Latest news with #Luxon-led
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
Govt's War On Te Tiriti Continues As Review Of Treaty Act Announced
Press Release – Te Pati Maori The mere suggestion that the Act and the Tribunal should be reviewed signals this Governments belief that the Crown alone should define the meaning, relevance, and limits of Te Tiriti, said said Te Pti Mori spokesperson for Te Tiriti … Te Pāti Māori is absolutely disgusted by the Government's announcement to review the Waitangi Tribunal- a deliberate and dangerous escalation in its ongoing campaign to undermine Te Tiriti o Waitangi and silence tangata whenua. 'The Government's onslaught against Te Tiriti continues with this latest move to review the Treaty of Waitangi Act and the role of the Waitangi Tribunal,' said Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Te Tiriti o Waitangi and MP for Te Tai Tonga, Tākuta Ferris. 'This is nothing short of a continuation of colonial violence- enabled by a weak, Luxon-led Government that gutlessly gambles with Te Tiriti and the lives of tangata whenua.' The Waitangi Tribunal, established under the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975, is one of the few instruments available to Māori to seek redress for breaches of Te Tiriti. 'The mere suggestion that the Act and the Tribunal should be reviewed signals this Government's belief that the Crown alone should define the meaning, relevance, and limits of Te Tiriti,' said Ferris. 'Let's not forget- Te Tiriti is the very agreement that gave the Crown its legitimacy to exist in the first place. 'Make no mistake, this review is a continuation of efforts to erase our voices and control the narrative of our dispossession, for the economic benefit of those who desecrate our people and our whenua.' By comparison, last year Ferris introduced a Member's Bill to strengthen the Tribunal's powers to make binding recommendations — empowering it, not dismantling it. 'This Government already failed with its racist Treaty Principles Bill,' said Ferris. 'Te Pāti Māori will continue to stand in the way of any attempt to dismantle our rights and our future as a Treaty nation.'
Scoop
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Govt's War On Te Tiriti Continues As Review Of Treaty Act Announced
Te Pāti Māori is absolutely disgusted by the Government's announcement to review the Waitangi Tribunal- a deliberate and dangerous escalation in its ongoing campaign to undermine Te Tiriti o Waitangi and silence tangata whenua. 'The Government's onslaught against Te Tiriti continues with this latest move to review the Treaty of Waitangi Act and the role of the Waitangi Tribunal,' said Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Te Tiriti o Waitangi and MP for Te Tai Tonga, Tākuta Ferris. 'This is nothing short of a continuation of colonial violence- enabled by a weak, Luxon-led Government that gutlessly gambles with Te Tiriti and the lives of tangata whenua.' The Waitangi Tribunal, established under the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975, is one of the few instruments available to Māori to seek redress for breaches of Te Tiriti. 'The mere suggestion that the Act and the Tribunal should be reviewed signals this Government's belief that the Crown alone should define the meaning, relevance, and limits of Te Tiriti,' said Ferris. 'Let's not forget- Te Tiriti is the very agreement that gave the Crown its legitimacy to exist in the first place. 'Make no mistake, this review is a continuation of efforts to erase our voices and control the narrative of our dispossession, for the economic benefit of those who desecrate our people and our whenua.' By comparison, last year Ferris introduced a Member's Bill to strengthen the Tribunal's powers to make binding recommendations — empowering it, not dismantling it. 'This Government already failed with its racist Treaty Principles Bill,' said Ferris. 'Te Pāti Māori will continue to stand in the way of any attempt to dismantle our rights and our future as a Treaty nation.'
Scoop
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Greenpeace Slams PM's Science Pick: 'Polluters Are Running The Show'
Press Release – Greenpeace Working with Federated Farmers and Beef + Lamb, DairyNZ has pushed for a system called no additional warming to measure methane emissions. Greenpeace says this approach isn't grounded in science and is designed to justify doing less. Greenpeace says the appointment of a former DairyNZ scientist as Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's Chief Science Advisor shows the Government is handing power to polluters. 'For years, DairyNZ has ignored science and lobbied to weaken protections for rivers, drinking water, and the climate,' says Greenpeace campaigner Amanda Larsson. 'We're facing a climate and nature crisis. The dairy industry is New Zealand's worst environmental polluter, and science shows we need strong limits on it to protect the environment and our future. But instead of taking action to restrict intensive dairy's pollution, Luxon is allowing industry lobbyists to sit at key decision-making tables.' Larsson warns that the appointment could further undermine action on climate change. She says DairyNZ has led efforts to promote misleading methods for measuring methane emissions from livestock – methods that downplay the need for real cuts to climate pollution from intensive dairy. Working with Federated Farmers and Beef + Lamb, DairyNZ has pushed for a system called no additional warming to measure methane emissions. Greenpeace says this approach isn't grounded in science and is designed to justify doing less. 'These agri-business-backed tools are based on the flawed premise that current methane emissions are an acceptable baseline. But scientists agree that methane emissions are far too high and we need to reduce them,' says Larsson. New Zealand's independent Climate Change Commission has already rejected no additional warming. But the Government sidestepped the Commission and set up a separate panel to review methane targets using that same flawed approach. The Government is set to make a decision on the methane target this year. 'Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that heats the planet much faster than carbon dioxide,' Larsson says. 'And here in New Zealand, livestock methane makes up most of our climate pollution.' 'At a time where the need to address the climate crisis is more urgent than ever, we cannot afford for the Luxon-led Government to elevate the voices of those who are causing the problem, because the cost will be the future of life on earth.' Greenpeace has long raised concerns about the dairy industry's influence on Luxon's government. Last year, the group revealed that Federated Farmers had drafted freshwater policy and communications plans for the Government, which were subsequently implemented. 'We're now seeing the consequences of polluters running the show,' says Larsson. 'Weakened freshwater protections are leading to new dairy conversions, especially in Canterbury and Southland. 'The dairy industry's pollution is already causing unswimmable rivers, unsafe drinking water, and more climate disasters. This will only get worse as the few protections we have are rolled back. 'While Luxon wages a war on nature, people across the country are stepping up to protect the places they care about. If the Government won't stand up to polluters, the people will.'
