A Green New Deal for New Zealand

would like to receive a copy by email please contact us at [email protected]. in Parliament. It is not junk mail, so it has been delivered to all letterboxes. If future you has been delivered to keep you informed about the work Green Party is doing Green Times green greentimes News from the Green team in Parliament Autumn 2009 GreenTimes is printed on stock which is 55% recycled, 45% from FSC-certified 45% from forests which is 55% recycled, sustainable GreenTimes is printed on stock times A Green New Deal for New Zealand: A Warm Home and a Cool Planet Green New Deal takes on three of New As an example, John Key’s Government has put A Zealand’s biggest problems at once. It tackles nearly $1 billion dollars towards roads. But if we the economic crisis, the environmental crisis and spend money improving and increasing rail and the climate crisis at the same time. bus services instead, we get a bigger economic boost and more jobs. We will also get less gridlock – When you insulate old homes, for especially in places like Auckland example, it helps make people warmer – and less vehicle pollution, as and our planet cooler - and that’s good well as a faster, cheaper way to for the environment. Simultaneously, get to work. it creates jobs here in New Zealand Many other countries have and that’s good for our economy. adopted Green New Deal When you get both economic and packages. They recognise that environmental benefit, it’s a Green the world needs a recovery plan New Deal initiative and when you for the climate and the economy. have a series of programmes that give US President Barack Obama, you a ‘double-dividend’, then you’ve for example, has promised to got a Green New Deal. So it’s a way spend US$94 billion to develop to think about how we make public A Green New Deal green programmes. That’s investments and how we choose to about US$310 for every citizen. spend taxpayers’ money. tackles the economic Here, our Government’s green The United stimulus spending is a fraction It’s also a fair deal. It puts people Nations and climate crises of that. and the environment at the heart of at the same time Secretary-General decision-making as we re-engineer our The Government’s one-problem- has called on economy to deliver fairness and equity at-a-time approach means that for all Kiwis. It’s not the whole answer for New we put off until tomorrow what we should do world leaders to Zealand – but getting on the path to a sustainable today, and that delay will cost Kiwis a lot more launch a economy is a critical step. money. The experts tell us we can spend a dollar “Green New Deal” today to fight climate change or five dollars Unfortunately, our Government does not have a that creates jobs plan for a Green New Deal. It says “one crisis at a tomorrow to do the same job, but with more risk time might just do” and, in fact, the Green Party- that it’s too little too late. and fights climate initiated home insulation programme is about the So we face some important decisions in New change. only ‘two-for-one’ programme it is thinking about Zealand. Learn more about the current plans and right now. the alternatives at www.greennewdeal.org.nz. So Kiwis might not get the most bang for their And tell the Government about your priorities by - www.un.org, buck from the millions of taxpayers’ dollars the talking with Members of Parliament. Tell 29 Jan 2009 National-led Government plans to spend to us, the Green MPs, how you think a Green stimulate the economy. New Deal can work best for Kiwis. Inside: l warm, healthy homes l great public transport l clean water l new MPs l green-collar jobs l a fair deal l talk to us u Deal that is fair for all New Zealanders. For example, Catherine challenged the Finance Minister on the lack of New Green MPs do the women’s organisations invited to the Job Summit. And she’s campaigned for more money to go to teachers and school staff, Green New Deal as well as building new schools. Kennedy Graham has put some serious intellectual backbone he Green Party’s newest MPs are hard at work on the into the Green New Deal campaign. The former diplomat TGreen New Deal. and academic has studied the global economic and historical Kevin Hague, the Green Party’s Commerce Spokesperson, context of the current crises. recently spoke in Parliament in favour of the proposed In the House, Kennedy has challenged the Government national cycle network, because: “It will bring in sustainable to make sure New Zealand does its fair share as part of tourism dollars, will assist in reducing greenhouse-gas international climate change negotiations: “We have a choice emissions by encouraging people in some major urban centres here in New Zealand,” he says. “We can benefit by taking to ride bikes instead of using cars, and will produce health rapid action or we can delay and our economy will suffer in gains. It will also create jobs.” the long term. We’re asking the Government to make Kevin has also criticised the Government’s failure to promote the right choice.” some good, Green New Deal ideas. The Small Business Advisory Group, for example, wants practical advice for small and medium businesses on how to improve environmental performance and the financial bottom line. Kevin thinks it would be a real chance to support Kiwi business, and build a stronger and more sustainable economy. Catherine Delahunty sees an opportunity for Green New Deal jobs in forestry and toxic clean-ups: “We are promoting investment in tree planting and the clean-up of toxic sites,” she says. “Both are good for the economy as well as for people and the environment.” Catherine is passionately committed to a Green New Kevin Hague MP, Catherine Delahunty MP, Dr Kennedy Graham MP Initially, Craig worked on wind turbines for Vesta in the North Island before moving back to Christchurch with his wife and Wind power spins off three young children. Craig’s work now involves ensuring wiring is in place to control the blades of the community- benefits for ex-soldier scale wind turbines assembled at Windflow Technology. It is essential the blades turn at the correct speed, he says, to he answer to New Zealand’s energy needs is blowing in maximise the wind’s potential for energy. Tthe wind, according to Craig Bennett of Christchurch’s The company Craig works for employs 50 workers in its Windflow Technology. Craig puts Christchurch base and even together the wiring and electrical exports its wares overseas…well, parts that power wind turbines sort of. and provide New Zealand with clean green energy. Craig gets a sustainable “I’m doing a small part to help the greater environment. Wind is a job - we get a clean form of power production,” sustainable planet says Craig. “Technically our turbines go Craig’s career path to becoming overseas - we have an order for part of the new green economy 97 turbines for the Te Rere Hau includes an eight year stint with windfarm, just out of Palmerston the New Zealand Army where he North. We are currently fulfilling made certain our Armed Forces that contract.” were in a state of readiness, For Craig it is important that his working in a storeroom ordering mechanical parts. job is sustainable and that the industry he works in is good for Later, Craig worked at New Zealand Post as an electrician, the planet as it helps provide Kiwis with electricity. but when faced with restructuring, Craig opted to look to the “I’m hoping that with more wind turbines the power future - he recognised that sustainable energy production was industry will end up achieving a smaller carbon a growth industry. footprint for New Zealand,” says Craig. u How Did You Figure that Out? To learn more about the Green New Deal facts and figures included here, go to www.greennewdeal.org.nz. We’ll show you where and how we got our figures and why we make the claims we make. u A lot of politicians talk - we want to listen. Sustainable transport What do you think about a Green New Deal for vs congestion? New Zealand? Give us your comments and ideas at www.greennewdeal.org.nz. Warm dry homes, healthy Kiwis and new jobs e have to make choices about transport in New ast year, the Greens persuaded Labour to fund a major Zealand. One choice is sustainable transport home insulation programme for New Zealand. MP Jeanette W L – trains and buses together with bikeways and walkways. Fitzsimons says: “This year we are working with the National The other option is to build more roads. Government on a similar programme. It is a common-sense way for Government to create jobs and make us more energy efficient. Investment in sustainable transport is Green New Deal The energy savings mean lower electricity bills, plus we don’t investment, says Green MP Jeanette Fitzsimons: “It have to build new power stations which cost billions. It’s a good creates more jobs than road building and it makes us deal all round.” more energy-efficient too.” So it is no surprise the Green Party has been a big We will also be healthier, Jeanette says: “Kiwi homes are supporter of an electric rail network for Auckland.

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