Green Goals with Josh Cole

Happy New Year to you all.

Wow, where do I start with this rampant new government? Never before, in my living memory, have I experienced first hand such a destructive, divisive and dangerous first couple of months of a new government. 

The Greens strongly believe that attempting to rewrite Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the document that allowed my ancestors to migrate to Aotearoa over 150 years ago, and tearing up multiple laws and policies that protected the climate, environment, workers, and teachers, were not only unethical but also unnecessary.

The only reason behind these actions was to provide tax cuts to those who don't even need them.

This is a clear indication of how the priorities are severely misplaced and how the needs and concerns of the people are ignored.

From supporting Israel and the bombing of a foreign land and thereby forfeiting our world-renowned peacekeeping status, to sacrificing people trying to give up cigarettes to be able to afford bigger tax cuts for the people who need it the least… where do I start? Indeed!

Rest assured, that if you are as concerned as I am about this new government, the Green Party is locked and loaded and bigger and more determined than ever before after its biggest election result ever.

With a larger share of the vote and more MPs than we’ve had before, the Green Party will lead the ongoing fight to eliminate poverty, honour Te Tiriti, protect nature, and build a climate-resilient future for our mokopuna. 

Central to this will be the biggest Māori and Pasifika caucus we have ever had. Half of our Caucus is now Maori and Pasifika, which is a huge step forward for us.

We are also proud to be joined by the first Member of Parliament in Aotearoa who is Vietnamese.

The Green Party will fight every step of the way to make sure the government upholds the Crown’s promise to guarantee tino rangatiratanga of tangata whenua over their whenua, kainga and taonga katoa, and supports Pacific people, communities, and cultures to thrive.

The Greens have once again defied history. We are the only support party in the history of MMP to have grown our vote during a term in Government - and we have done it twice now.

Winning three electorates is another major shift, in the same way that moving from being a party of opposition to a party of government was.

Our campaign inspired hope, rather than fear, and focused on thoroughly thought through, long-term policy, not just soundbites.

We set out clear solutions to the challenges people face and for a climate-friendly future that will make our kids and grandkids proud.

We also ran one of the biggest grassroots campaigns we have ever had. 280,000 door knocks & phone calls, 90,000 meaningful convos with voters across New Zealand, and 7,700 volunteers.

You can rest assured that the Green Party's promise to Aotearoa is unwavering.

Over the next three years, we will stand strong as a voice for climate action, for the protection of our native wildlife, and for ensuring that every New Zealander has enough to live with dignity.

We'd also love any help in any way in this fight. Let's make this government the first one-term government since the 1950s!