Health & Wellbeing Archive

• 

  Pink Shirt Day on April 14th - by Kevin Hague

  
  
  
  You know you have one. Time to get it out. Russel Norman says I have to iron mine. April 14th is Pink Shirt Day, a day when everyone around the country is encouraged to make a visual display of our abhorrence of bullying. read more
  April 7, 2011 11:29 am - 5 Comments
• 

  Disability and paying carers who are family - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  This week I hosted a forum at Parliament for a very challenging campaign. I invited all MPs, but only the Green MPs supported it. Maybe the others were all very busy, but many from Labour and National seem to find it hard to meet the families who have called for their help in vain for [...] read more
  March 25, 2011 12:23 pm - 2 Comments
• 

  Children on the margins - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  A report released this week (PDF) by the Children’s Commissioner calls for quality childcare services, especially for under two-year-olds. It will take more than a report to convince the current Government – whose cost-cutting includes undermining the goal of 100% fully qualified staff in early childhood centres – to invest properly in Early Childhood Education. [...] read more
  March 24, 2011 1:15 pm - 9 Comments
• 

  Community-led development – good news from the grassroots! - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  I had two very positive days last week meeting with community sector groups in Porirua and in Nelson. It was great to hear some positive stories from people who are leading change in these places, and to realise how much great work is going on despite the recession, the Government and the hard times since the earthquake. read more
  March 21, 2011 2:10 pm - 3 Comments
• 

  Folding cycles to be encouraged on Wellington’s trains - by Kevin Hague

  
  
  
  Greater Wellington Regional Council are about to finalise their rules for allowing bicycles on trains. They’re proposing to continue to allow bikes to ride free (where space is available) on all trains except for the new Matangi trains during peak hours. Folding bicycles, however, will be allowed on all trains at all times. Folding bikes [...] read more
  March 18, 2011 8:02 am - 9 Comments
• 

  Loaves and Fishes, in Christchurch - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  There is something deeply bonding about supplying food to people in need. Words are few; yet communication is intimate. The experience penetrates the human psyche. read more
  March 17, 2011 11:28 am - 3 Comments
• 

  Japan’s nuclear catastrophe worsens - by frog

  
  
  
  Several reports from usually reliable news sources stated that efforts to stop further meltdown and radiation release at Japan’s Fukushima power plant had been abandoned. It appears the reports were based on a mis-translation. The struggle to gain control of the power plant’s reactors continues, but the situation is still very dire. read more
  March 16, 2011 6:08 pm - 42 Comments
• 

  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
• 

  The Welfare Working Group and the injection - by Metiria Turei

  
  
  
  As reported on Morning Report yesterday, the Welfare Working Group report makes a startling – indeed deeply frightening – recommendation to link contraception to sole parent benefit receipt. The report says on page 15: We have heard a concern among some people that setting a work expectation for parents when their youngest child reaches three [...] read more
  March 8, 2011 9:23 am - 29 Comments
• 

  Supermarkets explain cheap booze at hearings - by Sue Kedgley

  
  
  
  Foodstuffs New Zealand, New Zealand’s largest supermarket chain, admitted to a select committee hearing this morning, that it puts a mark-up of between 1 and 10% on alcohol that it sells in its supermarkets. This is in sharp contrast to the 100%-500% mark-up that supermarkets put on fresh fruit and vegetables, according to a Green [...] read more
  March 7, 2011 4:59 pm - 51 Comments
• 

  Helping Women’s Refuge in Christchurch - by frog

  
  
  
  Many of you may remember that after the September quake in Christchurch, there was a reported upsurge in domestic violence in the city. It seems that the same trend is emerging after this even more devastating quake. Sadly, not everyone responds heroically to a disaster, and vulnerable families often fly apart under the pressure. Police [...] read more
  March 3, 2011 11:48 am - No Comments
• 

  Advertising for a disability champion - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  I’m delighted to announce that the Human Rights Commission is now advertising the position of Disability Commissioner on their website. People with the relevant skills and passion for inclusion can now apply for the role. I am thrilled that my Bill contributed to this moment, and pleased that the Government has supported the immediate creation [...] read more
  March 2, 2011 9:10 am - 7 Comments
• 

  The purgatorial delights of liquefaction - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  From middle distance it looks ugly – alien and threatening. Something from another planet, menacing to humans. Actually, from Middle Earth. At shovel distance, it starts to attain a character you can come to terms with. If that is a metaphor for this stricken city, then not all is lost. This morning I volunteer to [...] read more
  February 26, 2011 5:59 pm - 1 Comment
• 

  Day two in Hell - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  Thursday night I convene a meeting of Green members in my house. Twelve turn up, one from the eastern suburbs. He is not sure if he can get back or, if not, where he will stay. He has student friends, so he is not worried. He is young, so he is not worried. We exchange [...] read more
  February 26, 2011 9:25 am - 1 Comment
• 

  Another earthquake in Christchurch – twitter feeds - by frog

  
  
  
  A sad day for us all. Our thoughts are with the people of Christchurch. I’ve found twitter to be a good way to get a feel for what’s happening: Tweets from people in/near Christchurch All earthquake-related tweets Photos tagged with eqnz read more
  February 22, 2011 2:12 pm - 81 Comments
• 

  Submit on the Alcohol Reform Bill - by frog

  
  
  
  Until Friday we have a unique opportunity to help change New Zealand’s heavy drinking culture. At the moment the Justice and Electoral Select Committee is taking submissions on the Alcohol Reform Bill. The Bill is a very very very small itsy bitsy step in the right direction, but it does not go anywhere near as [...] read more
  February 14, 2011 9:37 am - 4 Comments
• 

  ACC digs a deeper hole - by Kevin Hague

  
  
  
  Financial Review of ACC today, so I subbed in for Gareth on the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee. Usual thing – we and Labour make the running and when things get too hot the Government members take a turn with patsy questions. ACC fronted with Chair, John Judge, by videoconference and CEO Jan White [...] read more
  February 10, 2011 4:03 pm - 35 Comments
• 

  Manufacturing Bullshit - by frog

  
  
  
  Every year in New Zealand the alcohol industry spends $73 million on alcohol advertising. That’s $73 million spent manufacturing an image. The facts presented in this video are startling. It’s time the Government regulated alcohol advertising and took New Zealand’s heavy drinking culture seriously. Have your say on regulating alcohol advertising on yourshout.org.nz by 18 [...] read more
  February 4, 2011 10:41 am - 11 Comments
• 

  ECE vs motorways – which is the better investment? - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  John Key’s cuts to early childhood education come into affect today. John Key says don’t worry, it will only effect centres with the most qualified staff. Very reassuring! Meanwhile fees will go up and kids will miss out. NZEI has launched a petition today urging the Government to reverse the ECE cuts, and the Greens [...] read more
  February 1, 2011 12:46 pm - 99 Comments
• 

  MPs combine across party lines for cycling safety - by Kevin Hague

  
  
  
  As the Green Party’s spokesperson on Cycling I have had the opportunity to carry forward my background in advocacy for cycling into new areas. For example, our work as a co-sponsor with John Key (he brings the dollars, we bring the cycling expertise) has seen Nga Haerenga (the NZ Cycle Trail Network) develop from a [...] read more
  January 12, 2011 12:14 pm - 2 Comments