Category: Green Party

Source: Green Party

The Government’s Land Transport GPS is another example of short-term thinking that will hurt our climate and communities. 

“The Government is on a one-way road to nowhere with its antiquated transport plan. Today’s announcement will see the safety of our communities sidelined and our reliance on fossil fuels supercharged,” says the Green Party spokesperson for Transport Julie Anne Genter. 

“Aotearoa desperately needs a balanced, resilient transport system. The Government’s plan will fall significantly short of this. 

“Higher public transport fares simply mean more pain for communities already struggling with the cost of living. This also disincentivises people from using public transport – that means more congestion on roads.

“Drastically reduced funding for safe biking and walking will consign our children to being driven everywhere. For those who can’t drive due to age, income or disability, this transport plan will limit mobility and independence. 

“Investment in the rail freight network will no longer be cross-subsidised from revenue generated from road users – this is effectively the death of rail. Undermining rail makes no sense when we need viable alternatives to take pressure off our roads.

“The Government will deliver worse outcomes for everyone in New Zealand, even those who need to drive. Short-term thinking is setting up our transport system for failure,” says Julie Anne Genter.

Source: Green Party

The Green Party welcomes the announcement of more funding for cancer treatments and medicines, however, calls for more to be done to address the severe health inequities that come with cancer.  

“Today’s announcement is welcome news, however, there remains much to do in ensuring everyone has the care and support they need when facing cancer,” says the Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson.

“We know that not everyone in Aotearoa has access to support – far from it. We also know that those left behind or let down by our health system are often Māori or Pasifika.

“At every point in the chain, our health system fails to provide culturally appropriate and equitable care for Māori. This is borne out in the way that Māori life expectancy rates lag significantly behind Pākehā. This is unacceptable.

“Māori are 80 percent more likely than non-Maori to die from cancer. Māori women  are twice as likely to be diagnosed with, and die from, cervical cancer than Pakeha women. When Māori women’s access to cervical cancer screening is well behind other groups, we must ensure any increases in resourcing for screening is rolled out equitably, and considers the needs of whānau Māori. 

“These sobering statistics remind us of the value a Māori Health Authority could have had in reducing some of these stark inequities. 

“All New Zealanders deserve to be supported in their times of need. It is upon us as political leaders to ensure our communities have the resources they need to navigate the challenges they face. 

“The Greens remain focused on fighting for those who need it most,” says the Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson.

Source: Green Party

Frivolous check-ins with beneficiaries are the Government’s latest plan to find excuses to punish those on the Job Seeker allowance and add to the stigma they face.

“The Government is more interested in punishing the poor than actually helping people into good employment,” says the Green Party’s social development spokesperson, Ricardo Menéndez March.

“The Government cannot be serious about supporting people into work when their target of getting 50,000 off a benefit includes people leaving because they died or entered a relationship, as opposed to only measuring work exits. 

“This ‘new’ idea about check-ins with MSD for beneficiaries sees the Coalition doubling down on policies that don’t work: people on benefits routinely hauled over the coals to meet with advisers to be grilled on their suitability to employment, or risk having their benefits cut. 

“We’ve seen in previous decades how check-ins contributed more to the negative stigma of being unemployed, and there’s no evidence that they help people into meaningful employment. But this Coalition has a habit of taking the country backwards.

“The Government can measure how many people they punish, but refuses to measure whether seminars actually help people into employment. Seminars on top of sanctions will see beneficiaries pushed further into poverty and further away from employment.

“Instead, the Government should establish networks for more tailored support for people to retrain and prepare for work opportunities suitable to their skillset.

“The Greens would instead remove benefit sanctions, end poverty by having liveable incomes and provide tailored support to connect people with jobs that match their skills and aspirations,” says Ricardo Menéndez March.

Source: Green Party

The Government’s archaic ‘tough on crime’ approach is weak on evidence and will do little to nothing to keep our communities safe.

“The punitive policies of this Government will fail our rangatahi and fail to address the core drivers of crime. Our rangatahi need opportunities, to learn, to do mahi, to contribute to their communities. This is what will see them reach their full potential,” says the Green Party spokesperson for justice, Tamatha Paul.

“If we want young people to turn their lives around, we should not be adding to the pain and punishment they’ve experienced their entire lives. Labelling children as young as 14 as serious offenders will only aggravate the vulnerable situations many of our youth find themselves in. 

“The prime minister may say he’s ‘sick of it’ when it comes to youth crime, but is ignorant to the core drivers behind why young people fall into crime. 

“The drivers are often backgrounds of abuse, trauma, mental health problems, learning disabilities and lack of support. It’s well established that when young people are supported with the basics, like decent housing and nutritious kai, and have opportunities to learn and contribute to their communities, it’s less likely they will turn to crime. 

“When we ignore these drivers, we merely feed the cycle of intergenerational trauma that devastates families and communities. What’s more, this government’s policies, such as cutting addiction support services and drug rehabilitation programmes, are exacerbating the drivers of crime.

“Despite the government’s rhetoric about serious offenders, evidence suggests most of the teenagers who will be subject to these orders will have already had a life of difficulty, worlds apart from the privileged and comfortable lives of Government Ministers. Throwing these kids into boot camps is inexcusably shallow politics, and if anything it’s likely to increase reoffending.

“In reality, punishment does nothing but set these young people up to fail. Most of them have already had extremely harsh lives where they have never known love or care, all they have known is abuse and punishment. I know this because I have spent time with these rangatahi. If we want young people to turn their lives around, we have got to try something different to the pain they have experienced their entire lives,” says Tamatha Paul.

Source: Green Party

The grounding of the Aratere Interislander Ferry is a wake-up call to the Coalition Government; they need to front up with a realistic long term solution to moving people and freight between our islands.  

“The Interislander has been in dire straits of late with countless cancellations, delays and now a ship stranded. This tumultuous tide will not turn unless the Government comes to the table with funding,” says the Green Party transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter.

“We call on the Government to commit to deliver replacement ships for the Cook Strait crossing by the next election. It’s time to stop playing the blame game with KiwiRail. 

“Nicola Willis’ reckless decision to cancel the contract for new ferries without an alternative plan in place is disastrous for New Zealand. 

“In what has become a hallmark of this Coalition Government, it has thrown all of its transport eggs into the roading basket, failing to adequately invest in rail and low-carbon, low-cost forms of transport.

“They campaigned on funding public goods like infrastructure and cancer drugs to get people to vote for them – but instead they gave nearly $3 billion in tax cuts to landlords and are setting up our Interislander service for failure. 

“The thing is, this Government knows all too well that the Interisland ferries aren’t fit for long term purpose. Yet sadly, while they allow the conditions to fester, a maritime disaster grows more likely.

“It’s time for the Government to take responsibility and present some real solutions rather than continue making excuses,” says Julie Anne Genter.

Source: Green Party

The Green Party pays tribute to former MP and prominent activist Keith Locke who died yesterday, peacefully in hospital. 

“We are saddened to learn of the death of Keith Locke, who is both a dear friend and a leading figure in the history of our party and indeed in this country’s history of activism,” say Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick in a joint statement on behalf of the Green Party caucus.

“Keith never wavered in his task of holding government and those in positions of authority to account during the four consecutive terms of Parliament that he was a sitting MP for the Green Party. From 1999 to 2011, he served our party with distinction and worked extremely hard to advance causes central to our kaupapa. 

“Not only did Keith work to defend civil liberties at home, but he was vigilant in highlighting human rights crises in other countries, including the Philippines, East Timor, West Papua and in Latin America. 

“We particularly acknowledge his strong and clear opposition to the Iraq War, and his commitment to an independent and principled foreign policy for Aotearoa.

“Keith always understood the importance of, and advocated for, Aotearoa New Zealand retaining its independent voice in international affairs – we must take heed of that message now more than ever.

“His mahi as a fearless defender of civil liberties was exemplified in his efforts to challenge government overreach into the privacy of citizens. 

“Keith worked very hard to introduce reforms of our country’s security intelligence services. While there is much more to be done, the improvements in transparency that have occurred over the past two decades are in large part due to his advocacy and work. We will honour him by ensuring we carry on such work.

“As a colleague and friend, Keith will be keenly missed by the Greens. He has been a shining light for the rights of people and planet. Keith Locke leaves a legacy that his family and all who knew him can be proud of. 

“Moe mai ra e te rangatira,” say Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick.

Source: Green Party

The Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill is an encouraging example of what cross-party co-operation can achieve.

“Today was a positive step forward, but there is still a mountain to climb when it comes to protecting and preserving the health of our ocean,” says Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson.

“While we join the Environment select committee in supporting the recommendations for amendment, the Green Party would have liked to see the ecological integrity and mauri of Tīkapa Moana / Hauraki Gulf given the best possible chance of recovery and restoration. 

“That recovery and restoration is best achieved by prohibiting bottom trawling methods in the Gulf. Advice from officials is clear that stopping bottom trawling could have significant biodiversity and ecosystem benefits.

“If this Government is serious about protecting our oceans, it can meet this challenge by taking on board the advice of officials and bringing this archaic practice to an end. 

“We welcome the positive step of establishing more innovative and te Tiriti-centred legislative tools that uphold the rights of tangata whenua and mana moana by reaffirming customary fishing rights.

“However, we wish to emphasise that if Aotearoa is going to make a meaningful difference in turning the tide on marine life and biodiversity decline—not only in Tīkapa Moana but across the moana—New Zealand’s efforts will need to be at a much greater scale.

“The Green Party campaigned on protecting 30 percent of our oceans. We will continue to fight for our marine environment so it can be enjoyed across future generations,” says Marama Davidson. 

Local MP for Auckland Central and Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick added that “local iwi and community groups have been fighting for generations to see the ecosystem flourish in our big blue backyard.

“Passing this law is the bare minimum Parliament can do. But an end to bottom trawling and 30 percent protection would mean our so-called House of Representatives actually working in the interests of those we represent.”

Source: Green Party

The lack of bids at today’s ETS auction is a sad indictment on this Government’s staggering indifference to the climate crisis and their lack of a plan. 

“The market clearly lacks confidence in this Government, and is responding to the reality of the coalition’s inaction over their rhetoric,” says Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. 

“This morning the Minister of Finance seemed caught unaware about how the Emissions Trading Scheme works, and this afternoon, that market showed it has no confidence in the Government through the failure of its ETS auction

“While shredding climate action policies, the Government crows about leaving mitigation to the market through the ETS. But since taking office, their policy and budget decisions have bottomed out the confidence of that very market.

“None of it adds up.

“All of these Government decisions simply pile more suffering and more cost onto people and planet, ”says Chlöe Swarbrick. 

Source: Green Party

Scrutiny of Budget 24 and advice to the Minister of Finance shows the Government is knowingly increasing emissions and shredding climate action.

“The Government’s Budget comes at a tremendous cost to our climate. People and planet pay the price,” says Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. 

“For the first time, we have it in black in white that the Government knew their budget decisions would increase emissions – and that’s only for the initiatives they decided to do the analysis on.

“The Minister of Finance had no answer and no justification for this in today’s scrutiny session.

“The climate crisis is not only a threat to life on earth as we know it, but Treasury and Ministry for the Environment have shown that our commitments under the Paris Agreement leave us on the hook for anywhere between $3 to $24 billion.

“Basically, we either reduce emissions ourselves, or we pay others to do it.

“This Government is budgeting for neither, hoping to quietly push unfathomable cost into the future.

“That strategy can only work so long. The bill for Government inaction is growing and New Zealanders will pay the cost.

“We are running out of time to secure the liveable future we all want and deserve. This Government wants to pretend they’re good economic managers while actively deteriorating the climate necessary for a functional economy.

“The solutions exist. All that is lacking is the political will to people and planet before short-term profit.

“Time and again, this Government shows us whose side they’re on, and it’s not that of regular people, future generations, or the planet we all share,” says Chlöe Swarbrick. 

Source: Green Party

The Government’s announcement of a roadshow consultation on work health and safety is a smokescreen for its plan to throw out regulations which keep workers safe.

“More workers are going to die as a result of this move – it’s that simple,” says Teanau Tuiono, the Green Party’s workplace relations and safety spokesperson.

“The Government’s decision to cut funding to the tune of $10 million from an already under-staffed Worksafe NZ was the entree. The main course will be sweeping cuts to regulations designed to ensure workplaces are safe.

“The Government says it’s cutting back on red tape but it’s really cutting back on workers’ rights that have been fought for over generations. It’s all ‘she’ll be right’ until a petrol station is blown up because some gas canisters are improperly stored, due to regulations and safety standards slipping. 

“Everyone deserves to work in an environment where their safety is respected and their rights are protected. Workers are the backbone of our economy and deserve so much better than a Government that simply doesn’t care. 

“We need to properly resource the labour inspectorate as well as Worksafe to ensure we have robust health and safety practices.

“The sobering reality is that every 15 minutes someone gets seriously injured in a workplace incident. Up to 17 people die each week from health problems related to their work. This is costing our economy over $4 billion a year. 

“In New Zealand, almost three times more people die at work than in the United Kingdom. Similarly, our rate of serious injury in the workplace is 20 per cent higher than in Australia. This Government’s anti-worker agenda will see us slip even further behind. 

“Statistics also show that Māori and Pasifika are much more likely to die or be injured at their workplace, so once again these communities will be disproportionately affected by this reckless regime. 

“We must stand up for what is right. The safety of working people must be protected,” says Teanau Tuiono.