Category: Green Party

Source: Green Party

The expansion of compulsory money management and introduction of mandatory community service for beneficiaries reheats failed policies that have not supported people into work both here and in Australia.

“People in poverty deserve so much better than the pain and misery this Government is inflicting upon them,” says Green Party Social Development and Employment spokesperson Ricardo Menéndez March. 

“People deserve to live in dignity, they deserve to be supported in times of need. Everything we need to turn this ambition into a reality exists, all that is missing is the political will. 

“The Government has shown little ambition or interest in really addressing poverty and has instead made life harder for many of our communities. Cuts to benefit increases, job losses and an increase in sanctions have left people without the resources to put food on the table and pay their bills. 

“Compulsory money management only serves to take further agency away from people who simply do not have enough to properly make ends meet and regularly have to get into debt to cover the essentials

“This policy has failed to support people into employment in Australia, and yet the Government is wanting to replicate this instead of working to end poverty. 

“Community service is a lazy reheated idea from the 90’s that failed to support people into permanent employment, left sponsors dependent on free labour and burdened families with the costs of unpaid work. These are tried, tested and failed policies, we can do so much better than this. 

“We vow to overturn these failed and cruel policies that will only make life harder for beneficiaries, and instead introduce an Income Guarantee to lift all families out of poverty while empowering them to make the choices that are best for them. We would also provide tailored support to connect people to employment that provides secure hours, decent wages and helps them meet their aspirations,” says Ricardo Menéndez March. 

Source: Green Party

The Green Party has launched a petition urging the Government not to push ahead with blanket speed limit increases that will come at an incredible cost to our communities. 

“The Government is ignoring the emphatic evidence that safe speeds save lives,” says Green Party Transport Spokesperson, Julie Anne Genter.

“Our streets should provide a foundation for everyone to access their communities safely and sustainably. The safety of our people has to be at the heart of our transport network. 

“However, the Minister of Transport is raising speed limits and jeopardising community safety without any credible justification. Applying blanket speed limit increases will result in more deaths and serious injuries, which come at an enormous cost to our communities.

“We have very clear evidence of the benefits from the early evaluations of speed limit reductions on our most dangerous roads since 2020. 

“For example, we see from the safer speed limit on the Nelson to Blenheim road that there has been an 80 per cent reduction in deaths and serious injuries – and it’s only been going for two years.

“The safer speed limits instigated by the previous government added an increase of around two seconds per kilometre to the average journey time. That’s not something most people will notice at all. What they will notice is if a loved one doesn’t make it home because of a car crash. 

“We are calling on people to make their opposition to this reckless policy heard by signing our petition and sending a clear signal to the Government. 

“We’ve seen widespread opposition to this policy from medical professionals, councils, schools and road safety experts. This is something that would have a significant impact on our communities – that’s why we’ve launched this petition. 

“We will continue to fight for sensible policy that puts priority on the safety of our people,” says Julie Anne Genter.

Source: Green Party

Rising unemployment confirmed by the latest labour market figures, along with the Government’s job cuts and punitive policies for beneficiaries, will place great strain on struggling households.

“This Government is setting a poverty trap by cutting thousands of jobs while at the same time intentionally cutting benefit increases,” says the Green Party’s Social Development Spokesperson Ricardo Menéndez March.

“As a country we have more than enough to ensure everyone has the means to put food on the table and live in dignity. 

“Poverty is a political choice, and this Government is choosing to put further strain on low-income households by cutting jobs and reducing benefit increases.

“Beneficiaries in particular are paying the price for the Government’s wasteful tax cuts – they are the ones who will least benefit from them.

“Statistics show the changes National made last year to annual benefit adjustments will leave beneficiaries worse off. This will increase child poverty, based on the Government’s own advice.

“Low-income families are being forced by this Government to pay more for prescriptions, more for the doctor, and more for public transport, pushing them further into debt and to food banks just to make ends meet.

“The Green Party campaigned on a fully costed plan to end poverty. Central to this is the establishment of a wealth tax. We’d also guarantee liveable incomes, end benefit sanctions and provide tailored support to get people into jobs that match their skills.

“We can end poverty, the solutions exist – all that is missing is political will,” says Ricardo Menéndez March.

Source: Green Party

We are writing to you on behalf of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand.

As a party committed to the Global Greens charter, we are deeply concerned about the sale of arms to Israel by the Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands and Bündnis90/Die Grünen government. Israel’s war on Gaza has contributed to unprecedented environmental and humanitarian devastation.

While The UN is still investigating the environmental impacts of the war, they have noted a “catastrophic spike in land, soil and water pollution,” and an Independent Commission of Inquiry established by the UN Human Rights Council has concluded that in relation to Israel’s military operations in Gaza, Israel has committed “war crimes, crimes against humanity and violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws.” The loss of Indigenous knowledge, which often embodies sustainable environmental practices, is being further exacerbated due to the violence Israel has committed against Palestinian land. As members of the Global Greens, it is our responsibility to integrate ecological wisdom into our responses to this humanitarian crisis, to ensure that environmental restoration as well as the preservation of cultural heritage are prioritised alongside humanitarian aid.

Currently in opposition, the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand have called on our National Party-led coalition government to:

• Demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire and a return of all hostages
• Expel the Israeli ambassador from Aotearoa
• Recognise the state of Palestine
• Stop being complicit in war crimes in their tacit support of the United States of America and Israel

In light of this we would like to remind Bündnis90/Die Grünen of three principles from the Global Greens Charter:

1. Ecological Wisdom. We acknowledge that human beings are part of the natural world and we respect the specific values of all forms of life, including non-human species. We acknowledge the wisdom of the indigenous peoples of the world, as custodians of the land and its resources. We acknowledge that human society depends on the ecological resources of the planet, and must ensure the integrity of ecosystems and preserve biodiversity and the resilience of life supporting systems.
2. Social Justice: We assert that the key to social justice is the equitable distribution of social and natural resources, both locally and globally, to meet basic human needs unconditionally, and to ensure that all citizens have full opportunities for personal and social development. We declare that there is no social justice without environmental justice, and no environmental justice without social justice.
3. Nonviolence: We declare our commitment to nonviolence and strive for a culture of peace and cooperation between states, inside societies and between individuals, as the basis of global security. We believe that security should not rest mainly on military strength but on cooperation, sound economic and social development, environmental safety, and respect for human rights.

We would appreciate a response to help us understand how Bündnis90/Die Grünen justifies the sale of arms to Israel in light of these charter principles.

We look forward to your reply.

Kind regards,

The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand Kaunihera (Council):

Marama Davidson & Chlöe Swarbrick (Party Co-leaders)

Alyssce Te Huna and Sam Ferguson (Party Co-convenors)

Alika Wells and Vicky Edwards (Policy Co-convenors)

Miriam Ross (General Manager)

Charlotte Huckson and Wiremu Winitana (Te Rōpū Pounamu Kaiwhakahaere)

With solidarity and support from the following Asia Pacific Greens Federation member states:

Councillor Andrew Kutpae, on behalf of Papua New Guinea Greens

Councillor Chulseong Lee, on behalf of Green Party Korea

Councillor Suresh Nautiyal, on behalf of India Greens

Councillor Erum Saleem, on behalf of Pakistan Green Party

Councillor Keiko Ogata, on behalf of Greens Japan

Source: Green Party

The Government’s decision not to implement eight of the 44 recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the March 15th attacks is an affront to those affected by this atrocity and communities at risk of hate crimes.

“What has the Government learnt from that day if it’s unwilling to take up key recommendations on how to prevent such terror attacks recurring?” says the Green Party spokesperson for the Government Response to March 15th, Kahurangi Carter.

“Failing to follow through on recommendations about hate speech, restorative justice for survivors and accessible reporting of risks is a serious dereliction of duty in response to the worst terrorist attack in our history.

“The decision not to follow through on the recommendation about hate speech is particularly galling. At a time when we’re seeing more online extremism, disinformation and division, we must remember that terror atrocities often begin with hate speech – and as this terrible instance showed, particularly when it’s allowed to spread online. 

“If existing reporting mechanisms for threats were sufficient, March 15th may have been avoided. Our Muslim communities in Aotearoa raised their concern time and time again before that dark day, but it fell on deaf ears. An inability to report hate speech means our institutions can’t monitor that risk – that’s not good enough. 

“Another recommendation knocked back is mandatory reporting of firearms injuries to police by health professionals. This only reinforces the ‘head in the sand’ mentality of a Government seeking to liberalise gun laws. 

“The world is watching our response to one of the darkest days in our history. Picking and choosing recommendations to end far-right terror fails not just the victims and survivors of this tragedy, but makes Aotearoa less safe for all,” says Kahurangi Carter.

Source: Green Party

The Minister for Children Karen Chhour’s pledge that cuts to Oranga Tamariki would not impact frontline services has been broken.

“This Government’s broken promises and callous cuts to frontline services will see our rangatahi continue to suffer,” says the Green Party spokesperson for Children Kahurangi Carter.

“The minister promised that her cuts wouldn’t affect frontline services, but just this week we’ve seen a core provider, Tākai, announce its closure – a sad demise for an organisation that provided critical support to a wide community for 20 years. Around a thousand other care providers are in limbo, waiting to see if their work can continue.

“At a time when an increased number of children and rangatahi are abused or neglected, we should be strengthening the services needed by tamariki and whānau and delivered by trusted providers. These organisations have strong personal connections to our communities, are easy to access and have been doing the hard work needed to manaaki our children.

“The future wellbeing of our most at-risk tamariki must be at the heart of our decision-making, especially those in the hands of state care.

“However, along with watering down its child poverty targets, the Government’s cuts to Oranga Tamariki risk a continuation of the harrowing neglect and mistreatment of tamariki that was extensively documented in the Abuse in State Care report. 

“This Coalition Government’s focus is firmly on the punishment of trauma rather than prevention or addressing the drivers of abuse.

“The Green Party recognises that the services to support young families need certainty and continuity. Let’s give New Zealand’s children and whanau the wrap-around support they deserve,” says Kahurangi Carter.

Source: Green Party

Today’s tax cuts will come at the expense of our tomorrow. 

“The Government’s trickle-down tax cuts come at unfathomable cost to people and planet,” says Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick.  

“To pay for it, they’ve watered down child poverty targets, frozen hiring front-line staff in a health system already on its knees and slashed climate action to protect our tomorrow.

“Today, carbon dioxide levels off the coast of the capital hit record highs – while the Government cuts NIWA scientists. The ocean around us is reaching record levels of heating that is killing fish and driving them out of our waters – while the Government knowingly increases emissions.

“Tax cuts today, at what cost? And who really benefits?

“The Prime Minister keeps saying these are for ‘low and middle-income earners,’ but once again, the facts tell a demonstrably different story from the spin. 64 per cent of the benefit goes to the top 40 per cent of households. Just 5.2 per cent will flow to the lowest-income 20 per cent of New Zealanders.

“This Government’s decisions mean more poverty, greater inequality, more climate-changing emissions, deferred maintenance on crumbling infrastructure, and ultimately, higher human, climate and financial cost for all of us in the not-too-distant future.

“It doesn’t have to be this way. With a tax system built on fairness as the Greens have long campaigned for, we can unlock the resources to ensure no one lives in poverty, we fix our public infrastructure and take necessary action for a climate-safe, inclusive, flourishing Aotearoa New Zealand.

“What all of this Government’s decisions continue to show is that we’re not so much dealing with a cost of living crisis, but a cost of greed crisis,” says Chlöe Swarbrick. 

Source: Green Party

The Greens have launched an open letter calling on the Prime Minister to respond to the rental crisis. 

“Housing is a human right and should not be treated as a commodity to be gambled on,” says Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. 

“Over the past month, we have been running a campaign to put real people’s stories to the statistics that tell us the one and a half million renters in this country spend disproportionately more of their income to live in older, colder, mouldier properties than those who own.

“Today we’re launching an open letter to the Prime Minister, himself the owner of seven properties, calling on his Government to take some of that personal responsibility he likes to talk about, to improve the lives and conditions of renters.

“We’re asking New Zealanders to make this impossible to ignore. Sign our open letter to the Prime Minister, then ask ten friends to do the same, then ask them to ask ten friends,” says Chlöe Swarbrick.

Open Letter: The Renters Letter 2024 – action.greens.org.nz

Source: Green Party

Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has urged the party membership to reach out and bring more people into their movement.

“We believe the sweeping majority of New Zealanders care about each other and the planet we all share,” Chlöe Swarbrick told the Party’s Annual General Meeting in Ōtautahi Christchurch today. 

“In the coming weeks, months and years, we will grow our movement to historic heights and build the political power to transform our economy into something that works for people and planet, instead of exploiting them.

“I have never so palpably felt the desire of people from right across our country to get involved in political change. It is the job of the Green Party to get out there, to mobilise and organise.

“We don’t exist merely to get into power. We exist to redistribute that power.

“It’s not enough to just have the policies that will lift people out of poverty. Our movement must gain the trust of those living it right now.

“Luxon’s Government is moving at pace to ram through countless cruel and callous policies, banking on people being too tired to engage. If it feels exhausting, and like you don’t know where to start in resisting it – that’s by design.

“The right wing is relying on mass disengagement. The solution is mass, people-powered engagement. Politics belongs to those who turn up.

“It’s time to turn up. Join the movement, join your union, run for council, start the community garden you’ve been waiting for, email your local representative about the change you want to see and put your values into action.

“I’m asking New Zealanders to believe in themselves and to believe in each other, and the collective change that only we, together, can create,” said Chlöe Swarbrick.

Source: Green Party

The Government’s move to dilute child poverty targets is a reminder that it is actively choosing to preserve hardship for thousands of households. 

“The Government has watered down our child poverty targets by stealth, a decision that will plunge thousands of children into material hardship,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Social Development, Ricardo Menéndez March.

“This decision will have severe consequences for our communities and is something the Government has tried to do as quietly as possible. There has been no announcement and they have shown no accountability for this.  

“This is just the latest example of the Government’s complete and utter disregard for our communities. This decision shows the Government is comfortable with nearly 17,000 more children being in material hardship.  

“Poverty is not inevitable, but rather a result of choices made by successive Governments. This Coalition has not only kept benefit levels below the poverty line, but also enabled landlords to continue lifting rents above inflation levels while punishing those on the breadline with more benefit sanctions. 

“Every child in Aotearoa deserves to grow up in a country that supports them to thrive, one that protects them from poverty. Already, one in eight children are growing up in material hardship. For Māori, it is one in five. How is it possible that in a wealthy country like ours there are thousands of children without enough to eat, a good bed, warm clothes, and decent shoes?

“The cruel and careless nature of this Government looks set to make these sobering statistics even worse. 

“The Green Party campaigned to end poverty for all families in Aotearoa by providing everyone with an Income Guarantee that would ensure every household and every child has everything they need to thrive. 

“Poverty is a political choice. We will keep fighting to make sure child poverty is a thing of the past,” says Ricardo Menéndez March.