Tag: Pacific Island Issues

Green MP Keith Locke today congratulated the Tongan Democratic Party for its election victory yesterday.  Mr Locke has been actively supporting the Tongan democracy movement for twenty years. He recently visited Tonga in August as part of a team of New Zealand MPs.

Anti-immigration feeling has no place in the Green party Immigration and Population policies released today, Green MP Keith Locke says. “Our policy is the opposite of Winston Peters’,” the Party’s Immigration Spokesperson Keith Locke says.

Green Party MP Keith Locke has welcomed improvements in the Immigration Bill, reported back to Parliament today, but says it is still oppressive. Mr Locke sat on the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee for hearings on the Bill. The report includes his minority comments on behalf of the Green Party.

 

The Green Party has welcomed the increase of New Zealand's overseas aid beyond what was projected in last year's Budget.

New Zealand should be pressing for the release of the leading Tongan pro-democracy MP Akilisi Pohiva, Green Party Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Keith Locke says.

The Green Party believes the New Zealand Government should deny visas to the Fijian sevens rugby team, just as it did to the Zimbabwe cricket team that was due to visit here last year.

The New Zealand Government should take note of concerns that the presence of New Zealand troops in Tonga could be seen to strengthen the hand of the monarchy, Green MP Keith Locke warns.

The Government should put the issue of West Papua on the agenda of the Pacific Island Forum being held in Tonga in October, Green Party Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Keith Locke says.