As the election approaches, we need to focus on what is important.
This election is about crucial choices.
The Green Party is asking you for your Party vote to choose cleaner rivers, a fairer society and a smarter economy.
We love New Zealand and we want to work with the Indian community to build a better future.
The current direction of our government is causing problems. Most of our rivers are too polluted to swim safely. We must respect nature and our natural environment, not destroy it. New Zealand has a clean, green reputation that is the envy of the world, and we must build on this important national asset.
The Green Party will ensure that our rivers and beaches are safe for swimming, and we will step up to our responsibilities to tackle climate change, which threatens our planet and vulnerable communities across the world.
Widening gap
The gap between rich and poor has risen in New Zealand, and we are becoming a divided society. This is not the New Zealand way. We have always been a society that wants everyone to have a ‘fair go’, a decent house to live in, nutritious food, enough money for clothing and the necessities of life, and a job.
In a society like ours, it should be unacceptable that one in four children grows up in poverty. As we know from research, high inequality means a worse society for everyone, with worse health, education, crime and violence and lower incomes.
Ending child poverty
The Green Party aims to end child poverty. We will ensure that all children are able to thrive. This is the best way to break the cycle of poverty.
The Greens have proposed a $1 billion plan to get targeted assistance to the poorest families, start the Early Childhood Education subsidy for children when they are two years of age, and create school hubs to support vulnerable children in low decile schools.
These will ensure that no child is left behind. The plan will be fully funded through a top tax rate of 40% on all income over $140,000. This income from around 3% of the population will be dedicated to reducing child poverty.
Rent to Buy
The Green Party will reduce house prices by building more affordable houses, introducing a Capital Gains Tax and restricting house ownership to New Zealand residents. We will help people into home ownership through a ‘Rent to Buy’ scheme, meaning that home ownership becomes a realistic possibility for many people, young and old. We will help people in rental housing through introducing a ‘Warrant of Fitness’ for all rental houses to ensure that they are warm, dry and safe.
Tenants will have the right of renewal for their lease and there will be limits on how much landlords can raise rents.
The Green Party has set a future direction for minimum wages to provide certainty.
Lifting wages
The minimum wage will increase by $1 per year from $15 next year to $18 in 2017.
Together with other policies, such as reducing the costs of electricity, the Greens will build a fairer society and provide opportunities for all children to have a good start in life.
The New Zealand economy is built on weak foundations. It is too dependent on exporting raw materials overseas, such as milk powder and logs. When commodity prices go down, as dairy prices have recently, our economy suffers.
Closing the trap
This ‘commodity trap’ is usually a problem of the poorer developing economies, but New Zealand has never made the transition to becoming a richer ‘knowledge economy.’
Until we do so, we will continue to slide down the ranks of the OECD countries.
The Green Party will re-introduce a tax credit for research and development, and support innovation. We will build a stronger productive economy, including supporting the rapidly growing clean technology sectors through a Green Investment Fund.
Smarter society
Through these policies, the Green Party will deliver a cleaner, fairer and smarter society. We will be principled and strong, with strong and stable leadership that is able to clean up dirty politics and prevent corruption that is creeping into the political system.
The Greens are committed to an inclusive society for all people, from all countries.
The Indian community makes a huge contribution to New Zealand and we look forward to working closely with you. With your help, we will be a strong partner in the next government. Love New Zealand.
Please help us to build a better society for the future.
Please give the Green Party your party vote at the election.
Barry Coates is the Green Party candidate for Mt Roskill. He is the former Executive Director of Oxfam New Zealand. He trained as an economist and has a Master’s degree from the Yale University. He is number 16 on the Green Party List and hopes to make it to Parliament through Party Votes.
