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$200m gas fund breaches climate trade deal, says Green Party

$200m gas fund breaches climate trade deal, says Green Party

NZ Herald2 days ago

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The coalition's $200 million investment fund for local gas exploration is a 'clear breach' of an international trade agreement, according to legal advice commissioned by the Green Party.
The Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS) is a deal the Government struck with

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New Law To Give Victims Final Say Over Sex Offenders' Name Suppressions
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New Law To Give Victims Final Say Over Sex Offenders' Name Suppressions

Parliament has unanimously passed legislation that will ensure the courts cannot issue a permanent name suppression order for an adult convicted of a sexual offence, unless the victim agrees to it. The Victims of Sexual Violence Bill had its third reading late on Wednesday night. It also amends the law so that children under the age of 12 will not be able to be questioned about whether they consented to sex. The Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said this made it crystal clear children could not consent to abuse. New Zealand was now moving into line with many other countries in outlawing it. "It was well overdue and needed to be done." The law further closes what Goldsmith said was a legislative gap, by ensuring the victims of all sexual crimes, including intimate visual recordings offences, were automatically given name suppression. "These changes will help ensure victims of sexual violence and their needs are returned to the heart of the justice system. We've been clear from day one that victims are our priority as we work to restore law and order," Goldsmith said in a media release. He said at present victims' views on suppression only had to be taken into account by the courts. Long battles over name suppression retraumatised victims, as did the inability to discuss what happened to them and to warn others. Goldsmith told Morning Report he was concerned about people who had gone through the court process and then found there was a permanent name suppression for an offender and there was no opportunity to talk about their experience and most importantly, warn others. "We're talking about people who have been convicted of sexual crimes and they need to be named and held to account." While the legal profession had expressed some concern around reducing the powers of judges, he said it was a significant change focused on the needs of victims and a chance to do things differently. Police Minister Mark Mitchell spoke on behalf of the Justice Minister during the third reading. "It is abhorrent that the law allows questions about whether children enjoyed or agreed to sexual activity. We're fixing that. "It is unconscionable that victims feel silenced by our laws especially when they've braved the scrutiny of the court process to prove their case. We're fixing that too." Mitchell said victims had been clear that name suppression settings had disempowered victims, prevented them from speaking out about their experiences and warning others. New Zealanders also believed the way children were questioned in court was unacceptable, Mitchell said. MP Kahurangi Carter spoke in favour of the bill on behalf of the Green Party. "I know that we all feel this really heavily for victims under 12. It seems so obvious. "I'm glad today we're bringing our legislation, our laws into line with what is right." Goldsmith recognised some victims would not want to make the decision about name suppression themselves. In those cases, the decision would rest with the courts. He believed the changes would assist in ensuring 20,000 fewer victims of violent crime by 2029. While the bill was passed unanimously, there were no Te Pāti Māori MPs in the House at the time.

War On Nature Targets National Parks
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War On Nature Targets National Parks

Forest & Bird is condemning a new Government plan to accept pests like deer and tahr in our national parks. The Game Animal (Herds of Special Interest) Amendment Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today, welcoming invasive pests into our national parks when designated as 'special'. 'This is a dangerous step towards turning our national parks into game parks, putting trophy hunting above protecting nature,' says Forest & Bird spokesperson Nicky Snoyink. 'Out-of-control populations of these pests are eating and trampling our native alpine plants and forest understories, preventing regeneration. 'Instead of clamping down on these pests, this Government is doing the opposite and opening up the jewels in our country's crown – our national parks – to permanent damage and destruction. 'National parks like Westland Tai Poutini, Aoraki Mount Cook, Mount Aspiring, and Fiordland are core to the Te Wāhipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Area, which means they are as important as the Egyptian pyramids. 'These iconic national parks contain rocks, native plants and wildlife which take us back 80 million years to a time when New Zealand was part of the ancient super continent Gondwana. New Zealand's obligation is to protect these values. 'Pests like deer and tahr wreck these world heritage values. The impacts of introduced pests on our native forests and alpine ecosystems are devastating, long lasting, and trash the ecosystem's ability to be an effective carbon sink. 'New Zealanders and international visitors alike love our national parks and world heritage areas, and these should be looked after properly – their incredible and unique biodiversity is what makes them special. 'Our national parks are the last fully protected refuges for rare and threatened native species like kea, whio blue duck, and native mistletoe. 'This Bill weakens the protection provided to our native species and puts them in the way of greater harm from these pest animals,' says Ms Snoyink.

Iran: Return To Inspections Top Priority For UN Nuclear Agency
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Iran: Return To Inspections Top Priority For UN Nuclear Agency

25 June 2025 Rafael Mariano Grossi was speaking to reporters in Austria following a briefing to the Government in Vienna. Israel began launching air and missile strikes against Iranian military and nuclear sites nearly two weeks ago, and the United States carried out surprise bombing raids on three Iranian uranium enrichment facilities this past weekend. A ceasefire between Iran and Israel, announced on social media by US President Donald Trump on Monday night, is fragile but holding. However, the extent of damage to Iran's enriched uranium stockpile remains unclear. Iran says protective measures taken Following the initial attacks, Iran informed the IAEA that it would take 'special measures' to protect its nuclear materials and equipment. Mr. Grossi told journalists that he has received a letter from the Iranian Foreign Minister which said protective measures have been taken. 'They did not get into details into what that meant, but clearly that was the implicit meaning of that. So, we can imagine that this material is there,' he said. To confirm this, and to evaluate the situation, 'we need to return,' he added. Inspections vital On Wednesday, Iran's parliament approved a bill to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, according to media reports, which has to be approved by the executive branch of the Government. Mr. Grossi said he wrote to Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday requesting that they meet 'to analyze the modalities' for inspections to continue. He stressed that the international community 'cannot afford' for the inspection regime to be interrupted. The IAEA chief was also asked about Iran's plans to withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a key international accord aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons. The move would be 'very regrettable,' he said. 'I hope this is not the case. I don't think this would help anybody, starting with Iran. This would lead to isolation, all sorts of problems.'

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