Pre-Announced Green Party Budget Initiatives

The Green Party and the Government have made a number of pre-Budget announcements on Green initiatives. The complete list of Green initiatives which were announced prior to Budget day are:

- $10 million over four years for a permanent conservation awareness programme - (continuation of last year’s project);

- $100,000 to establish a set of national minimum standards for organic food production - (new project);

- $150,000 for a small growers organic development programme - (continuation of last year’s project);

- $362,000 to survey two pest freshwater fish species to determine the feasibility of eradication - (new project);

- $500,000 over two years for environmental awareness in schools - (securing roll-over funding for last year’s Green initiative);

- $150,000 this year for organic gardens in urban schools - (new project);

- $100,000 this year for community internship programme - (new project);

- $200,000 over two years for a sewerage options handbook and on-line resource to help local authorities and communities assess the best treatment option for their locality - (new project);

- $50,000 this year for funding to enable environment and conservation groups to participate in the development of the Ministry of Fisheries Environmental Management Strategy - (new project);

- A feasibility study to look at establishing a peacekeeping school in New Zealand - to be funded out of current Defence baseline expenditure, cost not quantified - (new project).

Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said the Party was very proud of these initiatives which, combined, showed a clear Green vision for New Zealand.

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