after a long cycle up from Auckland to Whangarei, Greens co-leader imnofox stopped outside a Whangarei factory to discuss wages and workers rights

"Kia ora tatou, boy, that was a tough ride! Luckily, with the investments in cycling infrastructure and road safety under the Greens, it was still easier and safer than every before."

"But that's not what I'm here to talk about. No, I want to discuss wages and employment."

"The Northland region has some of the highest homelessness in the country. It's certainly getting better, but it's not yet sitting on the decreasing national average. And that's shitty. It's sad."

"Part of that is simply living costs are much higher than the wages of so many New Zealanders. Why? Why can big companies, like this factory behind us, just get away with not paying workers enough to pay for the basics?"

"This is why it was so necessary for the Green Party to increase all core benefits by 20%, because the number of people relying on benefits grew, but the benefits still weren't enough. Especially when including the now scrapped policy of cutting entitlements when you earn a little bit of money."

"The Greens are committed to raising the minimum wage to an indexed living wage, ensuring no employee goes a full working week without earning enough for the basics of life."

"Companies paying workers less than they can survive on is simply asking the taxpayer of New Zealand, the everyday Joe, the everyday Wiremu, to literally top up the wages of their employees by forcing them to rely on state assistance."

"If you employee someone, you are committing to paying them enough to live."

"This is a move that should have been made long ago, but unfortunately successive Labour, National, and ACT have all stifled such necessary increases whilst in government over decades."

"Greens represent that necessary shift to a more passionate and people-focused economy, and we are proud of that new deal."

"Help us to help you, by voting both for the Green Party and for your local candidate in Northland, Zhukov236. Together, we can make Northland a wealthier and happier place."

"Kia ora."