Weekly Catchup w /The Green Party’s Ricardo Menendez-March: 26 February, 2025

Protesters have begun occupying Lake Rotokākahi, a tapu lake in Rotorua, over a decision by the Rotorua lakes council to construct a sewerage pipeline, with the last 1.3km of the pipeline being laid near the lake. The protestors, largely descended from Tūhourangi and Tūmatawera hapū, believe the works will desecrate the lake site and pollute it and seven arrests have been made so far.

The week before, Stats NZ published their annual child poverty statistics report, which showed that the number of children living in material hardships increased by 0.9% from last year and that the government missed all three of its targets for reducing child poverty.

And in that same week, Green Party Co-Leader Marama Davidson’s Consumer Guarantees Right to Repair Amendment Bill passed its first reading in Parliament, which would require manufacturers to provide repair parts and resources to allow consumers to extend the life cycle of the products they use.

Oto spoke to the Green Party’s Ricardo Menendez-March for the green party’s take on all of these issues.