A Greener Govt required

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Labour adopting long-standing Green Party policies is a win for Aotearoa. Most policies date back 10-plus years ago, such as warmer Kiwi homes which was campaigned on by Jeanette Fitzsimons in 2009.

Despite this Green win, the need for a wealth tax is strong in the East Coast.

The good news is the Early Childhood Education subsidy promised back in 2014 is being introduced next year. This means whānau on the East Coast don’t have to struggle to pay their bills or worry about their babies accessing education and care. This now raises the question of teachers wanting to work in ECE — what’s to stop them from jumping the ditch for better work conditions and higher pay?

The Community Connect programme is a great initiative that directly speaks to climate action and inequality. This ensures people have access to free and/or cheaper public transport. However, the initiative falls short without the necessary infrastructure in the East Coast.

It’s understandable to think that Labour is complacent about winning East Coast votes with the Cyclone Relief funding and special attention to forestry. This year’s Budget does little to reverse inequality, ignores the recommendations of the Climate Change Commission and fails to challenge the tax system.

Surveys show that 53.1 percent of people want to see the Government introduce a wealth tax. The Budget lacks the political willpower to action a wealth tax. The Green Party would tax the mega-rich fairly and require big corporations making excessive profits to pay an excess-profits tax. This money will provide support for everyone’s need to put food on the table, have a safe place to call home and live a good life.

The Government is unwilling to tackle the big problems such as economic reform, health system reform, reducing consumption and pollution. There is a need to increase localisation and resilience, make farming more regenerative and ensure New Zealanders have what they need to live a good life.

The Green Party knows the solutions and having more Green MPs in Government ensures a fairer tax system and fair society.

Jordan Walker

East Coast Green Party candidate