• frog

    General debate, October 30, 2010 - by frog



    Let’s talk energy! read more
    October 30, 2010 1:03 pm - 7 Comments
  • Russel Norman

    Fonterra’s discharge into the Manawatu - by Russel Norman



    I’ve been looking into Fonterra’s discharge of condensate into the Mangatainoka River in the Wairarapa, which leads to the Manawatu. You can read it about it here. [UPDATE - Fonterra just announced that they are reconsidering their application and "decided to look at alternatives, such as irrigating to land or diverting through the [...] read more
    October 29, 2010 4:21 pm - 4 Comments
  • frog

    Another podcast with a transcript - by frog



    Yay, the momentum is building and we have a transcript for another of our podcasts, thanks once again to a very awesome writer who’s been transcribing them for us! This one’s from a few weeks back, but it’s been super-popular, so click through to listen or download the transcript of Gareth Hughes talking [...] read more
    October 29, 2010 4:14 pm - No Comments
  • Kevin Hague

    To queer youth: It gets better! (Now with video!) - by Kevin Hague



    We admired the American “It Gets Better” campaign so much that we decided to make our own: The point of these videos is to reach out to young people who may be feeling alone and scared to provide hope, let them know that there are people who understand what they’re going through and [...] read more
    October 29, 2010 11:33 am - No Comments
  • Kennedy Graham

    Greens hosting conference on Sustainable Economics - by Kennedy Graham



    How can we have an economy that works over the long-term, creating prosperity for our children and theirs? The Green Party is organising a cross-party economics conference next month to explore how to make the New Zealand economy truly sustainable. The conference will cover economic theory and practice and [...] read more
    October 29, 2010 8:08 am - 42 Comments
  • frog

    The Hobbit Bill or Employment Relations (Film Production Work) Amendment - by frog



    For those of you who were having trouble earlier accessing the The Hobbit Bill [Employment Relations (Film Production Work) Amendment Bill] , it is now up here. Update: And here is Keith Locke’s First Reading speech: Transcript to come when available. Update 2: Here’s Russel Norman’s Second Reading speech (sorry, it is in two parts, [...] read more
    October 28, 2010 5:06 pm - 88 Comments
  • Kennedy Graham

    Questioning Nick Smith on climate change - by Kennedy Graham



    Last week I attended a seminar on climate change and the prospects for the Cancun summit in December.  I know that in our post-Copenhagen catatonia we all prefer not to think of climate change, but that will not solve the problem. The seminar was comprised mainly of government officials, academics and think tank [...] read more
    October 28, 2010 11:06 am - 7 Comments
  • Catherine Delahunty

    Establishing a Disability Commissioner - by Catherine Delahunty



    Before I came to Parliament I thought making change happen was all about passing legislation and getting the numbers in the House. In many ways, that’s true, but sometimes it’s about even stranger twists of politics. Take the example of the member’s bill I placed in the ballot last year to establish a [...] read more
    October 28, 2010 9:00 am - 4 Comments
  • Russel Norman

    Rafting the majestic Mokihinui - by Russel Norman



    Over 100 of us rafted and kayaked down the Mokihinui River on Sunday. The Mok is a fantastic wild West Coast river, a river full of life which makes its way through some of the last of our great lowland forest. Meridian Energy wants to dam and destroy the Mokihinui and drown the [...] read more
    October 27, 2010 3:59 pm - 9 Comments
  • David Clendon

    Wasted opportunities - by David Clendon



    A few sharp-eyed people may have noticed that E-Day is coming around again this year, on November 6th.  The event has certainly come in under the radar, having been announced scarcely four weeks out from the event date, whereas in past years there has been quite a long lead in time that has [...] read more
    October 27, 2010 10:54 am - 7 Comments
  • frog

    Latest podcast – this time with transcript - by frog



    Here’s our latest podcast from Parliament, this time about the cross-party friendships Green MPs have struck up across the chamber. Parliament is a strange place, and often the only images we get are of MPs shouting at each other across the chamber during Question Time. But when the gloves are off, how do [...] read more
    October 26, 2010 3:45 pm - 4 Comments
  • frog

    Inspired moves - by frog



    Need some inspiration first day back at work? Check out what’s possible when you use your imagination to get around an urban landscape… read more
    October 26, 2010 1:25 pm - 2 Comments
  • frog

    General debate, October 26, 2010 - by frog



    read more
    October 26, 2010 10:08 am - 76 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    Bottom trawling for excuses: how low can they go? - by Gareth Hughes



    Yesterday’s paper brought back a flood of memories when I was rather surprised to see a photograph of myself in the NZ Herald. This photo from 2005 was in the paper because Peter Bodeker, chief executive of the Seafood Industry Council, had written an industry opinion piece defending the most destructive fishing practise [...] read more
    October 26, 2010 8:40 am - 11 Comments
  • frog

    Gerry Brownlee: The “employers’ representative” - by frog



    If an employer’s representative made a statement like this one from Gerry Brownlee, it would be in serious breach of prohibition of duress under the Employment Relations Act. But Gerry thinks he can say it anyway. Unless he’s actually acting as the “employer’s representative”, which maybe he is. Perhaps we need an Official Information Act request abut his communications to and from Warner Bros and associated corporate interests to determine that. read more
    October 23, 2010 7:04 am - 63 Comments
  • Kevin Hague

    Nick Smith needs to open his ears to the deaf - by Kevin Hague



    As an MP I receive many lobbying letters.  Today one arrived that really caught my attention.  It was from the National Foundation for the Deaf, and it was about the cutbacks to ACC cover and entitlements for work-related hearing loss. Attached to the letter was a very detailed 82 page position paper.  The [...] read more
    October 22, 2010 4:45 pm - 2 Comments
  • Kennedy Graham

    Time for a pecuniary interest register for judiciary - by Kennedy Graham



    The announced resignation of Justice Wilson has highlighted the need for a register of the financial interests of the judiciary. Such a register would stop financial conflict of interests or perceived conflicts of interests from occurring in the future. While the case against Justice Wilson has been dropped, the perception of a conflict has [...] read more
    October 22, 2010 3:47 pm - 2 Comments
  • Keith Locke

    Hobbit fallout mustn’t affect workers’ rights - by Keith Locke



    The dispute over the Hobbit shouldn’t be used to attack workers’ rights. Earlier this morning Gerry Brownlee spoke about ‘clarifying’ employment laws. read more
    October 22, 2010 3:43 pm - 186 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    Wellington 2040? How about Wellington now? - by Gareth Hughes



    Good on the Wellington City Council for taking a long view and developing a Wellington 2040 strategy – all too often in politics short term thinking leads to poor decision making. The Council have recently released a summary of public submissions, which make for interesting reading…well green reading. To begin with, the message is [...] read more
    October 21, 2010 4:50 pm - 10 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    Tolley’s miserly early childhood education policy - by Gareth Hughes



    Last night I went to a meeting at my son’s crèche about the changes the Government has made to early childhood funding and what that would mean for parents. They weren’t a group of naturally political people but boy were they annoyed at the Government, and at Anne Tolley in particular, for what [...] read more
    October 21, 2010 3:43 pm - 14 Comments
  • Catherine Delahunty

    Cuts to Pasifika learning resources - by Catherine Delahunty



    The Government has announced a completely bizarre decision to “pause” the popular Tupu and Folauga series of Pasifika language learning resources while the Ministry of Education considers ways of improving the achievements and literacy of Pasifika children. If this is really the goal, why on earth have they destroyed the viability of a [...] read more
    October 21, 2010 3:08 pm - 5 Comments
  • Keith Locke

    Hobbit debate moving into the realms of fantasy - by Keith Locke



    In the spirit of the film itself, the Hobbit debate is moving into the realms of fantasy. Last night around 100 people, organised by the Jackson camp, walked by my parliamentary office calling for an end to the international actors’ boycott of the Hobbit. Today the union claim that protest leader, Sir Richard Taylor, [...] read more
    October 21, 2010 3:00 pm - 51 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    State of the libraries - by Gareth Hughes



    I love libraries. Sure I’m the bookish type – but I think everyone loves them for one reason or another: to meet friends, listen to music, borrow a DVD, browse a magazine, to take a class, attend a public meeting and soon borrow an e-book for your digital reader. Even actor Michael [...] read more
    October 20, 2010 4:06 pm - 4 Comments
  • Kevin Hague

    Message to young queers: It gets better - by Kevin Hague



    Today is the day for “wearing purple to stand up against anti-gay bullying”, created in response to the recent wave of suicides by young gay people in the United States. Not to be confused with “wearing a pink shirt day, to take a stand against bullying”, which was on 28th April, as [...] read more
    October 20, 2010 3:39 pm - 7 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    GE: Will the people’s moratorium hold? - by Gareth Hughes



    I recently sent in my submission on Scion’s proposal to test 4000 genetically engineered (GE) pine trees, currently being reviewed by ERMA.  It’s been a good opportunity to reflect on this historically important issue for the Greens and see if our old arguments still hold water. Personally, GE was one of the first [...] read more
    October 20, 2010 3:28 pm - 2 Comments
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