Party responded to today’s Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment report on Stockton mine with caution, noting it does not seek to address the elephant in the room - that mining has a massive environmental impact, particularly because coal is the worst climate change pollutant.

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The Green Party expressed relief today that the worst aspects of the Horn report seem to have been avoided.

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News today that the Government is considering weakening the Water Conservation Order (WCO) on the Rakaia River is just the tip of the iceberg, with the Government declaring open season on our most protected rivers and lakes, the Green Party said.

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The Green Party today welcomed the proposed two step MMP referenda but called for the questions to be written by an independent body.

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The so called ‘moderated’ ETS gives billions in free subsidies to foreign-owned industries, while limiting the allocation given to Maori owned interests, the Green Party said today.

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The Government needs to act swiftly and definitively to save New Zealand’s iconic kauri trees from a killer pathogen – kauri rot - that is decimating them.

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Information obtained by the Green Party has revealed 21 current mineral permits for prospecting and exploration in 42 areas protected from mining by Schedule Four of the Crown Minerals Act.

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Green MP Catherine Delahunty has drafted a Member’s Bill that would prevent polluters from being granted consent to indefinitely pollute waterways under an “exceptional circumstances” clause.

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The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) has issued an alert to New Zealand importers to make sure that any prunes imported from China do not contain high levels of lead, Green Party Food Safety spokesperson Sue Kedgley said today.

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The Government’s lax approach to protecting New Zealand’s agricultural economy and natural environment from biosecurity risks has been criticised by the Green Party, who today released information about the biosecurity risks of palm kernel.

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