Category: Green Party

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Greens urge ‘constructive, practical’ bus network review

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington’s application for $25.5 million funding for 2024-2027 under the National Transport Programme was rejected by government. Greater Wellington Regional Council

For $200 million the government could reinstate bus network upgrades it previously cancelled in regions now suffering huge fuel price shocks, the Greens say.

Government figures show more than 99 percent of the upgrades Auckland asked for were granted in the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) for 2024-27 – but the story was much different for other regions, with many having their bids for upgrades rejected entirely.

The Green Party wants the government to immediately consider putting spending into projects it previously rejected considering the fuel crisis.

Transport Minister Chris Bishop says there’s no such thing as a free lunch, and a new draft Government Policy Statement will be out this year.

While the government will “continue to invest strongly” in public transport, he refused to commit to a larger proportion of funding.

The data from his office showed the government approved $95.7 million of the $96.6m (more than 99 percent) Auckland Transport asked for, accounting for about 70 percent of funding approved for new public transport investments under the plan.

Other regions did have some funding approved including Bay of Plenty (under $1.3m), Canterbury (under $9m), Manawatū (under $23m), Otago (under $5.3m) and Waikato (under $4.4m).

But much smaller amounts were rejected in full for the likes of Gisborne ($3.6m), Invercargill ($2.5m), Nelson ($200,000), Northland ($8.2m), Taranaki ($7.4m), Hamilton ($10.4m), Wellington ($25.5m) and Waimakariri ($350,000).

More than $45.3m also remains categorised as “possible – unlikely to be funded”.

All up, the government denied about $14m more funding for bus network upgrades than it granted.

Greens call for review

Green MP Julie Anne Genter told RNZ that with the fuel crisis biting, improving bus services would make them more usable for those struggling, and called for the government to urgently take another look.

“We’re in an urgent crisis right now where people need real alternatives to relying on their petrol or diesel car to get around. The least the government could do is go back to these councils who did all this planning and consultation and fund those services.”

Genter noted the $153m in rejected projects was about the same as the cost of the geotechnical scoping work the government paid for a second Mt Victoria tunnel in Wellington.

She acknowledged not all the projects could be immediately implemented – but said much of the work was already done by councils.

“It’s possible not all of the projects could be stood up in a short period of time, but they should be looking at anything that could be done in the next few months. This could be a very long-term issue with the higher oil prices and public transport makes sense anyway to invest in.”

Julie Anne Genter says with the fuel crisis biting, improving bus services would make them more usable for those struggling. RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Bishop said it would not be so easy.

“The Greens sort of seem to be assuming that you could automatically expand services tomorrow, or invest in infrastructure tomorrow – that’s simply not the reality.

“There’s always demand for services that can’t be met in terms of funding and there’s no such thing as a free lunch. There’s a limited amount of money, tough decisions have to be made always, and I appreciate that there are services that people would like to see run but not all of them make economic sense.”

He said decisions on where the funding went for bus network improvement were not made by ministers, but rather the Transport Agency – according to “a metric around what is accepted and what is not”.

Genter suspected the reason Auckland benefited far more than other regions was because the government viewed public transport as valuable only for reducing congestion for drivers.

“The reality is, in small or medium towns people could have a real choice if the government would bring the co-funding to the table, $200 million is a very small amount in the context of the National Land Transport programme … in fact, it’s 0.6 percent, it’s a tiny amount.”

“For example when they dropped fares in Queenstown – simplified the network, increased bus frequency – they had a massive jump in ridership, and that is a relatively small, rural area … but to do that, it requires government to step up.”

A closer look at some regions also shows that as a result of the Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport 2024, councils were required to cut or curb projects to even be eligible for continued baseline funding for buses under the NLTP.

These examples never amounted to the bids for co-funding rejected by the government, because the councils were warned they would likely fail.

Taranaki

An Official Information (LGOIMA) response shows a “profound impact” on services and public confidence over the scrapping of about $11m in funding for a “transformational” bus network redesign in Taranaki.

The upgrade had been approved under Labour after three years of consultation, but “following changes to national transport priorities reflected in the Draft GPS 2024, [the council] was required to realign its public transport programme to a value-for-money and efficiency-focused framework”.

“Taranaki’s public transport contracts had not been comprehensively renewed for approximately 12 years, and cost increases … were unavoidable,” the response from Taranaki Regional Council said.

“As a result: No increase in service frequency could be implemented; cross-town services could not be introduced; evening and weekend improvements were limited or reduced; network coverage expansion was not possible; public transport outcomes fell materially short of community expectations.”

The bus hub outside New Plymouth’s Puke Ariki library and museum. Robin Martin

The council said it re-scoped the business case from the “gold service level” goal it had expected to reach.

“Under current funding settings, [the council] is unable to achieve even the bronze level, which represents the most basic uplift in service provision.

“The inability to deliver even basic service improvements has resulted in a significant gap between community expectations and actual outcomes, and a loss of public confidence in the public transport system.”

Dunedin

A proposal to improve public transport in Dunedin was also withdrawn and never consulted on by the Otago Regional Council after the government indicated no new funding would be available.

An investment proposal shows officials recommended consultation on four options for more frequent buses while keeping adult fares at $2 be rescinded because the council “has been advised that the likelihood of receiving endorsement … is very low in the current funding environment”.

The revamp proposed buses every 15 minutes on main routes, 50-cent fares, and expanded hours of operation – putting an end to a situation where many Sunday services’ final bus departs before 6pm.

An “early ‘rationalisation’” of those problems could have led to “almost wholesale enhancement of the network”, the council officials wrote.

Former councillor Elliot Weir told RNZ the plan had already been watered down in negotiation with the previous Labour government, and while some were published in the council’s long-term plan they were not implemented.

“My understanding is none of those improvements got approval because that would cost … we only got co-funding at essentially at our existing ongoing levels for our current services.

“It’s, I guess, better than nothing because they were threatening to potentially not even agree to co-funding at the current service levels.”

Weir said the government could publish a new GPS “tomorrow” which could remove some of the restrictions councils faced in providing more efficient bus networks, and if co-funding was provided, some changes could be made quickly.

“You could start implementing a lot of those increases or do anything on the fares pretty much instantly, and then slowly over time roll them out. Because that those frequency increases have been approved in the public transport plan, they really just are waiting on funding to be available.”

Differing political priorities

Genter said the Luxon government’s focus on cutting costs had “caused a lot of chaos for ideological reasons, but now is a time when we’re as a country facing this fossil fuel crisis – it’s time for constructive, practical solutions”.

Bishop pointed out spending on overall public transport had increased to $6.4 billion in its 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme, up from the previous $4.9b spend in Labour’s last term.

“That’s before you even count things like investment in the level crossings that we’ve committed to in Auckland, and the expansion of Metro Rail services … we’ve purchased new trains for the Manawatū train line and the Masterton train line in Wellington, for example. So we stand by what the government’s doing.”

Genter acknowledged the increase, but said much of that was because of cost increases – and pointed out nearly all the funding for bus upgrades had gone to Auckland and Manawatū.

“There are councils right across the country that worked up good new network improvements, and the government can fund those in a relatively short period of time.

“Every step we can take to make it possible for people to save petrol and diesel is going to be good for the cost of living, for the people who can benefit from it, and good for the country.”

Chris Bishop says a new draft Government Policy Statement will be out this year. RNZ/Mark Papalii

Bishop said he was working on a new draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport out for consultation by the end of the year, set to take effect in 2027.

“I’m not going to get ahead of decisions that Cabinet will make, but as I say, we’ll be doing some hard thinking around this.

“What is important is that we continue to invest in the transport network, both from public transport, but also in terms of road maintenance and in terms of expanding road roading, which is what we’re doing through the Mount Vic project.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/15/greens-urge-constructive-practical-bus-network-review/

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Ensure every New Zealander is housed and safe ahead of Cyclone Vaianu

Source: Green Party

The Green Party is calling on the Government to ensure emergency housing is available to all people experiencing homelessness this weekend as Cyclone Vaianu approaches the North Island.

“Luxon is telling everyone to stock up and prepare to stick out this storm at home. What does that mean for the people he has made homeless?” says Green Party Co-leader and Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick.

“The Government must choose to ensure everybody who needs it gets access to emergency housing this weekend, or they are choosing to leave New Zealanders on the street during what they’ve warned is a potentially ‘life-threatening’ event.” 

“As an indication of how crazy the current system is, Aucklanders displaced from their homes during the Anniversary Floods got rehoming support, but that resource was not available for those already displaced and without homes. We cannot let that happen again.” 

“This is a political choice. We can choose to ensure everyone is safe at home through this climate-change-charged extreme weather, and we are asking the Government to step up to that responsibility,” says Swarbrick

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/10/ensure-every-new-zealander-is-housed-and-safe-ahead-of-cyclone-vaianu/

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Action needed on widespread drinking water problems

Source: Green Party

The Green Party says while it is relieved the cause of the recent ‘boil water’ notice in Auckland was easily addressed, more action is needed to deal with the regular and widespread contamination of drinking water elsewhere in the country.

“New Zealanders should be able to turn on their tap and access safe, clean drinking water,” says Green Party spokesperson for the environment Lan Pham. 

“While in some cases, drinking water is contaminated as it moves through pipes in our towns and cities, in many cases it is contaminated at its source, in lakes, rivers, and groundwater.” 

Data released to the Green Party shows 26 ‘boil water’ and 17 ‘do not drink’ notices had already been issued in 2026 as of 11 March, prior to the notice issued in Auckland yesterday. 

In 2025, 91 ‘boil water’ and 53 ‘do not drink’ notices were issued, with 516 lab samples of water quality breaching a limit for safe drinking water in national standards. 

Many of the notices have been issued at schools, with analysis showing that last year over 9,000 students across more than 70 schools and pre-schools faced unsafe drinking water, with water breaching safe Drinking Water Standards at some point during the year. So far in 2026, 16 schools have issued ‘do not drink’ or ‘boil water’ notices. 

“The Havelock North Drinking Water Inquiry stressed that the protection of drinking water sources should be expressly recognised in resource management legislation as a matter of national importance. 

“But the Government’s resource management overhaul currently underway only requires consenting authorities to ‘have regard to’ effects of activities on drinking water quality.” 

“Almost all New Zealanders get their drinking water from a river, lake, or groundwater.” 

“When we protect these sources of water from pollution, we can be more confident the water coming out of our taps will be safe to drink, even if there’s a failure at the treatment plant or somewhere else in the process.” 

“New Zealanders deserve better for something as important as the water we all rely on for life,” says Pham. 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/08/action-needed-on-widespread-drinking-water-problems/

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Fossil fuel companies on notice for price gouging

Source: Green Party

The Green Party is calling on petrol companies to act quickly following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire that has caused the price of fuel to drop.

“Fuel companies moved quickly to increase their prices at the start of the conflict. With prices falling off the back of the ceasefire, they need to come down just as fast,” says Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. 

“New Zealanders watch petrol prices jump up overnight when global oil prices spike, but when they fall, it always seems to take weeks for that to show up at the pump.” 

“Isn’t it interesting that while regular people watch their cost of living rise, major corporations never seem to feel the pinch?” 

“The Government can ensure New Zealanders are not paying inflated prices while fuel companies pocket the difference.” 

“The Commerce Commission should keep closely monitoring fuel margins, and they need to be ready to use their powers under the Fuel Industry Act if we don’t see retail prices coming down.” 

“If companies are not passing on lower costs in a timely way, it confirms the market is not working for New Zealanders, and the government needs to step in.” 

“This is why the Green Party proposed a windfall profits tax as part of our fossil fuel crisis relief package. 

“While immediate cost of living pressure like this is immediately necessary, we’re also crystal clear that the more we continue to be reliant on the conscience of fossil fuel corporations, the more our country remains vulnerable.” 

“The only real, sustainable solution is clean, green, abundant, home-grown renewable energy powering our country and our economy,” says Swarbrick. 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/08/fossil-fuel-companies-on-notice-for-price-gouging/

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Events – Politicians debate NZ’s energy future at Electrify Queenstown

Source: DESTINATION QUEENSTOWN & LAKE WĀNAKA TOURISM

Queenstown, New Zealand (8 April 2026) – Party leaders will go head-to-head on New Zealand’s energy future at Electrify Queenstown next month, in a rare cross-party debate during an election year.

Labour leader Rt Hon Chris Hipkins, the Green Party’s Chlöe Swarbrick, and The Opportunity Party’s Qiulae Wong, will each deliver a speech at the award-winning event on 18 May, followed by a leaders’ debate moderated by Paddy Gower.

A Government minister or Coalition representative is also expected to join the line-up, with the final speaker to be confirmed shortly.

With conflict in Iran disrupting global oil supply and pushing up fuel prices, the impacts are already being felt in New Zealand through rising travel costs and pressure on household and business budgets – making this discussion about energy sovereignty and affordability more timely than ever.

It will be one of the few opportunities early this year to see multiple party leaders debate energy policy side-by-side.

Set in one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing regions, Electrify Queenstown (17-19 May) will examine how electrification can transform the tourism industry, households, and other sectors.

Other speakers include 2026 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Sir Rod Drury, New Zealand Sustainability Leader of the Year Mike Casey, and leading renewable electricity advocate Dr Saul Griffith.

The three-day programme will cover cost savings and productivity gains, funding pathways, and practical steps for businesses and households.

Event details:

The Future of New Zealand’s Energy System: A Leaders’ Debate

When: Monday 18 May, from 2pm-4.30pm

Where: Queenstown Events Centre

More information and full programme: www.electrifyqueenstown.co.nz

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/08/events-politicians-debate-nzs-energy-future-at-electrify-queenstown/

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9,000 students faced unsafe drinking water at school last year

Source: Green Party

The Green Party has released data showing 9000 students across more than 70 schools and pre-schools faced unsafe drinking water in 2025, with water breaching safe Drinking Water Standards at some point during the year. 

“No child should face a health risk from the water coming out of a drinking fountain at their school. The data paints a troubling picture of the state of drinking water in Aotearoa,” says Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson. 

“While many of these schools had treatment systems in place, for whatever reason the treatment has failed.” 

“Drinking water standards set safe limits for things like bacteria, chemicals, and other contaminants in drinking water, which must be met at all points in a water system after treatment.” 

“When a school’s water is found to be unsafe, drinking fountains are shut down, children are told to bring water bottles from home, and in serious cases schools may have to close. Children should be focused on learning not worrying about whether their water is safe.” 

According to the Minister of Education, no additional treatment barriers were installed at any of the schools in 2025 and there is no estimate of the cost to bring drinking water treatment facilities at those schools where ‘do not drink’ notices were issued in 2025 up to a standard where water is safe and reliable. 

“Schools should have all the resources they need to provide safe drinking water. Instead, the Government installed no new treatment systems at any of these schools in 2025 and cannot even tell us what it would cost to fix the problem.” 

The data follows an earlier 2024 report by Taumata Arowai which found a “stubbornly high” 71 schools reported at least one incidence of E. coli in their drinking water that year, meaning faecal contamination was present. 

“The data reinforces why the protection of drinking water at its source, in rivers, lakes, and groundwater, must be a priority.” 

“Almost all New Zealanders get their drinking water from a river, lake, or underground aquifer. If we protect those sources from pollution, we can be far more confident that what comes out of the tap is safe, even when something goes wrong at a treatment plant.” 

“Keeping source water clean also avoids the enormous cost of removing contaminants like nitrate and sediment, which are extremely difficult and expensive to treat, particularly for smaller towns and communities.” 

Green Party environment spokesperson Lan Pham has called for the Government to learn the lessons of the Havelock North Drinking Water Inquiry. 

“The Havelock North Drinking Water Inquiry was clear that source protection should be treated as a matter of national importance in resource management law,” said Pham. 

“The Inquiry found that protecting the source of drinking water provides the first and most significant barrier against contamination and illness.” 

“Despite those recommendations, the Government’s resource management overhaul only requires decision-makers to ‘have regard to’ effects on drinking water quality. That falls well short of what the Inquiry called for.” 

“If this Government were serious about keeping our water safe, they would be enshrining source protection in law.” 

In answers to written questions, the Minister of Education confirmed she was not aware of ‘Do Not Drink’ notices that had been issued at schools in 2025, had received no advice on water quality at the affected schools, had no estimate of the cost to fix the issue, and had not corresponded with the Ministers for Local Government or Health about the matter. 

“The Minister is treating this as someone else’s problem. Parents sending their kids to school have a right to expect that the water is safe. They deserve a Government that takes that seriously,” says Davidson.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/02/9000-students-faced-unsafe-drinking-water-at-school-last-year/

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Bill to protect artists against outdated copyright laws passes first reading

Source: Green Party

Tonight, Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter’s Copyright (Parody and Satire) Amendment Bill passed through its first reading.

“This common-sense amendment would improve how our copyright laws work in a modern media landscape, and provide more protections for artists, like Australia, Canada, and parts of Europe,” says Green Party spokesperson for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Kahurangi Carter.

“Satire makes us laugh and makes us think. This Bill would help protect New Zealand’s comedians from legal threats and outsized egos.”

“Aotearoa can be a country that properly values our art and our artists, both of which already contribute significantly to what makes our country what it is.”

“Our copyright laws have not kept pace with the changing landscape of the digital age, which has left creatives exposed to the risk of costly legal repercussions.”

“We want to acknowledge the support of wonderful artists such as Thomas Sainsbury, Kura Forrester, and mihi to the broader artistic community.”

“The Greens want to further empower artists by protecting their artistic expression, which is currently restricted.”

“We’re grateful to those political parties who voted in favour of this Bill, and we’re looking forward to working with the public through the select committee process to ensure this Bill becomes a much needed law.”

“There is a lot going on in the world right now, so more than ever we must lean into art to help us express ourselves without being hampered by outdated laws,” says Kahurangi Carter.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/01/bill-to-protect-artists-against-outdated-copyright-laws-passes-first-reading/

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Fisheries Bill sacrifices the future of fishing for corporate profits

Source: Green Party

The Green Party is warning that the Government’s complete rewrite of the Fisheries Act will privatise one of our largest public assets and push fish stocks closer to wipe out.

“The Fisheries Amendment Bill signs away insane industry power over our oceans and fisheries at the expense of regular New Zealanders and the environment that sustains us,” says Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. 

“New Zealanders pushed back hard last week, and the Minister was forced to abandon the removal of minimum fish size requirements for commercial operators, but the Government needs to gut the whole damn Bill. 

“We cannot let Christopher Luxon and the National Party scapegoat New Zealand First for this latest attack on our environment. This Bill doesn’t need to progress. All coalition parties have decided that it will. 

“National, ACT and NZ First are choosing to screw over our oceans and recreational fishers to help the industry make a quick, unsustainable buck. 

“It doesn’t have to be this way. The Greens stand with regular people over profit and plunder. 

“That means going much further than just killing this Bill. It means phasing out bottom trawling, increasing full marine protection from less than 1% of our oceans to 30%, and protecting our fisheries for future generations,” says Swarbrick.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/31/fisheries-bill-sacrifices-the-future-of-fishing-for-corporate-profits-2/

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Greens call for urgent inquiry into food factory closures

Source: Green Party

The Green Party is calling for an urgent select committee inquiry into the closure of Heinz Watties, Greggs, and McCain food processing facilities.

Green Party spokesperson for agriculture Steve Abel, a Member of the Primary Production Select Committee, has written to the Committee expressing serious concern at the closure of long-standing food production facilities. “Understanding the extent of the impact and risks is a matter of urgency that the Primary Production Select Committee should open an inquiry into,” says Steve Abel. 

“The closures of Heinz Watties, Greggs, and McCain food manufacturing sites have implications for New Zealand’s food resilience and security, will cause significant job losses, and threaten the viability of local vegetable growers.” 

“The closures, if they go ahead, will reduce local vegetable processing capacity and compromise New Zealand’s ability to feed itself with local produce.”

“For a lot of families, frozen vegetables are how they get affordable, nutritious food on the table. We need to understand what losing this processing capacity means for them.” 

“There is little public information about what led to these factories closing. If the regulatory environment, energy costs, foreign-owner indifference to New Zealand interests, or anti-competitive behaviour from supermarkets is the problem, the public have a right to know.”

“We’re heading towards greater dependency on imported food, and that puts our food security, food sovereignty, and resilience at real risk.” 

“I am calling on all parties in Parliament to support this urgent inquiry as a matter of national significance for New Zealand’s food system,” says Abel.

The letter is available here.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/30/greens-call-for-urgent-inquiry-into-food-factory-closures/

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Government once again squeezing young people into one-size-fits-all model

Source: Green Party

The Green Party has serious concerns with the proposed changes to NCEA by Luxon’s Government, which will undo decades of progress towards a student-centred system. 

“Luxon’s Government is squeezing our young people back into one-size-fits-all model. Anyone who has met more than one child knows that they are all different,” says the Green Party’s education spokesperson, Lawrence Xu-Nan. 

“Education must be shaped by communities to meet everyone’s needs if we want our mokupuna to thrive.” 

“What the Minister announced today has confirmed what people have been concerned with all along. It is ill-conceived, haphazard, and nothing short of a vanity project. If this proceeds, we will see more students falling through the gaps and being left behind.” 

“Any country with a world class education system knows how important it is to work closely with the sector on any significant changes, but this Government is not interested in genuine engagement with our teachers and education experts.” 

“Education is about encouraging curiosity and nurturing our future generation’s love of learning. Yet this Government has treated education as a box-ticking exercise, exposing themselves as more interested in reporting than learning. It is outrageous that the Minister implied that she wants more students to fail than to pass.” 

“We have seen the harm of standardising assessment, where some students are left further behind—especially Māori, Pasifika, disabled and neurodivergent, and rural students.” 

“The Green Party is committed to working with education communities, including teachers and principals, parents, and students to ensure that any change is centred on the needs and aspiration of individual students, not simply whatever employers want out of them,” says Lawrence Xu-Nan.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/26/government-once-again-squeezing-young-people-into-one-size-fits-all-model/

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Greens announce plan to end homelessness & fix housing crisis

Source: Green Party

The Green Party has announced today their new campaign A Home for Everybody, calling to end homelessness, fix renter’s rights, and end the housing crisis once and for all. 

“In a country like Aotearoa, with our wealth of resources and skills, there is no excuse for people to go without a decent home, let alone any home at all,” says Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson. 

“In 2022, 46% of renting households spent more than 30% of their income on rent, compared to 19% of renters in 1988. Since 2003, house prices have increased by 230%, while the median household income has only increased by 137%.” 

“The idea that housing is a human right should not be controversial. And yet, successive governments have allowed housing to be treated as an investment asset first, and a human necessity second.” 

Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick says “Every New Zealander needs to live in a warm, dry, stable home if we want a country that thrives, let alone a stable democracy. A Home for Everybody is how we make it happen. That means real renters’ rights, investing in public housing and ending homelessness.” 

“This isn’t rocket science. Mass building of public housing almost 100 years ago led to decades of stable, affordable homes for New Zealanders. Other countries have shown how sensible, practical policies to strengthen renter’s rights and common sense tax settings, to stop housing being treated as a state-sanctioned casino, means more affordable homes.” 

To strengthen renters’ rights, the Greens would implement a Renter’s Rights Bill, cap rent increases at 2%, reverse no-cause evictions for rental stability, and introduce a Rental Warrant of Fitness to fix the holes in the Healthy Homes Standards. 

To increase public housing, the Greens would build tens of thousands of quality, affordable public homes, and support community providers and councils with financing to provide more public housing in their communities. This would stimulate local economies and create local jobs, while reducing housing waitlists and homelessness in those same communities. 

To prioritise housing as a necessity, not an investment, the Greens would reverse National’s billions of dollars of tax cuts for landlords and property speculators, so first-home buyers have a chance of putting down a deposit without losing out to wealthy investors. 

Marama Davidson says, “By enacting meaningful policy, we can achieve secure, affordable housing for everyone, and benefit all New Zealanders in the process.” 

“Homelessness, the housing crisis, and unacceptable, unsafe housing conditions are political choices, and we will make every choice we can to end them.” 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/26/greens-announce-plan-to-end-homelessness-fix-housing-crisis/

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Government’s fossil fuel relief package fails to meet the crisis

Source: Green Party

The Green Party says the Government’s fossil fuel crisis relief package leaves too many New Zealanders behind. 

“The Luxon Government has turned its back on hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders, asking them to foot the bill for Trump’s war on Iran,” said Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson. 

Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick says, “The Government’s narrow tweaks to tax credits leaves behind the tens of thousands of people their economic plan has pushed out of work, only to then punish with new obligations and sanctions. 

“So much for planning for the ‘worst case scenario.’ There is no plan to support people onto public transport and reduce fuel demand, no plan to prevent corporations price gouging while families cut back on groceries. 

“Perhaps worse, Luxon has doubled down on his commitment to burn billions of taxpayer dollars on infrastructure that fosters more fossil-fuel dependency and vulnerability, like the LNG import facility and Roads of National Significance. 

“The Greens proposed a sensible plan for free public transport, direct relief for everyone earning under the median income, increased mileage for care workers, more school bus services and a windfall profits tax.” 

“Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis have made the decision to allow the same people they’ve made poorer through their economic decisions to carry the disproportionate cost of this fossil fuel crisis.” 

Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson said the Government’s package fails to help those hardest hit by the fuel crisis. 

“The Government showed today it is not prepared to match the scale of what people are facing and the crisis New Zealanders are dealing with.” 

“This package does nothing for beneficiaries and their children, retirees, or unpaid carers, who are all left out entirely.” 

“Caregiving is work. Raising children is work. Looking after a parent or a loved one is work. These people are facing rising costs making it more difficult to care for their loved ones. This package does not count any of it.” 

“This is a crisis and the Government’s response will do nothing for most New Zealanders. The situation demands far more than what was announced today.” 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/24/governments-fossil-fuel-relief-package-fails-to-meet-the-crisis/

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Greens Offer Votes To National Party For Immediate Relief In Fossil Fuel Crisis

Source: Green Party

The Green Party is offering its votes to the National Party to get on with passing a sensible and urgent fossil fuel crisis relief package. With the Greens’ and National’s combined 63 votes, no other political party’s support is necessary.

The Green’s proposed package includes:

  • Making public transport free for users;
  • A Relief Payment for low income people or people who live rurally to help meet additional transport costs;
  • A Windfall Profits Tax to prevent corporate price gouging;
  • Reversing changes to school bus eligibility and routes, and temporary expansion of eligibility for school buses;
  • Reversing the Government’s intended reduction in Total Mobility Support for disabled people; and
  • Increase mileage rates to the 23,000 care and support workers to meet their actual travel costs.

“We agree with the Prime Minister that hope is not a plan. That’s why the Green Party is presenting our plan to support our country through the fossil fuel crisis, targeting support to those who need it most, and reducing demand for petrol,” said Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick.

“New Zealanders expect politicians to do everything we can to support people through this immediate crisis, and to minimise future vulnerability by reducing fossil fuel dependence. That’s why we have written to the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance offering our votes to make these obvious solutions a reality, urgently.

“Free public transport is a no-brainer. We remove the barriers to access, reduce congestion, and free up fuel supply for those who don’t have a public transport option.

“If the Government means what it says about ‘preparing for the worst’, now is the time to pull the plug on exorbitantly expensive, low-value projects like the Roads of National Significance and LNG import facility. The Green Party is ready, willing and able to provide the support necessary to invest in building real resilience through renewable energy generation.

“The Green Party’s Fossil Fuel Crisis Relief Payment would be targeted at adults earning under the median income and also people living rurally, where public transport is not available,” said Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson.

“The Fossil Fuel Crisis Relief Payment will put money in the pockets of those being squeezed the hardest and those with few other transport options, easing stretched household budgets right now.”

“Petrol companies shouldn’t be unreasonably profiting from this or any economic crisis. A windfall tax would mean any exorbitant profits are redirected to our communities.”

“We need to ensure that corporations aren’t profiting while people in our communities who are struggling or have no alternative transport options pay the price. The Green’s package will provide immediate help for those who need it, reduce demand for petrol, and keep a check on corporate greed,” said Davidson.

Read the letter here.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/23/greens-offer-votes-to-national-party-for-immediate-relief-in-fossil-fuel-crisis/

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University students facing the ‘toughest time’ in years as costs increase

Source: Radio New Zealand

Victoria University of Wellington Students Association president Aidan Donoghue displays empty boxes at the association’s foodbank. SUPPLIED

Student association leaders warn more students are struggling to make ends meet and rising prices will make the problem worse.

Victoria University’s student association says its food bank shelves are being cleaned out every week, AUT’s association says international students are especially hard hit, and Lincoln University’s association says demand for financial assistance has remained high since the pandemic began in 2020.

Their comments accompanied the launch of a study that found a marked increase in student hardship across several universities in the past five years.

The report by an Otago University student during an internship with the Green Party said there had been sustained growth in the use of foodbanks and hardship grants at several universities since 2019.

It said numbers were highest during the height of the pandemic in 2020, but remained above pre-pandemic levels last year.

The report said international students, single parents and female students were more likely to seek help for food insecurity.

It said the the number of students using a foodbank at AUT jumped from about 100 in 2020 to more than 1800 last year, about three-quarters of them foreign students.

At Victoria University, the student association’s spending on its food bank jumped from about $7000 in 2019 to more than $13,000 last year.

The report said Otago University Students Association provided about 250 food bags in 2019 and nearly 700 last year.

The three associations awarded on average $20,000 each in hardship grants last year, less than at the height of the pandemic but about double the figure in 2019.

The report’s author Anika Texley said the students’ associations collected different data about student hardship, but the overall picture was of growing demand for help.

“They’re struggling to meet their needs and their most basic needs. So things like rent tend to be prioritized over groceries,” she said.

Texley said students were struggling with rising expenses across the board.

“It’s not just groceries, it’s also bills, rising utility, rent is going up, and it’s consistently going up. So it’s an ongoing issue,” she said.

Texley completed her report while working as an intern for Green Party MP Francisco Hernandez.

He said students had been struggling for years and the report showed that the situation had worsened.

“And sadly, things are only going to get worse with the war ongoing in Iran. The cost of everything, gas, energy, groceries, rents, will spike up even further,” he said.

Hernandez said all students should be eligible for an allowance, rather than having to borrow for living costs through the student loan system.

The cupboard is bare

Victoria University of Wellington Students Association president Aidan Donoghue said its foodbank cupboards had been cleared out by hungry students.

“This Monday we had an order to completely fill out that food bank and it’s completely gone already,” he said.

“We’ve seen an increase of us having to order from roughly once every fortnight to once every week to now twice a week.”

Donoghue said the association received about $10,000 a year from the university to stock the foodbank and it would need double that sum to keep up with demand.

He said the fund ran out before the end of the year in 2025 and this year it has cut back on non-food items.

“We’ve had to cut all of our non-food expenditure. We’ve really just had to keep it to the basics of rice, pasta, food in cans,” he said.

“There’s no more toilet paper, there’s no more toothpaste, there’s no more deodorant, because all that costs far too much, and we need to stretch the food bank as far as it will go.”

Donoghue said about 100 students a week were visiting the food bank and many more students were struggling to pay their bills.

“Students are facing the toughest time they’ve had in years when it comes to just meeting the basics of rent, power, public transport,” he said.

He said students could receive up to $320 for living costs from the student loan scheme or as a student allowance if they qualified but needed roughly a further $100-200 to make ends meet.

AUT student association president James Portegys told RNZ students were coming every day for food vouchers or food bank packs and rising prices were making the situation worse.

“Obviously, the prices were already high, and now they’re increasing, so it’s quite a few students are now struggling,” he said.

Portegys said last year some students stopped coming to university because they could not afford the bus fare and the association successfully campaigned for discounted fares for students.

“We heard evidence of students choosing between paying rent, eating, or coming to campus. And what are you going to do? You’re going to choose to pay your rent and eat food,” he said.

Lincoln University students association president Zara Weissenstein told RNZ

“We had a huge increase in all of our financial assistance fund applications during COVID-19, of course and that consistently stayed quite high,” she said.

Weissenstein said the university ran a food bank and the association had noted an increase in students attending events with free food.

“Food is a really big thing because that’s often the first thing that students won’t prioritise because you have to prioritise your general expenses first, so your rent and your utilities that happen every month,” she said.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/20/university-students-facing-the-toughest-time-in-years-as-costs-increase/

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We’re committed to generations of storytelling through Auckland Polyfest

Source: Green Party

Surrounded by festival goers this morning at Auckland Polyfest 2026, The Green Party announced that a Green Government would bridge the funding gap currently faced by Polyfest organisers.

“Polyfest is whakapapa, Polyfest is healing: Polyfest is the best of us. The Green Party wants to preserve and protect this,” says Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson.

“Polyfest is currently underfunded by over $1 million, creating real uncertainty about its future.

“Aotearoa can be a country that resources our storytellers to thrive. The Green Party celebrate and support Polyfest organisers for a vibrant festival, which has thrived for generations.

“Today, we have committed to ensuring Polyfest is properly funded to deliver the world’s largest Pacific festival, without needing to increase entrance and stall-holder fees,” says Green Party spokesperson for Pacific Peoples, Teanau Tuiono.

“Funding decisions are political decisions. The Green Party will give communities certainty that this cornerstone of who we are will continue, affordably and sustainably.

“While this announcement is specific to Auckland Polyfest, it should serve as an indication of the Green Party’s commitment to funding the arts that bring us together in celebration of our diversity: which is what unites us.

“A Green Government will work with Polyfest organisers on what this looks like to best support the Trust’s aspirations.

“We love Polyfest, and the Green Party want generations to come to love Polyfest,” says Marama and Teanau.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/19/were-committed-to-generations-of-storytelling-through-auckland-polyfest/

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Rising food prices hitting New Zealanders while supermarket duopoly not held accountable

Source: Green Party

Rising food prices are hitting New Zealanders in the pocket and driving them to hunger says MP Ricardo Menéndez March, Green Party spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

“While the supermarkets have been making $1 million a day in excess profits, food prices have surged 4.5% over the last year. Fruit and vegetables, a core staple, are up a massive 9.4%.”

“The stark contrast is appalling, and these ridiculous prices are not sustainable for New Zealanders who are being strong-armed by a duopoly.”

“Woolworths NZ made $100 million in profit over the past six months while one in three households are experiencing food insecurity, yet the Government is doing nothing to address rising food prices.”

“Can we really trust that the supermarkets won’t exploit the emerging fuel crisis to needlessly increase their prices? Supermarkets must be held accountable.”

“This only has the potential to get worse, unless the Government actually steps up to take on the supermarket duopoly.”

“Consumers have been waiting for structural change for years, yet no government has been willing to take on the duopoly and stop them from price gouging ordinary New Zealanders.”

“While large corporations are generating record profits, thousands of families are forced to make impossible choices about what they can spend their income on.”

“Banning price gouging, taxing excess profits, or breaking up the duopoly are all simple and effective ways to make sure massive corporations stop exploiting New Zealanders, ensuring all of us can afford to have food on the table, a safe place to call home, and live a good life.”

“We can end corporate exploitation of ordinary New Zealanders so that everyone can make ends meet,” says Ricardo.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/17/rising-food-prices-hitting-new-zealanders-while-supermarket-duopoly-not-held-accountable/

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Government’s failure to provide any relief for fuel crisis

Source: Green Party

Finance Minister Nicola Willis today announced no new support for families hit by the fuel crisis.

“Nicola Willis pulled together a press conference to announce that there is no new support on the way for families, despite it costing $23 more than normal to fill an average petrol car and $36 more to fill a diesel vehicle,” says Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson.

“Governments across the world are taking steps to support their citizens while our government has no answers on providing relief to everyday New Zealanders.

“They instead ask you to tighten your belts even more.

“People are facing huge price increases, and the Finance Minister has said ‘I have not taken recommendations to Cabinet and I have not considered specific responses.’

“Many people are already struggling with the daily cost of living. Instead of coming with a plan to alleviate hardship, the Finance Minister has nothing on the table to give the support that is needed.

“New Zealanders are looking for a plan. They want to understand what will happen and when as the fuel crisis intensifies. Willis has nothing to give them. 

“This crisis has also exposed a deeper failure in the Government’s long-term planning.

“They cancelled the Clean Car Discount, weakened the Clean Car Standard, hiked public transport fares and are locking in further exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices with their LNG terminal.”

“We need real actions that help regular people hurting from these price increases, and a serious plan to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels so the next crisis does not hit families just as hard,” says Davidson.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/16/governments-failure-to-provide-any-relief-for-fuel-crisis/

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Cancellation of live exports a win for Animals

Source: Green Party

The Green Party is claiming a win for animals, following the Luxon Government’s confirmation that they have cancelled plans to reinstate the live export of animals at sea.

Plans to resume the trade in live animals by sea was part of the National and Act coalition agreement, however the frequently endorsed intention has been scrapped at cabinet, according to Animal Welfare Minister Andrew Hoggard, who said “we needed to get everyone on board to take it forward and haven’t achieved that.”

“The Greens have long opposed this fundamentally cruel trade.” Says Steve Abel, Green Party spokesperson for Animal Welfare.

“Animals are herded into miserable cattle ships where they are forced to wallow in their own waste for weeks at sea.”

“Exported animals also face disease, heat stress, bruising, motion sickness, and other conditions that cause fear, anxiety, and discomfort for weeks or even months.”

“New Zealanders don’t want to see animals suffering. The plans to reinstate this cruel trade cut against the grain of our values as a nation,” says Abel.

“It’s clear that reality has caught up with the Luxon Coalition. They’ve realised there is no magical ‘gold standard’ for live animal exports. The practice is fundamentally cruel, despite industry spin.”

“The decision to cancel the animal export plans is a great win for animal welfare advocates and the majority of New Zealanders, including many farmers, who opposed the cruel trade.”

With the ban on the live exports of animals at sea saved, the Greens would extend the ban to include the live export of animals by air, such as chicks, and the export of native wild-caught animals such as endangered longfin eels.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/13/cancellation-of-live-exports-a-win-for-animals/

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Fast-track Decision Looms on Destructive Waitaha Hydo Scheme

Source: Green Party

The Green Party says the Fast Track expert panel should turn down the previously declined ‘Waitaha Hydro’ project, which if approved will destroy an internationally significant South Island river.

An application to dam the river as part of the ‘Waitaha Hydro project’ was declined in 2019 by the Minister for the Environment David Parker. It was shown then to offer little benefit to New Zealand, while causing significant impacts on the natural character of the wild Waitaha River and Morgan Gorge, the intrinsic value of the area, and people’s enjoyment of it.

Green Party Environment spokesperson MP Lan Pham says they are expecting a release on the Waitaha Fast-track hydro application today, based on comments from the panel chair during a recent hearing.

“The only people to benefit from this zombie project being resurrected from the dead are to its investors. It is a cynical manipulation of democracy to try and get a different result through the Fast Track process after it was already declined through an earlier, more robust process.”

“This project wouldn’t even be ‘fast’ to get going – the project backers want 15 years to build the thing. Using the Fast Track process is a transparent misuse of the legislation and a big middle finger to Aotearoa NZ.”

“The Waitaha river flows through conservation land. The area is home to over 25 native bird species, including kea, kākā and kārearea, whio, and long-tailed bats, and forest and green geckos.”

“The Department of Conservation themselves have said “the Waitaha Valley has ecological, landscape and recreational values of local, regional, national and international significance.”

“It is DOC’s view that the proposal will result in the fundamental loss of natural character, solitude and remoteness that underpin the Waitaha Valley characteristics of a back country-remote zone.”

Pham says along with irreversibly destroying the wild character of area, the project fails to meet any sensible economic threshold.

“There are already consented, unbuilt hydro schemes on the West Coast, that wouldn’t do the damage that this project would. The proposed cost has doubled to $200 million, while only providing power for 12,000 homes. That’s about $20,000 per household – money which could be used to expand nearby solar projects, or other modern technology solutions which don’t rely on destroying our remaining wild places.” 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/13/fast-track-decision-looms-on-destructive-waitaha-hydo-scheme/

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Wellington Council budget cuts would ruin capital city’s green reputation

Source: Green Party

The Green Party is astounded to read a Wellington City Council working group’s newly released cost-cutting proposal which includes major slash and burn cuts to climate change and transport.

“Our city has been internationally recognised for its leadership in reducing emissions and transforming our transport system. This cost-cutting proposal completely guts that reputation and decades of good Green mahi within the council” says Green Party Wellington Central MP, Tamatha Paul. 

“Wellington’s competitive factor is that we are a green city in every sense of the word. There is no stronger mandate for bold climate action than right here in Pōneke. We are one of the only cities in the world where native wildlife is increasing and we are among the highest pubic and active transport users in the country.”

“Our city’s climate emissions have dropped for the first time in a long time, including vehicle emissions which are our biggest emissions, and public and active transport use is up. This didn’t happen by accident. It’s because we took action that the Council seeks to abandon.”

“I was so proud to be a part of the Council that ushered in the plan to become a carbon zero capital city by 2050. This is being gutted by the current leadership in council.”

“Mayor Little must not fall into the classic local government trap of putting short-term thinking before trying to mitigate the climate catastrophe we are seeing all across the country. It’s right in front of our eyes.” says Tamatha Paul.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/13/wellington-council-budget-cuts-would-ruin-capital-citys-green-reputation/