Audioblog Archive

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  What are the Police doing about bike safety? - by frog

  
  
  
  Many of us love to ride bikes. It’s a great way to get around, keep fit, beat the traffic, and save the planet. But it’s not as safe as it should be. Green Party Active Transport spokesperson and champion of all people who ride bikes, Kevin Hague, recently discovered that Police do very little with [...] read more
  July 4, 2011 1:14 pm - 10 Comments
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  Podcast: The Green Plan for our SOEs - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  Green Co-leader, Dr Russel Norman, last week outlined his plan for a sustainable and prosperous economy at the Party’s AGM. One of his most talked-about initiatives was how our state-owned enterprises could be leveraged to lift our country’s economic performance in partnership with the private sector. He proposed this as an alternative to John Key’s [...] read more
  June 20, 2011 11:31 am - 13 Comments
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  Podcast: why you should care about the file sharing law - by frog

  
  
  
  In this podcast, Green Party ICT Spokesperson Gareth Hughes talks about the new file sharing law – what it means, why non-nerds should be worried about it too, and what can be done from here. read more
  May 27, 2011 11:56 am - 3 Comments
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  Podcast: Russel’s Dirty Rivers Wrap-up - by frog

  
  
  
  Russel is about to wrap his second annual Dirty Rivers Rafting Tour. Russel has been visiting rivers that are either dangerously polluted, or threatened due to large dam and irrigation projects, and rafting or kayaking them with local environmentalists, whitewater enthusiasts, iwi, farmers, and media. The purpose of the tour is to highlight the threats [...] read more
  April 29, 2011 3:47 pm - No Comments
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  Podcast: How to pay for Christchurch - by frog

  
  
  
  The Green Party have a plan to pay for Christchurch — a temporary levy on income — one that avoids adding more debt to the Government’s books. I talked to Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman about the details of that plan. Click the arrow thing to listen… Click to play If you’re having problems [...] read more
  April 4, 2011 11:43 am - 2 Comments
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  Podcast: Courteney, Catherine and the WWG - by frog

  
  
  
  In our most recent podcast we talk to Courteney, 19-year-old mum of 8-month-old Summer, and first year law student at Victoria University, about her experiences balancing parenting and study on the DPB, and her thoughts on the Welfare Working Group’s final report. read more
  March 31, 2011 11:00 am - 4 Comments
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  Podcast: Christchurch - by frog

  
  
  
  Our Green MPs have been down in Christchurch mucking in to help residents in the aftermath of the earthquake. Kevin Hague, Keith Locke, and Catherine Delahunty speak about their experiences, the needs they encountered, and what, if any green shoots of hope they saw emerging from the destruction. Click the arrow thing to listen… Click [...] read more
  March 16, 2011 4:38 pm - No Comments
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  A view from the inside: anti-nuclear diplomacy in a cold cold world - by frog

  
  
  
  Former diplomat and Green MP Kennedy Graham describes the mid-1980s as some of the best years of his life. New Zealand, under David Lange’s leadership, had just become nuclear free, making, in Kennedy’s words, the most fearless, independent, and moral foreign policy choice since nationhood. I asked Kennedy to describe that time of his life [...] read more
  February 14, 2011 1:53 pm - 7 Comments
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  Podcast: Green Spirituality, Metiria Turei - by frog

  
  
  
  Green Party Co-leader, Metiria Turei, discusses the things that drive her to work for a more humane world in this, the third of an occasional series where I talk to Green MPs about their spirituality. The Reverend Dr Anthony Dancer, Anglican Social Justice Commissioner conducts the interview. Click the arrow thing to listen… Click to [...] read more
  December 13, 2010 2:36 pm - 2 Comments
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  What are our MPs listening to? Latest podcast - by frog

  
  
  
  This podcast is inspired by a close encounter with John Key in the Parliamentary gym by one of our staffers, who observed the PM listening to headphones while pounding the treadmill. It got us thinking: what do our MPs listen to? What’s on their iPods? Do they even have iPods? And if not, where does [...] read more
  November 15, 2010 4:37 pm - No Comments
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  Another podcast with a transcript - by frog

  
  
  
  Yay, the momentum is building and we have a transcript for another of our podcasts, thanks once again to a very awesome writer who’s been transcribing them for us! This one’s from a few weeks back, but it’s been super-popular, so click through to listen or download the transcript of Gareth Hughes talking about his [...] read more
  October 29, 2010 4:14 pm - No Comments
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  Latest podcast – this time with transcript - by frog

  
  
  
  Here’s our latest podcast from Parliament, this time about the cross-party friendships Green MPs have struck up across the chamber. Parliament is a strange place, and often the only images we get are of MPs shouting at each other across the chamber during Question Time. But when the gloves are off, how do MPs from [...] read more
  October 26, 2010 3:45 pm - 4 Comments
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  Podcast: Green Spirituality - by frog

  
  
  
  Sojourners founder and best-selling author Jim Wallis was recently in the country talking about faith and politics. He famously said that the Democrats got religion when they saw the exit polls from the 2004 presidential election. It got me wondering how our own Green MPs understand religion, both in their own lives and beyond. Today [...] read more
  October 11, 2010 3:57 pm - 124 Comments
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  Podcast: Standing for something - by frog

  
  
  
  Local government is democracy working at the grass roots. The stuff that goes on around the council table can have a massive impact on the quality of our lives. I talked to Green MP, Sue Kedgley, one of the first Greens to win office to a city council. Click this thing to hear from her… [...] read more
  August 12, 2010 11:18 am - 9 Comments
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  Podcast: Mind the Gap! - by frog

  
  
  
  On Monday, Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei launched Mind the Gap, the Green Party’s eight-point Budget strategy to combat growing inequality in New Zealand. In this podcast, Metiria talks us through Mind the Gap – what’s behind it, what’s in it, and why it’s needed. read more
  May 20, 2010 9:25 am - 3 Comments
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  Podcast: Carter, conflicts, and Canterbury - by frog

  
  
  
  Cantabrians are fired up about legislation passed under urgency last month which sacked their regional councillors and circumvented the established process for Water Conservation Orders on Canterbury Rivers. Amidst the furore an interesting set of circumstances has come to light around Agriculture Minister David Carter. Green Party Co-leader Russel Norman revealed in Parliament that Carter [...] read more
  April 21, 2010 3:37 pm - 3 Comments
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  Podcast: Natural health – a new direction - by frog

  
  
  
  On Friday the Green and National Parties released a proposal to establish a new stand-alone New Zealand regulator for natural health products. Green Party Health Spokesperson Sue Kedgley has been collaborating with Health Minister Tony Ryall and Associate Health Minister Jonathan Coleman on the proposal. This work is part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) [...] read more
  March 22, 2010 10:29 am - 4 Comments
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  Podcast: Green Summer Holidays - by frog

  
  
  
  This week, the parties are gearing up for the political year, and the MPs are back from their summer holidays. We speak to Green MPs about how they spent their holidays, and discover that they have been relaxing, trying new things, and of course indulging in some old-school political activism. This week’s podcast features the [...] read more
  February 9, 2010 9:45 am - No Comments
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  Podcast: Green New Deal – Win-Win-Win - by frog

  
  
  
  Can the Government tackle two of New Zealand’s biggest problems – creating jobs and protecting the environment – at the same time? The Greens say yes and have released a report that shows how. Co-leader Russel Norman and Conservation Spokesperson Kevin Hague talk about the economic and environmental benefits of the new Green New Deal [...] read more
  December 7, 2009 3:42 pm - 9 Comments
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  Podcast: Mining our Sacred Places - by frog

  
  
  
  The National Government are poised to do the unthinkable — open up our most treasured places, our national parks and reserves — to mining. Can they be serious? Didn’t we have this fight 100 years ago? Do New Zealanders really believe that no place is sacred if there’s a goldmine or a coalmine sitting underneath [...] read more
  November 10, 2009 9:28 am - 5 Comments
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  Audioblog: Green MPs pay tribute to Sue Bradford - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  Sue Bradford delivered her valedictory speech in Parliament on Wednesday, to a packed gallery of supporters from the Green Party, unions, child welfare groups, churches, NGOs and the public, and a standing ovation from MPs of all colours. This week, as Sue leaves Parliament after ten years, the Green MPs pay tribute to one of [...] read more
  November 2, 2009 10:06 am - 9 Comments
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  I want to ride my bicycle - by Kevin Hague

  
  
  
  Greg Paterson is the Auckland cyclist fighting for his life in hospital. He’s one of about 200 cyclists who will be seriously injured or killed on our roads this year. He’s also one of the huge majority of cyclists that gets injured or killed through no fault of their own. What has been this Government’s [...] read more
  October 5, 2009 3:23 pm - 7 Comments
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  Podcast: Taxing Investment Properties - by frog

  
  
  
  New Zealanders love their houses and love investing in them. In fact, we borrow more money to invest in houses than we do to invest in business or agriculture combined. As Bernard Hickey tells it, “New Zealand doesn’t have an economy as such. It’s a housing market with a few other things tacked on.” Why [...] read more
  September 23, 2009 2:10 pm - 51 Comments
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  Losing our Enviroschools - by frog

  
  
  
  National has just cut $19 million of funding for the Greens’ Enviroschools programme. Does this mark the end of one of our most successful initiatives? I talk to Green Education Spokesperson Catherine Delahunty on the fate of teaching for a sustainable future. Losing our Enviroschools (MP3 and OGG) This work is licenced under a Creative [...] read more
  July 1, 2009 3:19 pm - 30 Comments
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  Russel Norman on Public Address Radio - by frog

  
  
  
  Just discovered this fine interview with our Russ by Damian Christie and Russell Brown.  It’s worth a listen. read more
  May 23, 2009 7:51 am - 4 Comments
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  When Greens Turn Red - by frog

  
  
  
  Ever found yourself standing at a protest holding a sign saying “Just Say No to Structural Adjustment”? My friend Anna did and her experience inspired this show: moments in politics when Greens turn red. I asked all of the Green MPs to describe their most embarrassing moment in politics. (You’ll never be able to say [...] read more
  May 19, 2009 8:11 am - 4 Comments
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  Getting Personal: The Passing of the Cullen Clark Era - by frog

  
  
  
  Helen Clark and Michael Cullen have given their valedictory speeches and—after nine long years of running the show—have left the Parliamentary stage of power. Cullen’s parting words on sustainability all seemed to this frog a lesson learned too late to be of any consequence. I asked our Green MPs for their thoughts on the passing [...] read more
  May 12, 2009 8:03 am - 1 Comment
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  Costanza & Fitzsimons: Ecological Economics from space - by frog

  
  
  
  It’s a tongue in cheek title, but now that I’ve got your attention, let me explain that the audio from this podcast is pretty bad – it sounds like they interviewed in outer space. I didn’t know I had a ground fault in my equipment until well after Robert was gone, and removing it makes [...] read more
  March 19, 2009 10:15 am - No Comments
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  Kevin Hague on Health - by frog

  
  
  
  Returning to my roots of many years ago, I offer you this podcast. Green MP Kevin Hague, the former CEO of the West Coast District Health Board, discusses the National Party’s direction on healthcare, or rather their lack thereof, since coming to power last year. Kevin has a unique insight because he has been on [...] read more
  March 8, 2009 10:00 am - 6 Comments
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  Copyright Song: Remix Challenge - by frog

  
  
  
  CFF has teamed up with Mike Corb and Luke Rowell/Disasteradio to produce the Guilt Upon Accusation anthem: The Copywrong Song. (Lyrics/chords here.) Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to REMIX this puppy into the ultimate copyright song. All the competition details are here. Of course, all this takes place under a Creative [...] read more
  February 18, 2009 11:25 am - No Comments
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  Minimum Wage (New Entrants) Amendment Bill - by frog

  
  
  
  Formerly the Minimum Wage (Abolition of Age Discrimination) Amendment Bill. Sue’s Bill has passed – Here’s her speech at the third and final reading – or you can listen to it. It wasn’t the whole kittenkaboodle that Sue’s original Bill hoped for, but it is huge step forwards. The Maori Party stuck to their guns [...] read more
  September 5, 2007 9:18 pm - 6 Comments
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  Stabilising the housing market - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  I discussed the question of ringfencing the losses from rental housing on Morning Report yesterday – tax changes for investments (mp3, 2.7mb, Morning Report, RNZ) . Cullen refused to front up to the discussion but I think it’s important that we discuss it. Housing prices have doubled in six years and it is a big [...] read more
  June 22, 2007 6:54 pm - 75 Comments
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  Audioblog: Metiria on the Maori Purposes Bill - by frog

  
  
  
  Haven’t had an audioblog for ages, and Metiria delivered an excellent speech on the Maori Purposes Bill in Parliament last week, so it seemed like a good time. You can download the speech as an mp3, or listen to it streamed. It’s definitely worth checking out. She uses material from The Hollow Men to attack [...] read more
  December 11, 2006 1:50 pm - 160 Comments
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  Russel is the new Co-Leader - by frog

  
  
  
  Just announced. UPDATE: you can read or listen to Russel’s co-leader speech. UPDATE 2: as some commenters have pointed out, Russel’s co-leader speech should really be considered in tandem with Jeanette’s co-leader speech which proceeded it. You can read or listen to it as well. UPDATE 3: there was some major press attention of the [...] read more
  June 3, 2006 3:55 pm - 34 Comments
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  Fewer MPs? - by frog

  
  
  
  NZ First MP Barbara Stewart’s Bill to reduce the number of MPs to 100 got its first reading in Parliament this week, and received enough votes to send it through to the select committee stage. The Greens were among the parties voting against the Bill, largely because of the detrimental effect it would have on [...] read more
  March 17, 2006 5:05 pm - 31 Comments
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  Metiria on the Whangamata decision - by frog

  
  
  
  Conservation Minister Chris Carter’s decision to decline resource consent for the controversial marina at Whangamata has been widely covered in the media in the last week or so, and widely debated. For the most part though, the coverage has lacked detail and has had a generally hysterical tone. Metiria injected some perspective when she spoke [...] read more
  March 15, 2006 5:55 pm - No Comments
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  Jeanette on the newly announced coastal inquiry - by frog

  
  
  
  Jeanette and the Greens were pleased yesterday with Conservation Minister Chris Carter’s decision to use his statutory right and decline consent for the controversial Whangamata Marina, which would have gone against the wishes of local iwi and harbour users and destroyed an ecologically valuable salt marsh. (Others were not so pleased, as this TVNZ clip [...] read more
  March 8, 2006 3:30 pm - 1 Comment
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  Interview with Sue B on her Youth Rates Abolition Bill - by frog

  
  
  
  Sue B‘s Minimum Wage (Abolition of Age Discrimination) Amendment Bill was drawn from the parliamentary ballot yesterday. In this interview (mp3, 0.8MB, 4′30″), Sue explains why the Greens oppose youth rates. read more
  December 9, 2005 1:22 pm - 4 Comments
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  Nandor on his new and resumed portfolios - by frog

  
  
  
  Nandor was yesterday appointed as the Green Party’s Environment Spokesperson. In this interview (mp3, 1.3MB, 7’40″), he talks about the challenge of his new role, resuming his work in the Justice portfolio and letting go of the drug law reform area. read more
  November 16, 2005 12:22 pm - 9 Comments
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  Mistress Metiria - by frog

  
  
  
  Metiria has taken on the role of ‘musterer’ for the Greens, though with the ‘whips’ role in mind she says she would prefer to be known as the ‘Mistress’. She has also landed a new swag of portfolios, including Conservation and Tertiary. In this interview (MP3, 1.0MB, 6:00 min) Met talks about these new parliamentary [...] read more
  November 3, 2005 4:36 pm - 13 Comments