• Russel Norman

    Moron / Morton Estate



    Morton Estate vineyards was recently fined $50,000 for taking water from wells near the Ngaururoro River in the middle of a dry period against an explicit direction from the regional council. The were told not to take any water due to low flows but they figured that they’d steal the water and get a $750 [...] read more
    March 21, 2010 3:09 pm - No Comments
  • Russel Norman

    Dirty Rivers Rafting Tour update



    OK, I haven’t actually done that much rafting lately. But I did visit some dirty rivers, in particular the Awanui which supplies Kaitaia. You can read about it here. And if you want to hear about the classic case of a community getting shafted by dirty farming – read this one, which Don Nicholson from the [...] read more
    March 21, 2010 2:57 pm - No Comments
  • frog

    General debate, March 21, 2010



    Enjoy the autumnal equinox! After a dirty campaign from Labor, there is a tidal shift in Tasmanian state politics, where the Greens now hold the balance of power. The Greens gained 21% of the primary vote (+6% on 2006), and have a confirmed four seats in the 25-seat Parliament with a fifth possible. Perhaps the time [...] read more
    March 21, 2010 7:33 am - 11 Comments
  • Russel Norman

    Working with the Government via MoU



    There are the practical, tangible measures from the MoU with National – homes getting insulation into the ceilings and under their floors, the Waikato River Trail open for cycling – and then there’s the political component which is a bit harder to measure. read more
    March 19, 2010 3:17 pm - 16 Comments
  • Catherine Delahunty

    Privatisation in education legislation



    The word opposition doesn’t always describe Labour’s voting patterns. In fact, Labour have voted with National almost exactly as often as the Maori Party, even though Labour is the official opposition, and the Maori Party is actually part of the Government! [For the political junkies, Labour have voted with National 12 times at first readings, and [...] read more
    March 19, 2010 2:46 pm - 16 Comments
  • Sue Kedgley

    Wake Up Cantabrians! Your democracy is at stake!



    I can’t believe the people of Canterbury are going to allow a democratically elected Council—Environment Canterbury—to be thrown out and replaced by an unelected and unaccountable political appointee—most likely Jenny Shipley. What is happening in Canterbury is eerily similar to what is happening in Auckland—layers of democracy are being quietly got rid of and replaced by [...] read more
    March 19, 2010 11:31 am - 30 Comments
  • frog

    Factory farming reprieve



    Some fantastic news late last night – the companies applying to start factory-style dairy farms in the Mackenzie Country have shelved their effluent consent applications, citing costs. This is a real victory for the Greens, the environmental movement, and everyone who’s spoken up in opposition to the proposals since we revealed them in December. More than [...] read more
    March 19, 2010 10:45 am - 24 Comments
  • Kevin Hague

    Firefighters deserve clean air in their workspace



    The Green Party are siding with the firefighters in their bid to have extractors installed at their workplaces. The DominionPost reported yesterday that the Fire Service was dragging its feet over the installation of diesel fume extractors at fifteen fire stations around the country. The extractors are expensive — $15,000 per unit — and the Fire [...] read more
    March 19, 2010 9:45 am - 6 Comments
  • frog

    Drunk in charge of a sickness benefit



    No amount of work-testing is going to get people who cannot work because of alcohol or drug dependency back into the workforce. All that will do is make them feel harassed and more likely to sink deeper into the faux refuge of their dependency. read more
    March 19, 2010 8:17 am - 18 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    McCully, it’s time to bring home Bethune



    I’m looking forward to meeting the Steve Irwin and her crew when they arrive in Wellington tomorrow. While life goes on as normal in Parliament it seems the Government has forgotten we have a Kiwi sitting, right now, in a Japanese jail. I asked the Foreign Affairs Minister, Murray McCully, on Tuesday what he was doing to [...] read more
    March 18, 2010 2:32 pm - 28 Comments
  • frog

    Metiria grills the PM on mining contradictions



    Metiria Turei grills the Prime Minister on his government’s confused and contradictory statements about the mining of protected Schedule 4 lands on the conservation estate. Her question was: Does he stand by his statement “Notwithstanding the public consultation process, it is my expectation that the Government will act on at least [...] read more
    March 18, 2010 1:56 pm - 4 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    Dodging Roger’s Bill



    Yesterday the National Party shot down Sir Roger Douglas’ dreams of returning New Zealand back to Victorian England by saying they will not support his Members’ Bill which would have re-introduced youth rates. It’s a rare piece of good news out of the Beehive, but let’s face it; the bill was a stupid idea to begin [...] read more
    March 18, 2010 12:51 pm - 12 Comments
  • Catherine Delahunty

    Mapua Contamination – Secrets and Lies



    This week a Ministry of Health Report came out on the health effects of the dubious remediation at the toxic site in Mapua. The way the Ministry of Health’s media release read, glossed over the risks to the community, which could now be declared negligible. I only had to read the Executive Summary of the report [...] read more
    March 18, 2010 10:47 am - 4 Comments
  • frog

    General Debate 18th March 2010



    Misc links: Nats to pay miners to dig up national parks Video: what we know about climate science Lehman Brothers: the next Enron Israeli envoy sees “historic crisis” with U.S.: report National Rules Out Supporting Roger Douglas Youth Rate Bill read more
    March 18, 2010 10:45 am - 35 Comments
  • frog

    The Nubrella and other cycling news



    Tip of the pen to the Cycling Advocacy Network who provided me with most of these links. First off – welcome to the Nubrella – a hands-free umbrella you can wear while cycling. So long, as CAN says, “you don’t mind looking like you’ve been partially devoured by a giant transparent caterpillar”. So will the Nubrella revolutionise [...] read more
    March 18, 2010 9:00 am - 8 Comments
  • Russel Norman

    “Shortly or whenever”



    Gerry Brownlee will release the mining discussion paper “soon”, he said in Question Time today. But when is “soon”? Is it tomorrow, is it next week, next month, next century? Lindsay Tisch was filling in for Lockwood today during Question Time so he tried to help me understand what “soon” meant. Dr Russel Norman: I raise a [...] read more
    March 17, 2010 8:11 pm - 13 Comments
  • Sue Kedgley

    Save Radio NZ meeting – pictures and report



    Save Radio NZ meeting – a packed St John’s in the city – Wellington  150 people showed up last night to a Save Radio New Zealand meeting organised jointly by myself and Wellington Central MP Grant Robertson. Gaylene Preston and Jon Johansson also spoke, along with many members of the audience, all voicing their concern that the [...] read more
    March 17, 2010 4:33 pm - 9 Comments
  • frog

    Ignoring the evidence again on drug law reform



    In which Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne takes a head-in-the-sand approach to recommendations by the Ministry of Health’s Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs. read more
    March 16, 2010 11:26 am - 268 Comments
  • David Clendon

    Taking a Hiding



    You know your plans are not being well received when one of the major players in the sector speaks out against them. Mr Hide has already faced widespread public opposition to his plans for the Auckland Super City, as well as from other politicians, the current Auckland councils and now the President of Local Government [...] read more
    March 15, 2010 3:34 pm - 23 Comments
  • frog

    Canterbury DHB needs to rethink drug rehab policy



    The Canterbury DHB’s new alcohol and drug rehabilitation services policy flies in the face of the principle of harm minimisation and discriminates against people whose drug and/or alcohol problems have resulted in them falling foul of the criminal law. Often these are the very people who the greatest danger to themselves and others in the community and are most in need of help. read more
    March 15, 2010 12:52 pm - 13 Comments
  • frog

    Joyce controlled transport for Auckland?



    As I noted last week, Granny Herald has finally woken up to the dangers of Rodney Hide and Steven Joyce’s plans for local government in Auckland. They’ve been running a useful series of articles about the proposed council controlled organizations. In particular, the Herald (and mayors) are concerned that all responsibility for transport issues, will be [...] read more
    March 15, 2010 9:00 am - 9 Comments
  • Kennedy Graham

    Coal and Sustainable Energy: An exciting essay topic



    To the CEO of Solid Energy: Dear Sir, I understand that your corporation is sponsoring an essay competition for schoolchildren in Southland, West Coast, Canterbury and Waikato. The essay, up to 1500 words, must address “The Role of Coal in Sustainable Energy Solutions for New Zealand.” read more
    March 13, 2010 10:20 am - 16 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    Auckland’s CBD rail loop gets one step closer



    A preferred alignment for an underground rail loop to run through Auckland’s CBD was announced yesterday by ARTA. This is exciting news as it means this crucial project is coming one step closer to completion. You can see that there will be three stations, one near Aotea Square, Karangahape Road, and Symonds Street. ARTA estimate that [...] read more
    March 12, 2010 4:48 pm - 25 Comments
  • Catherine Delahunty

    The Roger Awards strike again



    Last night, the Roger Award For The Worst Transnational Corporation operating in New Zealand, 2009 was awarded to ANZ. The Aussie-owned banks continue to rip us off, and the Green Party believes a bank is a worthy recipient of this award. read more
    March 12, 2010 1:33 pm - 8 Comments
  • frog

    Whale for Sale



    To support the Palmer position you have to believe it would work read more
    March 12, 2010 1:31 pm - 52 Comments
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