Latest news with #GenToop
Scoop
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Regulatory Standards Bill Inflicts ACT's Far-Right Principles On Aotearoa
Press Release – Greenpeace 'The Regulatory Standards Bill tries to make all future lawmakers in government follow a rigid set of the ACT Partys far-right principles – prioritising corporate interests over people, nature, and Te Tiriti,' says Greenpeace spokesperson Gen Toop. The Government is facing backlash over David Seymour's controversial Regulatory Standards Bill which passed its first reading today, under the shadow of the Budget. 'After the uproar over the Treaty Principles Bill, the Luxon Government looks to be trying to keep Seymour's latest unpopular Bill quiet. They've clearly chosen to introduce it in Budget week to minimise scrutiny,' said Greenpeace spokesperson Gen Toop. 'The Regulatory Standards Bill tries to make all future lawmakers in government follow a rigid set of the ACT Party's far-right principles – prioritising corporate interests over people, nature, and Te Tiriti,' says Toop. This is the fourth time ACT has tried to pass the bill. It's failed not once, not twice, but three times already. This time, more than 20,000 people submitted on the Bill during its first consultation, with only 0.33% of submitters in support, while 88% opposed it outright. The Bill was also the subject of a Waitangi Tribunal inquiry, brought by over 13,000 claimants. The Tribunal found the Crown had breached its Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations and called on the Crown to halt further work on the controversial bill until it consults with Māori. One of the principles in the Regulatory Standards Bill would create a new and unprecedented expectation that the Crown compensate corporations if environmental or public interest laws affect their property. 'It's a simple principle: polluters should pay – not be paid by the public. But Seymour's bill turns that on its head,' says Toop. 'If this bill becomes law, corporations like ExxonMobil, Fonterra and Monsanto would expect taxpayer handouts when the government introduces basic environmental or public protections.' 'These extreme neoliberal ideas have no place in our legal system here in Aotearoa, where we have long valued fairness and collective responsibility rather than individual entitlements to harm nature or others under the guise of freedom,' says Toop. Greenpeace, along with Forest & Bird, WWF-New Zealand and the Environmental Defence Society, issued an open letter to the Prime Minister on Monday calling on him to reject the Regulatory Standards Bill, warning that it is an 'unprecedented threat' to environmental protection, climate action, and the country's democratic and constitutional foundations.
Scoop
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Regulatory Standards Bill Inflicts ACT's Far-Right Principles On Aotearoa
Press Release – Greenpeace 'The Regulatory Standards Bill tries to make all future lawmakers in government follow a rigid set of the ACT Partys far-right principles – prioritising corporate interests over people, nature, and Te Tiriti,' says Greenpeace spokesperson Gen Toop. The Government is facing backlash over David Seymour's controversial Regulatory Standards Bill which passed its first reading today, under the shadow of the Budget. 'After the uproar over the Treaty Principles Bill, the Luxon Government looks to be trying to keep Seymour's latest unpopular Bill quiet. They've clearly chosen to introduce it in Budget week to minimise scrutiny,' said Greenpeace spokesperson Gen Toop. 'The Regulatory Standards Bill tries to make all future lawmakers in government follow a rigid set of the ACT Party's far-right principles – prioritising corporate interests over people, nature, and Te Tiriti,' says Toop. This is the fourth time ACT has tried to pass the bill. It's failed not once, not twice, but three times already. This time, more than 20,000 people submitted on the Bill during its first consultation, with only 0.33% of submitters in support, while 88% opposed it outright. The Bill was also the subject of a Waitangi Tribunal inquiry, brought by over 13,000 claimants. The Tribunal found the Crown had breached its Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations and called on the Crown to halt further work on the controversial bill until it consults with Māori. One of the principles in the Regulatory Standards Bill would create a new and unprecedented expectation that the Crown compensate corporations if environmental or public interest laws affect their property. 'It's a simple principle: polluters should pay – not be paid by the public. But Seymour's bill turns that on its head,' says Toop. 'If this bill becomes law, corporations like ExxonMobil, Fonterra and Monsanto would expect taxpayer handouts when the government introduces basic environmental or public protections.' 'These extreme neoliberal ideas have no place in our legal system here in Aotearoa, where we have long valued fairness and collective responsibility rather than individual entitlements to harm nature or others under the guise of freedom,' says Toop. Greenpeace, along with Forest & Bird, WWF-New Zealand and the Environmental Defence Society, issued an open letter to the Prime Minister on Monday calling on him to reject the Regulatory Standards Bill, warning that it is an 'unprecedented threat' to environmental protection, climate action, and the country's democratic and constitutional foundations.
Scoop
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Greenpeace Braced For ‘Scorched Earth' Budget From Govt
Press Release – Greenpeace New Zealand With the Government set to release its Budget tomorrow, Greenpeace is calling for bold investment in climate and nature, but is bracing for the worst. 'Given that this Government just legalised killing kiwi, we're bracing for a Scorched Earth Budget,' says Greenpeace Aotearoa spokesperson Gen Toop. Greenpeace has been critical of the Luxon-led Government's anti-environment policies, but says that the PM's war on nature does not have to continue in the 2025 Budget. Budget 2024 decreased funding for DOC to such an extent that last year the agency was asking for public donations to fund its work and is this year reportedly facing a 30% shortfall for maintaining its hut and track network. 'This Budget is a chance for the Government to change course from its war on nature,' says Toop. 'It's a chance to invest in climate action, protect biodiversity, and support everyday people with the cost of living – that's what a responsible, future-focused Budget would do.' 'People have a right to clean water, a livable climate, and groceries and power bills they can afford. Any budget that prioritises corporate profits and tax cuts for landlords instead of those basic rights is not the kind of budget we need,' says Toop. Greenpeace says a Budget that truly tackles the climate, biodiversity, and cost of living crises would: Make a significant investment in distributed solar to bring down power bills, reduce emissions and help communities generate their own energy. Create an ecological farming fund to support farmers to transition away from intensive dairy and take advantage of the rise in demand for plant-based food. Bring back Jobs for Nature, funding real employment in the restoration of forests, rivers and wetlands to combat the biodiversity crisis. Fund it all by taxing corporations and the ultra-wealthy, starting with bringing the country's biggest climate polluter, Fonterra and intensive dairying into the Emissions Trading Scheme. Since taking the reins, the Government has abolished the clean car discount; forced the Ministry for the Environment, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Conservation to cut jobs; canceled the Auckland Light Rail Project; cut public transport subsidies for young people; and steadfastly refused to put agriculture into the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Scoop
20-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Greenpeace Braced For ‘Scorched Earth' Budget From Govt
With the Government set to release its Budget tomorrow, Greenpeace is calling for bold investment in climate and nature, but is bracing for the worst. "Given that this Government just legalised killing kiwi, we're bracing for a Scorched Earth Budget," says Greenpeace Aotearoa spokesperson Gen Toop. Greenpeace has been critical of the Luxon-led Government's anti-environment policies, but says that the PM's war on nature does not have to continue in the 2025 Budget. Budget 2024 decreased funding for DOC to such an extent that last year the agency was asking for public donations to fund its work and is this year reportedly facing a 30% shortfall for maintaining its hut and track network. "This Budget is a chance for the Government to change course from its war on nature," says Toop. "It's a chance to invest in climate action, protect biodiversity, and support everyday people with the cost of living - that's what a responsible, future-focused Budget would do." Advertisement - scroll to continue reading "People have a right to clean water, a livable climate, and groceries and power bills they can afford. Any budget that prioritises corporate profits and tax cuts for landlords instead of those basic rights is not the kind of budget we need," says Toop. Greenpeace says a Budget that truly tackles the climate, biodiversity, and cost of living crises would: Make a significant investment in distributed solar to bring down power bills, reduce emissions and help communities generate their own energy. Create an ecological farming fund to support farmers to transition away from intensive dairy and take advantage of the rise in demand for plant-based food. Bring back Jobs for Nature, funding real employment in the restoration of forests, rivers and wetlands to combat the biodiversity crisis. Fund it all by taxing corporations and the ultra-wealthy, starting with bringing the country's biggest climate polluter, Fonterra and intensive dairying into the Emissions Trading Scheme. Since taking the reins, the Government has abolished the clean car discount; forced the Ministry for the Environment, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Conservation to cut jobs; canceled the Auckland Light Rail Project; cut public transport subsidies for young people; and steadfastly refused to put agriculture into the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Scoop
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Greenpeace Serves Luxon A Mock Poisonous Porridge To Highlight Glyphosate Rule Change
The "Prime Minister" enjoyed a bowl of pretend poisonous porridge on parliament steps with Greenpeace this morning. The breakfast at parliament, attended by a Christopher Luxon lookalike, highlights the Government's proposal to raise the legal limit of glyphosate residues allowed in staple grains like wheat, oats and barley - from 0.1 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg - a 100-fold increase. For wheat, this new limit is double what's permitted in Australia and Canada. "I know the Luxon government has been feeding schoolkids melted plastic for lunch, but seasoning their breakfast with 100 times more toxic herbicide residue is a new low," says Greenpeace campaigner Gen Toop. "Our kids, and every New Zealander, have a right to safe food. But this Government is proposing to allow 100 times more of a probable carcinogen onto the grains that feed us every day." Glyphosate is the key ingredient in Roundup, and the World Health Organisation classifies it as a probable human carcinogen. They also say it's potentially genotoxic, meaning it could damage DNA. Bayer - which bought out Monsanto - sells the herbicide and has already been ordered by U.S. courts to pay billions to people harmed by Roundup, with another 60,000 legal cases still pending. The Government has invited submissions on their proposal, which are due on May 16. "The Prime Minister seems more interested in the profits of big agrichemical giants like Bayer than they are in the health of New Zealanders," says Toop. "Instead of making it easier to spray toxic chemicals on our food, the Government should be supporting farmers to transition to ecological farming that protects people and the planet." Greenpeace did invite the Prime Minister to breakfast this morning along with a Labour representative. However, the Prime Minister did not accept the invitation and so a Christopher Luxon lookalike took his place.
