Seven out of ten Kiwis want Govt to prepare for peak oil

Research from Colmar Brunton released today finds the Government's draft energy strategy does not deliver the action that the majority of New Zealanders want for securing access to affordable alternatives to petrol and diesel in the future, as cheaper, easy-to-reach oil supplies decline around the world and oil prices rise.

The poll, commissioned by WWF, finds the majority of New Zealanders (72%) think the Government should prepare now for future oil price rises by investing in alternative fuels and in public transport. However, the Government's draft energy strategy proposes taking no action to help New Zealanders and instead it proposes to 'wait and see' what happens once petrol and diesel becomes less affordable.

The Ministry for Economic Development is calling for public submissions on the draft energy strategy, closing at 5pm, Thursday 2 September. WWF-New Zealand has strongly criticised the draft strategy and is encouraging people to make submissions.

"The research shows the Government's draft energy strategy simply does not deliver what New Zealanders want," said WWF Climate Change Campaigner, Peter Hardstaff. "Seven out of ten people believe it's the Government's task to plan ahead, and invest now in public transport and alternative fuels before the price of oil rises."

He continued: "The Government acknowledges oil prices will increase in future, yet the strategy offers no protection against this. Its plan is to have no plan and hope for the best. As the research shows, the majority of New Zealanders don't believe that is good enough.

"The right decisions now are important so we can continue to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and keep the cost of electricity and fuel manageable for New Zealanders and for our export earning producers," he stated. "We are advocating for the Government to set out a clear strategy to transition away from New Zealand's current heavy reliance on oil for moving people and goods.

"This is an opportunity for New Zealand to protect our environment and our economy. For example, the strategy could seek to build on New Zealand's significant potential for the development and use of home-grown biofuels and other new clean technologies."

As part of Colmar Brunton's omnibus poll in August, New Zealanders were informed that the Government expects oil prices to rise steadily in the future as cheaper, easy-to-reach oil supplies decline around the world, and that increased oil production in New Zealand will have no impact on this trend because the price is fixed to international oil prices. They were asked if they thought the government should:

1) Invest now in developing public transport and alternatives to petrol and diesel for New Zealand

2) Or allow consumers and companies to find or develop their own alternative transport methods and fuels when they consider petrol and diesel prices have become too high

Seven out of ten - 72% - said the Government should invest now in alternatives, whilst 24% said the Government should let consumers or companies find their own alternative. The remaining 4% said they don't know.

WWF is urging New Zealanders to make a submission on the draft energy strategy. Submissions close 5pm 2 September. For more information on how to make a submission, see: www.wwf.org.nz

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