10 September 2000
MEDIA ADVISORY

Green MPs on rush hour protest for emission testing

The Green Party will be holding demonstrations this Monday (11 September) in Auckland and Christchurch to highlight car emission pollution in New Zealand cities.

The party is calling for emission standards to be applied during warrant of fitness checks.

Green MP Keith Locke, Green Party members and other interested groups will be present with face masks and banners on the corner of Symonds St and Khyber Pass Rd during rush hour (8am to 10am), and Rod Donald MP will lead a cycle procession in Christchurch starting at his office at 8am.

"The Auckland Regional Council's 'dob a smokey vehicle' campaign has drawn a huge response, pinpointing a particular problem with used car imports. It shows we urgently need warrant of fitness testing for car emissions," said Mr Locke.

"We also want to improve public transport, to get more people our of their cars," he said.

Mr Locke said people attending the demonstration will be bringing face masks because in Khyber Pass at rush-hour the air is not safe to breathe.

Rod Donald said he supported a national cycling strategy to make cycling safer and more attractive.

As well as attempting to draw attention to the extreme levels of air pollution in New Zealand cities the Green Party have written to Transport Minister Mark Gosche with a package of measures they would like to see introduced to improve urban air quality. The package is contained in the accompanying press statement from Sue Kedgley.

Rod Donald MP: 025 507 183; Keith Locke MP: 025 528 353; Jonathan Hill (press secretary): 021 440 090

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