A ‘do as we say not as we do’ Government
The paltry 135 electric vehicles that have been added to the Government fleet since the Labour coalition took office
shows it is failing to lead by example, Leader of the Opposition Simon Bridges says.
“Information released to National shows only 135 electric vehicles have been registered for the first time to any
government agency since the present Government took office. In real terms, the Government itself has done nothing on
electric vehicles since the election, except propose more taxes.
“There’s about 15,500 vehicles in the Government’s fleet. Prior to the last election, National committed to a hard
target of making one third of them electric or hybrid vehicles by 2021, alongside our much bolder ambition of having
64,000 EVs in the country by then.
“National believes electric vehicles are the future. Since our Electric Vehicles Programme launched in May 2016 the
number of EVs on our roads has increased from 1406 to 14,867.
“Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter has been quick to tell New Zealanders they
need to go out and buy an electric vehicle to avoid paying the Government’s car tax. But she clearly isn’t putting the
screws on public servants.
“The Government is sending a clear message to New Zealanders, do as we say, but not as we do.
“Rather than taxing ordinary New Zealanders into compliance, Julie Anne Genter and Transport Minister Phil Twyford
should be getting tougher with government agency chief executives, pushing them to adopt EVs at a faster pace.
“National supports incentivising people to buy electric vehicles if their lifestyle can accommodate them rather than
dictating what cars people can and cannot drive, and slapping them with new taxes.
“Instead, as it has in so many other areas, all the Government wants to do is pile on taxes of up to $6000 a car. New
Zealanders can’t afford this Government.”