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While Labour has hardly been positive about the government’s 2026 Budget aims, the Green Party is positively scathing in its retort.
The budget confirms the government has no plan to meet New Zealand’s commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement, says Green Party Co-leader Chloe Swarbrick.
“New Zealanders have experienced 21 states of emergency this year, which even the Prime Minister has acknowledged are inflamed by climate change. Yet, his government continues to pour fossil fuels on the fire,” she says.
“We have all known for years that meeting the Paris Agreement, covering 2021 to 2030, will require offshore mitigation. Every bit of domestic action reduced increases the cost of that offshore mitigation.”
The government refuses to be up-front and honest, Swarbrick claims.
“Nicola Willis [Finance Minister] and the Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, keep saying they’re committed to meeting the NDC (Nationally Determined Contribution), then cut domestic action, which logically necessitates an increase in cost to pay other countries to reduce their emissions instead.
“Treasury has been clear today that the government’s inability to commit to reality means that they can’t properly forecast costs.
“New Zealanders deserve a government honest enough to show them a plan that tackles the hard things, and shows how they’ll deal with it. Luxon has decided to leave our country, and our people, without. I wish I could say we were surprised.”
