Why are the Greens criticising the Government’s fossil fuel relief package?

The Greens argue the package does not match the scale of the fuel crisis and leaves many New Zealanders without meaningful support.

What alternatives have the Greens proposed?

The Greens propose free public transport, direct financial relief for lower-income earners, increased mileage support for care workers, more school buses, and a windfall profits tax.

Who do the Greens say is missing out on support?

The Greens say beneficiaries, retirees, unpaid carers, and many low-income households are excluded from the Government’s relief package.

Government’s fossil fuel relief fails Kiwis

The Green Party says the Government’s fossil fuel relief package fails to meet the scale of the crisis, leaving many New Zealanders without meaningful support as fuel prices and living costs surge.

The Green Party says the Government’s fossil fuel relief package leaves too many New Zealanders behind.

Greens say fuel relief ignores scale of crisis

“The Luxon Government has turned its back on hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders, asking them to foot the bill for Trump’s war on Iran,” said Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson.

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Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick says “the Government’s narrow tweaks to tax credits leave behind the tens of thousands of people their economic plan has pushed out of work, only to then punish with new obligations and sanctions.

No plan to reduce fuel demand or support households

“So much for planning for the ‘worst case scenario.’ There is no plan to support people onto public transport and reduce fuel demand, no plan to prevent corporations from price gouging while families cut back on groceries.

“Perhaps worse, Luxon has doubled down on his commitment to burn billions of taxpayer dollars on infrastructure that fosters greater fossil fuel dependency and vulnerability, like the LNG import facility and Roads of National Significance.

Greens propose alternative to fossil fuel dependency

“The Greens proposed a sensible plan for free public transport, direct relief for everyone earning under the median income, increased mileage for care workers, more school bus services and a windfall profits tax.”

“Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis have made the decision to allow the same people they’ve made poorer through their economic decisions to carry the disproportionate cost of this fossil fuel crisis.”

Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson said the Government’s package fails to help those hardest hit by the fuel crisis.

“The Government showed today it is not prepared to match the scale of what people are facing and the crisis New Zealanders are dealing with.”

“This package does nothing for beneficiaries and their children, retirees, or unpaid carers, who are all left out entirely.”

Most vulnerable left without support

“Caregiving is work. Raising children is work. Looking after a parent or a loved one is work. These people are facing rising costs making it more difficult to care for their loved ones. This package does not count any of it.”

“This is a crisis and the Government’s response will do nothing for most New Zealanders. The situation demands far more than what was announced today,” said Davidson.

If this is the Government’s idea of crisis management, it raises a far bigger question — whether they are willing to confront the structural cost of living pressures at all, or simply shift the burden onto those already struggling.