Sue Kedgley Archive

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  Natural Health Bill back from select committee - by Mojo Mathers

  
  
  
  We are happy to see the Natural Health and Supplementary Products bill has passed its next hurdle with the select committee reporting back yesterday, and now will be returning to the house. Some might remember Sue Kedgley supporting industry objections to Labour’s proposal to hand over our regulator powers on Natural Health to Australia. Sue [...] read more
  November 1, 2012 11:16 am - 11 Comments
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  Lobbying Disclosure Bill pulled from the ballot - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  I’m very excited to report that my first Member’s Bill has been drawn from the parliamentary ballot! I inherited the Lobbyist Disclosure Bill from former Green MP Sue Kedgley when she retired, and I’m thrilled that I’ll get a chance to continue Sue’s great work on transparency and open government with this bill. read more
  April 5, 2012 1:31 pm - 2 Comments
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  Sue and Keith’s valedictory speeches - by frog

  
  
  
  Sue Kedgley and Keith Locke — two of the original seven Green MPs who came into Parliament in 1999 — are standing down from Parliament at this election. The House grants outgoing MPs a chance to reflect on their time in Parliament with a valedictory speech. You can watch Sue and Keith reflect on their [...] read more
  September 29, 2011 2:20 pm - 6 Comments
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  The Government’s generosity to private broadcasters - by Sue Kedgley

  
  
  
  Interesting to see that the Cabinet Minister most closely aligned with Media Works, Stephen Joyce, has apparently approved a generous deferral of payments worth $43 million to Media Works to enable it to renew its license fee for the next twenty years. Mr Joyce was the founder and owner for 18 years of Radio Works [...] read more
  March 9, 2011 11:18 am - 35 Comments
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  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
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  Hot Ukrainian Husbands from Chernobyl? - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Last week the media reported a “Radio Rock” promotion which involved winning “hot chicks” as wives. As Sue Bradford commented in the media, this is not an isolated incident. As a compassionate and forgiving feminist I thought I would run a parallel competition for all those women out there seeking a “hot husband” . We [...] read more
  February 12, 2011 2:56 pm - 30 Comments
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  Can you pick the odd man out? - by frog

  
  
  
  “Boorish and unbecoming of a Prime Minister” was Sue Kedgley’s take on John Key’s Radio Sport interview with Tony Veitch in which the PM revealed his sexual fantasies. I’m with Sue on this one. read more
  February 2, 2011 1:47 pm - 47 Comments
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  Alcohol Bill is a weak drink - by frog

  
  
  
  Sue Kedgley just delivered the Green Party’s first reading speech about the Alcohol Reform Bill (ARB). The final bill glosses over a lot of the essential recommendations from the Law Commission’s report. It fails to address the main causes of alcohol related harm: price, saturation advertising and marketing, and decreasing the blood alcohol limit to [...] read more
  November 11, 2010 5:50 pm - 1 Comment
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  Porkies on the Pork Board? - by frog

  
  
  
  Yesterday Sue Kedgley asked Agriculture Minister David Carter some questions in Parliament about allegations that the Pork Industry Board was deliberately attempting to evade the Official Information Act with respect to information about animal welfare in piggeries. Sue’s question followed a leaked email from the Pork Industry Board: read more
  July 30, 2010 3:16 pm - 27 Comments
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  Aged Care update - by frog

  
  
  
  Last week Sue Kedgley and Winnie Laban’s aged care tour took them to Porirua. The tour is proving very successful with heaps of people turning out to hear the MPs speak. read more
  May 21, 2010 11:38 am - 3 Comments
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  Water and democracy - by Sue Kedgley

  
  
  
  Every New Zealander should be worried about Rodney Hide’s latest bill on local government — which will allow our water supplies [DOC] to be controlled and managed by private companies for 35 years, and will force Councils to focus only on ill-defined ‘core business’ [DOC] (which excludes, amongst other things, the environment).’ Multinational corporations are [...] read more
  May 5, 2010 6:40 pm - 18 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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  S.O.RNZ (Save our Radio New Zealand) - by Sue Kedgley

  
  
  
    It was great to see several hundred people at Parliament yesterday, protesting the government’s freezing of funding for Radio New Zealand. I hope this is just the first protest of many around the country. Already there are signs that the government under-estimated the level of support for Radio New Zealand, and if we keep [...] read more
  February 26, 2010 12:22 pm - 11 Comments
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  Submitting in your summer holiday - by frog

  
  
  
  As I predicted last week, the Government has allowed only a very short time for submissions on the Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill – submissions close on 12 February 2010. This is a truly appalling Bill – it’s packed full of measures that undermine local democracy and promote the privatisation of Auckland’s assets. read more
  December 20, 2009 3:55 pm - 9 Comments
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  Rampant Rodney rogers Auckland - by frog

  
  
  
  Rodney Hide’s third supercity Bill, the Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill, reveals a hardcore anti-democratic agenda for privatisation. read more
  December 15, 2009 8:41 am - 9 Comments
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  Green Oral Question for today - by frog

  
  
  
  In Parliament today, the Green Party’s Questions for Oral Answer (number 3) is from Russel Norman to the Minister of Finance, Bill English: Does he stand by his statement that “water assets will not be privatised as a result of the restructuring” of local government; and if so, how does he reconcile it with Cabinet’s [...] read more
  October 29, 2009 11:42 am - 30 Comments
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  Moving forward on folic acid fortification - by Sue Kedgley

  
  
  
    Image by Lyndon Hood The Green Party welcomes the decision of the Government to review the decision to mandatorily fortify almost all bread sold in New Zealand with folic acid.  We are not sure why such a review would take three years, however. In our view a panel of experts should review the new science and [...] read more
  July 20, 2009 3:16 pm - 16 Comments
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  Food Price Hikes: Less Lunch To Munch - by frog

  
  
  
  Much like a monkey aboard a 1960s Space Rocket it appears food prices don’t want to come back down to earth either.  A brand of chocolate that is now banned at Auckland Zoo seems to be partly responsible. Apparently the increase in Grocery Sub Group One was driven by a price increase for chocolate that [...] read more
  July 16, 2009 4:19 pm - 6 Comments
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  Public Debate likely to ensue over our daily bread - by frog

  
  
  
  Over the weekend Sue K was on TVNZ’s Q and A talking about a subject many people and frogs may be unaware of – the fact that as of early September all bread in New Zealand excepting organic bread will be fortified with folic acid. This decision was taken in 2007 by the previous Labour [...] read more
  July 13, 2009 5:22 pm - 31 Comments
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  Organics industry growth in jeopardy - by Sue Kedgley

  
  
  
  In the 2005 cooperation agreement between the Green Party and the previous Labour-led government, we negotiated funding for an Organics Advisory Service (OAS). It included mentoring support for conversion to organics and peer support for organic farmers. Unfortunately, after three years of successful service to the organics sector, the modest $2.15 million funding has now [...] read more
  June 30, 2009 4:42 pm - 63 Comments
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  No will in NZ to phase out wonky flouro food - by frog

  
  
  
  Last night TV3’s 60 minute program looked at the issue of food colourings and whether or not they affect children’s behaviour. While the experiments used in the item were not scientific the research that prompted the kiwi journalists to highlight this issue caused shockwaves when it was released in the United Kingdom in 2007. The [...] read more
  June 30, 2009 2:27 pm - 12 Comments
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  Dumping on Communities - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  The Taranaki Marfell Park toxic drums saga is sadly typical of the difficulties communities face getting support in dealing with toxic sites. In 1993 my partner and I (while working for Greenpeace) toured the country speaking with virtually all the Regional Councils about the contaminated sites in the region. Our main focus was PCP (a [...] read more
  June 11, 2009 4:11 pm - 5 Comments
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  I want to be in a sow crate with Sue! - by frog

  
  
  
  As if it isn’t enough that every politician and his dog is suddenly welling up over our nation’s tortured pigs, last night on Back Benches Peter Dunne claimed to have been in a sow crate with Sue Kedgley. Now, you can’t criticise the man’s taste, but I’m afraid that this is wishful thinking. Sue says [...] read more
  May 21, 2009 11:40 am - 19 Comments
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  What does the Act say? - by frog

  
  
  
  The Sunday expose on intensive pig farming has pushed the shadowy world of indoor pig farming firmly into the spotlight. TVNZ’s Close-up this evening pitted Mike King (and Safe‘s Hans Kreik) off against Chris Trengrove, the Chair of the Pork Board, resulting in a commitment to random visits of other pig farms to see if [...] read more
  May 18, 2009 8:57 pm - 125 Comments
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  One more down, a few thou to go - by frog

  
  
  
  ERMA today followed the EU, US and Canada and revoked approvals for the herbicide methylarsinic acid (MSMA) in New Zealand. read more
  May 14, 2009 8:16 pm - 10 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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  Endosulfan Tip of the Toxic Iceberg - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  It is a great day for worms, tomatoes and humans. The toxic pesticide endosulfan has finally been banned. This seriously toxic chemical was banned in 55 countries but 18 Councils around Aotearoa have been using it regularly on sports fields to kill worms that made bumps in the turf. Tomato and citrus growers have been [...] read more
  December 16, 2008 5:46 pm - 16 Comments
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  Number crunching - by frog

  
  
  
  Here are some of the individual electorate returns from Green campaigns around the country. The top ten electorates for Green votes were: Wellington Central – 6,657 votes, 20.08% Rongotai – 5,407 votes, 16.42% Dunedin North – 4,448 votes, 15.38% Port Hills – 4,406 votes, 13.53% Auckland Central – 4,341 votes, 15.41% West Coast-Tasman – 3,279 [...] read more
  November 10, 2008 12:21 pm - 11 Comments
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  Horticulture NZ launches new CoOL campaign - by frog

  
  
  
  Horticulture New Zealand and others have launched a new campaign for CoOL, or Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling of food.  It notes that the campaign is pretty simple really – it’s about consumers’ right to know that they are buying: We believe Kiwi shoppers deserve the right to choose. CoOL is not a ‘buy local’ [...] read more
  November 4, 2008 4:19 pm - 10 Comments
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  The missing name from the SPCA’s list of shame - by frog

  
  
  
  Despite this gruesome reading from the SPCA: A number of the animals had been hurt by slug gun pellets and other projectiles, and there were signs that children were being allowed to use animals for target practice. Cases of neglect included an Auckland dog discovered on Christmas Eve after surviving without food or water for [...] read more
  October 31, 2008 8:25 am - 20 Comments
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  The Wellington Transport Plan - by frog

  
  
  
  Line maintenance on Sue’s train line conspired to delay her arrival at the Greens launch of our Wellington Transport Plan.  But she got there by bus instead and announced a costed and detailed plan that would see a new light rail network linking the Hutt Valley, Porirua and the Airport. Stage one would see light [...] read more
  October 22, 2008 4:10 pm - 32 Comments
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  Our transport plan for Auckland - by frog

  
  
  
  The Auckland transport plan that the Greens released yesterday got good coverage in the Herald which covered how the MPs got to the launch: Metiria Turei: Small ferryboat chartered from the base of Te Atatu Peninsula to highlight its dearth of public transport services. Sue Kedgley: Train from Mt Eden. Keith Locke: Bike from Mt [...] read more
  October 16, 2008 2:17 pm - 18 Comments
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  Wellington vs the worms - by frog

  
  
  
  The endosulfan pesticide debate arrived in Wellington today via local newspaper the Welllingtonian: However, council spokesman Richard MacLean says if a sports field were “completely over-run by worms we would use the pesticide to get rid of them”. Does that happen? Has anyone ever actually been playing cricket and then moments later been dragged under [...] read more
  October 15, 2008 2:14 pm - 3 Comments
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  Green Party opening broadcast Election 2008 - by frog

  
  
  
  read more
  October 15, 2008 11:29 am - 7 Comments
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  Trustworthy food - by frog

  
  
  
  You can normally tell a substance has become less food and more controversy when it acquires a name such as MON863.  That’s the moniker of one of Monsanto’s genetically modified varieties of maize. It struck controversy last year when an independent French study showed that, despite it being approved for human consumption in 2006, it [...] read more
  October 10, 2008 11:34 am - No Comments
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  No more Endosulfan in Napier - by frog

  
  
  
  A Green Party member in the Hawkes Bay has just written to me to say that he hears that Napier City Council has decided not to use the poisonous chemical Endosulfan on its sports fields any more, following Sue Kedley’s campaign. If so, that’s great news. read more
  October 10, 2008 9:10 am - 4 Comments
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  Losing more World Cups - by frog

  
  
  
  Following on from my previous post about the use of the highly toxic pesticide endosulfan on sports fields; I should note that also on Sue Kedgley’s list of fields that currently get a dose of endosulfan are Hamilton’s Seddon Park and Waikato Stadium, New Plymouth’s Pukekura Park and Yarrow Stadium, Rotorua’s International Rugby Stadium. These [...] read more
  October 2, 2008 11:31 am - 4 Comments
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  Highly toxic but gives an even bounce of the ball - by frog

  
  
  
  Endosulfan, one of the more toxic chemicals in the world, and banned in over 50 countries, still has a couple of havens where it is still respected and welcomed.  One is on our tomatoes and other food crops. And the other is on our children’s sports fields. Sue Kedgley has today released the results of [...] read more
  October 2, 2008 11:02 am - 4 Comments
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  NZ’s melamine contamination - by frog

  
  
  
  Poisonous food and dying babies is strictly a ‘far away in China’ sort of thing, even if it happens to be large New Zealand company embroiled in the scandal?  Right? We can look sadly on and shake our heads despondently at Chinese officials and businessmen who didn’t respond fast enough or allow the public to [...] read more
  September 25, 2008 3:19 pm - No Comments
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  Erythrosine - by frog

  
  
  
  A small crafts business, Golding Handcrafts, has applied to Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) to relax restrictions on the controversial food colouring, erythrosine.  Sue Kedgley is concerned because Erythrosine is an endocrine disruptor, altering the level of thyroid hormones to the extent that it causes thyroid tumours in lab tests. Any small change to [...] read more
  September 25, 2008 2:42 pm - 34 Comments