GREEN – Marama Davidson and James Shaw

The Green Party has a plan to move beyond the world as it is, and create a world as it can and must be. A plan to solve long-term problems and set us all up for the future.

The rules of our economy right now hurt people and the planet.

Homes are expensive; income support is too low to free people from the constraints of poverty; unique native species are edging closer to extinction; and climate pollution is not yet declining at the pace needed.

These challenges haven’t come out of nowhere, but rather are the result of a series of decisions made by successive Governments.

Inflation rules the headlines at the moment. The question, then, is what to do about it — while also setting us up for the future.

Our plan brings together bold action on climate change, action to restore our native wildlife; and income support that ensures everyone in and out of work can make ends meet.

The first step is to lift people out of poverty and unlock what everyone needs to live a good life.

A

guaranteed minimum income

would provide a simple safety net that would ensure everyone in and out of work will always have enough to survive and provide for their families.

And by redesigning the tax system we can raise the revenue to pay for it. The simplest way to do this is through a capital gains tax or a wealth tax targeted at the wealthiest few.

This would redistribute wealth from those with the most, so we can support those with the least.

An excess profit tax would be another simple and effective way to address the impact rising profits are having on inflation, raising money that could be used to provide immediate relief.

There also needs to be a fundamental rethink of housing so everyone has a healthy, safe, and affordable place to call home, no matter whether they rent or own.

That is why our plan would include a massive increase in the construction of accessible public housing.

A

rent freeze, landlord register, and rental warrant of fitness

would also protect the half million renters who are most likely to be living in unfit, mouldy and overpriced houses.

We would do all of this hand-inhand with action to address the climate crisis.

The Greens in Government have led the work on a blueprint to cut climate pollution right across Aotearoa.

But the pace of change is still too slow.

We need more clean energy; more public transport and safe

options to walk and cycle;

thriving natural taonga; and the creation of thousands of new jobs.

How we go about capturing these gains in our communities — and who stands to benefit most — is a question that we all need to be asking ourselves.

Our climate plan will cut emissions in a way that makes life better for everyone, protects nature, and improves our communities.

The Greens are the only party that will address the immediate challenges we face while building the better, cleaner and more equal future our children deserve.

A future where all of our energy needs are met by clean power; where the land has healed and wildlife thrives; and where everyone has a liveable income and an affordable home to make their own.