New exhaust rules will clear the air
The Green Party is delighted to have worked with the Government in developing a plan for New Zealand's first ever
controls on vehicle emissions.
The Government announced today that New Zealand is finally to get minimum emission performance standards, with mandatory
testing of exhaust emissions to form part of the warrant-of-fitness check. Used and new imports will have to meet
appropriate standards before they are registered.
"Motor vehicles produce more air pollution than any other human activity in New Zealand," Green Party Transport
Spokesperson, Jeanette Fitzsimons said today. "They are also contribute significantly to the level of greenhouse gas
emissions.
"New Zealand is the only OECD country that does not have compulsory vehicle emissions testing, despite possessing an
ageing and dirty vehicle fleet, the emissions from which contribute to hundreds of deaths and thousands of serious
health problems every year.
"I get dozens of letters every year from people who can't understand how a civilised country still has no emissions
controls," said Ms Fitzsimons. "It is great that this is to change.
"Tuning vehicles properly to make them run cleaner gives us a triple whammy - less air pollution, less climate changing
greenhouse gas, and savings for the motorist. A well-tuned car uses less fuel to go the same distance - some cars are so
badly tuned they are using 30 per cent more fuel than they need to."
The Green Party has been campaigning for mandatory vehicle emissions testing for years, and has been working closely
with government on this issue.
Jeanette will be at the launch of the Government's emissions policy in Auckland at midday today at the Waitakere City
Testing Station in Henderson.