Parliament Archive

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  When is fair fair in the ETS? - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  Yesterday’s select committee hearings on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) were a lesson on how to do it. We had invited all the iwi submitters to present in the early afternoon, just as we have grouped other like-minded submitters. But instead of each taking their individual 15 minutes for presentation and questions, they organised themselves [...] read more
  April 29, 2009 2:15 pm - 14 Comments
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  Sue Kedgley debates Auckland Governance - by frog

  
  
  
  Here is Sue K’s contribution to the urgent debate on Auckland governance last week: read more
  April 17, 2009 5:09 pm - 47 Comments
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  Sex Bomb, Sex bomb - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  Just in case anyone thinks the Greens were letting some hard core sex offenders run riot by voting against yesterday’s sex offender law amendment, here are the facts: The key amendment in the bill was not “just implementing the intention of the original legislation”, as the government claimed . The Attorney-General’s Report on Parole (Extended [...] read more
  April 3, 2009 2:32 pm - 40 Comments
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  Green Party pulls plug for planet’s sake - by frog

  
  
  
  In a bold move to combat global warming and the Government’s indifference to New Zealand’s Kyoto commitments, the Green Party is leading from the front and will immediately stop using most electrical appliances in its Parliamentary offices as of today. “The current Government’s laissez-faire attitude to carbon emissions means that more needs to be done. [...] read more
  April 1, 2009 4:11 pm - 16 Comments
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  Kevin Hague questions the Minister of Agriculture - by frog

  
  
  
  Green Party MP Kevin Hague asks the Minister of Agriculture: Has the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord achieved its aim of “clean, healthy water including streams, rivers, lakes, groundwater, and wetlands in dairying areas”; or, does he agree with National MP Nick Smith’s statement of October 2008 that there has been a “deterioration in water [...] read more
  March 16, 2009 4:57 pm - 21 Comments
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  Will entry of energy sector to ETS be delayed? - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  It now seems almost certain that electricity, stationary energy and industrial emissions will not come into the Emissions Trading Scheme on Jan 1 next year as provided for in the legislation.The Act provides for detailed allocation plans to be developed and brought to Parliament for each sector that is trade exposed and so qualifies for [...] read more
  March 14, 2009 9:47 am - 16 Comments
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  Kennedy Graham on International Climate Change Negotiations - by frog

  
  
  
  In this week’s message from parliament, Green MP Kennedy Graham urges everyone to put pressure on the government to negotiate real and binding emissions reductions in the lead up to Copenhagen this December. While the government is busy hacking every budget under the sun, we are being distracted from one of the most important international [...] read more
  March 13, 2009 8:00 am - 8 Comments
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  Kennedy Graham on General Debate, March 5th 2009 - by frog

  
  
  
  Green MP Kennedy Graham did his first General Debate Speech on Thursday, choosing climate change as his topic. Kennedy is the spokesperson on International Climate Change Issues. As we slide serenely into the sea, let us recognise that, just as water finds its own level, a species that fails to foresee disaster ahead, or sees [...] read more
  March 7, 2009 9:30 am - 22 Comments
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  Sue Bradford goes in search of National’s State Housing - by frog

  
  
  
  Green MP Sue Bradford  asks the Housing Minister: Does he see any opportunity to simultaneously deal with the job losses in the housing construction sector and assist the nearly 10 thousand people on the Housing New Zealand waiting list? The Minister manages to insult the former Minister, requiring an apology and withdrawal, then goes on [...] read more
  March 6, 2009 2:02 pm - 14 Comments
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  Jeanette’s leadership video - by frog

  
  
  
  Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons announces that she will step down as co-leader this year and invites the party membership to get involved in our democratic process to elect the next co-leader. read more
  February 23, 2009 12:43 pm - 11 Comments
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  Labour needs to front up on S92A - by Metiria Turei

  
  
  
  Labour’s Clare Curran sought leave in the House today to introduce her members bill that would clarify the policy that ISP’s need to produce under the controversial section 92A of the Copyright Act.  The explanation to the bill says: We considered a variety of measures including delaying the enactment of the clause, however it is [...] read more
  February 19, 2009 3:55 pm - 1 Comment
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  Can you join the S92A protest march? - by frog

  
  
  
  From CFF: The Creative Freedom Foundation announced that at 12 Noon on Thursday 19 February 2009 (today), a public demonstration will be held on Parliament grounds in Wellington in support of MPs against Guilt Upon Accusation laws in New Zealand  specifically the controversial Section 92A of the Copyright Amendment Act, due to come into effect [...] read more
  February 19, 2009 10:46 am - 5 Comments
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  Co-leader’s Parliamentary update - by frog

  
  
  
  Jeanette and Russel talk about insulation, energy efficiency, the Electoral Finance Act and their meeting with the Nats. read more
  February 19, 2009 8:27 am - 1 Comment
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  Government’s Maori education plans contradictory - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  As a novice in the Parliamentary world trying to surf the learning curve, I am becoming rapidly fascinated by the new Government’s balancing act. This menage a trois {plus Peter Dunne} is going to take some management but also some careful analysis in terms of what they can deliver. The education portfolio is a good [...] read more
  February 17, 2009 1:57 pm - 47 Comments
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  Green co-leaders spell out the priorities - by frog

  
  
  
  In this video, the Green Party co-leaders Jeanette Fitzsimons and Russel Norman do a brief round up on our priorities as we start the new parliamentary season. read more
  February 17, 2009 9:36 am - 4 Comments
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  Brownlee’s EFA Bungle Says It All - by frog

  
  
  
  There’s something symbolic about Gerry Brownlee’s procedural mistakes holding up the EFA repeal reading last week. There was a bungled urgency motion followed by a fumbled adjournment motion and a reversal by the Speaker. The end result is that, after an objection by the Greens, the EFA’s second reading was delayed until today. Where to [...] read more
  February 17, 2009 7:37 am - 37 Comments
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  Catherine Delahunty’s maiden speech - by frog

  
  
  
  Welcome Catherine! read more
  February 12, 2009 11:43 am - 202 Comments
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  World’s End - by frog

  
  
  
  I thought that this would be a fitting title for my first post of the new year, given that I spent the holiday there. First off, Happy New Year! World’s End is a lovely spot in the Marlborough Sounds to celebrate and forget all about the world of politics. New Year’s is also the time when [...] read more
  January 7, 2009 5:55 pm - 170 Comments
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  Question Time at Gormenghast - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  There’s a gothic fantasy book by Mervyn Peake, called “Gormenghast”. It’s about a medieval castle inhabited by weird individuals and arcane patriarchal rituals. There is an atmosphere of ruination, insanity and borderline behaviour. Such was my impression of my first question time at Parliament. There was howling, snarling, backslapping and ritual clapping but nothing you [...] read more
  December 19, 2008 10:20 am - 31 Comments
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  Kevin Hague’s maiden speech - by frog

  
  
  
  Welcome Kevin!   read more
  December 18, 2008 12:21 pm - 7 Comments