Latest news with #JobsforNature
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
‘Growth Budget' = Growth In Poverty
Press Release – Green Party More children will grow up in cold, damp homes without food on the table because of the decisions this Government has made today. Christopher Luxon has told New Zealand he doesnt care about child poverty with this Budget. The Government's Budget is failing families in poverty by pulling the rug on young people receiving income support and allowing more children to go without enough food on the table. 'This 'Growth Budget' will result in a growth in poverty, particularly for the vulnerable teenagers who have had support stripped away from them,' says the Green Party's spokesperson for Social Development and Employment, Ricardo Menéndez March. 'The Government has just told teenagers doing it tough that they are on their own. A lot of teenagers having to rely on benefits for support do not have family to lean on – the Government knows this, it just doesn't care. ' Furthermore, documents in the Government's own Budget clearly show it is far off track to meeting the Child Poverty Reduction targets, with over 1 in 8 children living in abject poverty under this Government which is willing to fork out billions for the wealthy, while leaving people in poverty behind. 'More children will grow up in cold, damp homes without food on the table because of the decisions this Government has made today. Christopher Luxon has told New Zealand he doesn't care about child poverty with this Budget. 'We cannot keep doing the same and expect something different. A Green Government will end poverty by ensuring everyone has a liveable income. 'We will end all benefit sanctions and remove barriers to accessing income support, and instead ensure everyone has good lives. 'Our Income Guarantee would mean everyone would have at least $395 a week, and in the case of a sole parent a minimum of $755. Our Green Jobs Guarantee and expanded Jobs for Nature programme will create thousands of jobs to ensure young people have the employment opportunities they deserve. A different Aotearoa is possible and within our reach,' says Ricardo Menéndez March.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Minister For The Environment Missing In Action In Budget 2025
Budget 2025 makes it crystal clear that this Government has no interest in protecting nature or securing a liveable future for our tamariki. 'Our environment is in crisis. This Budget proves the Government simply does not care,' says the Green Party's spokesperson for Environment, Lan Pham. 'They have no understanding that their so-called 'laser-focus' on the economy makes them blind to the indisputable fact that there is no economy without a functional environment. 'Not only is there no new funding in Budget 2025 for environmental protection, but they've taken cuts further than we even thought possible. They've raided the waste levy and initiatives which were designed to provide at least some basic level of protection for te taiao. 'While our communities are crying out for action, the Minister for the Environment is nowhere to be seen. 'We needed bold investment and courageous action today. Instead, we got cut after cut after cut. 'It doesn't have to be this way. Our Green Budget, with our Green Jobs Guarantee and expanded Jobs for Nature package, would provide credible support for green infrastructure, oceans, native forests, conservation, and climate resilience, allowing nature to flourish and thrive. 'A better path was possible today. Instead, the Government chose to plunder our whenua and hand it to the highest bidder,' says Lan Pham.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
‘Growth Budget' = Growth In Poverty
The Government's Budget is failing families in poverty by pulling the rug on young people receiving income support and allowing more children to go without enough food on the table. 'This 'Growth Budget' will result in a growth in poverty, particularly for the vulnerable teenagers who have had support stripped away from them,' says the Green Party's spokesperson for Social Development and Employment, Ricardo Menéndez March. 'The Government has just told teenagers doing it tough that they are on their own. A lot of teenagers having to rely on benefits for support do not have family to lean on - the Government knows this, it just doesn't care. ' Furthermore, documents in the Government's own Budget clearly show it is far off track to meeting the Child Poverty Reduction targets, with over 1 in 8 children living in abject poverty under this Government which is willing to fork out billions for the wealthy, while leaving people in poverty behind. 'More children will grow up in cold, damp homes without food on the table because of the decisions this Government has made today. Christopher Luxon has told New Zealand he doesn't care about child poverty with this Budget. 'We cannot keep doing the same and expect something different. A Green Government will end poverty by ensuring everyone has a liveable income. 'We will end all benefit sanctions and remove barriers to accessing income support, and instead ensure everyone has good lives. 'Our Income Guarantee would mean everyone would have at least $395 a week, and in the case of a sole parent a minimum of $755. Our Green Jobs Guarantee and expanded Jobs for Nature programme will create thousands of jobs to ensure young people have the employment opportunities they deserve. A different Aotearoa is possible and within our reach,' says Ricardo Menéndez March.
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.
