Standing Orders Review 2011 - Debate - Dr Kennedy Graham

General Debate - The Future of Christchurch

In May I addressed the crisis we are facing in Christchurch following the February earthquake. I said then that knowing the challenges ahead of us in what was the new normal, we needed to engender a sense of hope in the community. Since then I have convened a series of public forums in Christchurch, marrying local expertise and civic engagement to develop a vision of a future 21st century eco-city.

In August I released my report, The Future of Christchurch, with copies going to Minister Brownlee and the parliamentary forum, Environment Canterbury, the city council, and the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority. I thanked the Government for its commendation of the report when I tabled it in Parliament recently.

My report contains 26 recommendations identifying four overarching goals. They are resilience, sustainability, harmony, and beauty. This parallels the council's own plan, which conveys a green message from the people of Christchurch about the kind of city they want. But my report goes further and wider, because a necessary condition of a sustainable, harmonious, and beautiful city is its resilience, and resilience requires us to think ahead.

Vote Energy - Estimates Debate in Committee - Dr Kennedy Graham

The energy estimates in front of us reflect, I believe, a particular mindset on the part of this Government. The highest stated priority of the Government is to build a stronger economy, which will provide jobs, higher incomes, and improved living standards.

The Lignite Mirror Maze

Enter here at your own risk, into the world of Solid Energy, the NZ Cabinet and the Parliament from which it is derived. Lignite is what unites us, except that it divides us.

Once inside you are in a hall of mirrors where, under the tutelage of Lewis Carroll, nothing is as it seems.

Yesterday I thought I was asking questions, not of the Minister of Energy but of the Acting Minister. The real minister is preoccupied, understandably, with seismic duty to the south. Being an inhabitant of that region, I understand.

Budget Debate 2011: Dr Kennedy Graham: A Green Vision of an (Sustainable) Economy

This year's Budget is essentially more of the same: a traditional neoclassical Budget in a time of national austerity. Let me critique it from a Green perspective, and offer an alternative, ecological Budget in a time of global crisis.

The 49th Parliament has passed 224 Acts in 30 months. These Acts reflect the Government's world view to make New Zealand a better place as it sees it. What stands apart in importance for every Government and every Parliament is the annual Budget, which sets the course for a country's macroeconomic policy.

Effect of Proposed Lignite Mining Projects on Green House Gas Emissions - Dr Kennedy Graham

Dr KENNEDY GRAHAM to the Minister of Energy and Resources: By how many tonnes would Solid Energy's proposed lignite projects in Southland increase New Zealand's gross greenhouse gas emissions in 2020?

Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Minister of Energy and Resources) : I understand that this morning Solid Energy informed the Commerce Committee that depending on the scale of technology used, gross emissions could be 10 million to 20 million tonnes per annum. I also understand that Solid Energy has said on many occasions that taking full responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions is a key consideration in its lignite developments and it expects its lignite-based plants to achieve full carbon compliance.

Earthquake 9.3.11 - Question 5: Dr Kennedy Graham to the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

Earthquake funding Question 8: Dr Kennedy Graham to the Minister of Finance

Signs of Change - Keynote - Kennedy Graham - Part 2

Signs of Change - Keynote - Kennedy Graham - Part 1

E-Can Speech

Mr Speaker,
The Green Party strongly opposes this Bill – the Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Bill.

This Bill may come to mark an historic occasion – which may live on in infamy in the annals of this Parliament.

Last week in General Debate I advanced a critique of the Creech Report and its recommendations. I do not wish to repeat myself here. Suffice to say that the report was politically-driven and not politically-informed, and failed basic standards of organisational and managerial professionalism.

General Debate - Canterbury Earthquake Recovery - Dr Kennedy Graham

I rise to address the situation in Christchurch and the plight of the people of my city as we head into winter.

Two and a half months after the devastation that rocked and racked New Zealand's second-largest city, Christchurch remains in a strange psychological state, essentially one of suspended animation. We have survived, most of us, the immediate crisis of the death and destruction, the liquefaction, and the deprivation of power, water, and sewerage. We have mourned our dead, apologised to other nations, straightened our backs, shut down the inner city, restored basic services, shared education facilities, and established a new Government agency for the rebuild, with extraordinary powers given to the Minister. Now is the time to plan for the rebuild.

3rd Reading- Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Bill - Dr Kennedy Graham

Quake: CERA Bill - 3rd Reading - Ken Graham Speech


This is a rather historic moment. Apart from in wartime New Zealand I think we are passing into law arguably the most Draconian legislation ever passed by a New Zealand Parliament. I do not wish to be melodramatic, but we have experienced a dramatic event, and the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Bill is a dramatic bill. It has generated much heat, yet only occasionally some light—but enough light—to shine a faint torch on what we are doing here today. This bill is a dusty mirror to who we are as a society. It raises issues of an underlying nature, I think, about our national identity, our national style, and our beliefs, and I shall say more about that later. In the meantime let me make three points.

Come and have your say about the rebuild of our city.

I am hosting a Public Forum on Wednesday 20th April at 7pm.

This meeting focuses principally on the rebuild of the inner city, and is the first of three meetings.

I have enlisted various recognized experts to assist including Di Lucas (ILFA), Suzanne Valance (LU), Jasper van der Lingen (NZIA), Prof Andy Buchanan (UC), Chris Kissling (LU) and Andrew Dakers (EcoEng).

Within the forum, we will address issues of land, urban design, architecture, water and transport.

Please join me and have your say on the future of our city.

When: Wednesday 20th April, 7pm
Where: Christchurch Netball Centre, South Hagley Park

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Bill - Dr Kennedy Graham - 1st Reading

Of course none of us wanted this. We did not want the event of 22 February. We did not want the devastation. We did not want and never expected to have legislation of this kind before our House.

I speak with some emotion, having lived in the city through the past 7 months. I have experienced the sheer drama of death and destruction around us. I have organised volunteer groups into the suburbs to shovel and doorknock, and initiated fundraising for food delivery to those in need. I have attended the heart-wrenching memorial services for the dead. I have entered my office to retrieve equipment still cordoned inside a drop zone. I have visited civil defence headquarters on an almost daily basis. Just last week I toured the devastated red zone—a visually searing experience that simply breaks one's heart. Yet the emotion all of us in Christchurch feel over this event must be separated from our perception of the legislation before us and our responsibility to be true to the basic principles of democratic society as we know it in this country. Not only is the Christchurch disaster unprecedented but so is this legislation.

17.2.11 - Question 9: Dr Kennedy Graham to the Minister of Energy and Resources

Climate Change, Lignite & 'Growth' - Debate on the PM's Statement - Dr Kennedy Graham

I acknowledge Mr Quinn's hardness of heart and meanness of spirit. I acknowledge Simon Bridges' comment that Metiria Turei's speech was a good speech. We know who has a political future. The Prime Minister's statement is simply a reiteration of Government policy enunciated first in the Speech from the Throne 2 years ago and recycled every February and May.

Signs of Change - Interview with MP Kennedy Graham

Adjournment Debate 2010: Dr Kennedy Graham

2010 has come and gone, at least in a parliamentary sense. I convey the Green Party's thanks to you, Mr Speaker, for your patience, fortitude, and skill in handling this august, if rather unruly, institution.

I thank all staff who labour here to keep us functioning but get no public recognition. Their courtesy and devotion to their jobs is unfailing, and we thank them for making ours not only possible but more pleasant through their good nature.

Canterbury earthquake law: Home by Christmas?

The controversial Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Act can be repealed early, said the Green Party today.

The Act, heavily criticised by the Green Party during the urgent debate in Parliament, accorded sweeping powers to the Government to amend or suspend almost any piece of legislation in New Zealand through Order-in-Council (OIC).

Yesterday in the House, Earthquake Minister Gerry Brownlee said that he expected that all further OICs would be dealt with before the year's end in a response to a question from Green Party Canterbury spokesperson Kennedy Graham.