11. RUSSELL FAIRBROTHER (Labour) Link to this
to the Associate Minister of Transport
What steps is the Government taking to reduce the impact to New Zealanders’ health caused by harmful emissions?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD (Associate Minister of Transport) Link to this
The Government has taken a number of steps to reduce emissions from the New Zealand vehicle fleet. It has improved the quality of fuel, especially diesel fuel, lowering harmful emissions and enabling us to import vehicles to better international standards. The Government has introduced the visible smoke check at warrant of fitness to target the worst emitting vehicles on our roads, and last week it implemented the 2007 vehicle exhaust emissions rule, which sets minimum emission standards for vehicles entering our fleet, ensuring that vehicle emissions will continue to improve over time. The Government is now looking at in-service emission testing for the current fleet, and I expect this work will initially focus on diesel vehicles, which are the most damaging for health and air quality.
Russell Fairbrother Link to this
What else is the Government doing to reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
The new rule for imported used cars is part of a package of Government measures to improve air quality. Further improvements in fuel quality will allow new technologies to enter the fleet. Other work programmes will see reduced traffic congestion, promoting public transport, and introducing biofuels. The Ministry of Transport recently completed a very successful trial vehicle scrappage scheme where 250 used vehicles were scrapped in exchange for 2-month public transport passes. The ministry is finalising its study on this scheme and I hope it can be continued and expanded in the future. The National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy set a target for a 10 percent reduction in single occupancy trips, which will impact positively on emissions. Policies in the climate change area will reduce the use of vehicles and improve transport efficiency, especially for freight, and are likely to have benefits for harmful emissions as well.
Russell Fairbrother Link to this
What impact will this rule have on the importation of vehicles into New Zealand?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
The rule will prevent the importation of used diesel vehicles made to older Japanese standards, and equivalent standards under other jurisdictions. In some cases vehicles that have been imported into New Zealand have been banned from the roads in Tokyo. These vehicles were actually making our fleet worse when they arrived; why should we allow the importation of used Japanese vehicles that the Japanese will not allow on their own roads? I believe this rule will result in a major improvement in the New Zealand fleet over time.
Peter BrownNoting those answers, is the Minister aware of the assertion that these new diesel vehicles are a fairly rare species in Japan, and that they cost two or three times as much as an older one, and as a result many diesel operators will hang on to their vehicles for much longer; if she is aware of that, does she not accept that this will do little or no good at all to improving New Zealanders’ health?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
If the member is talking about new diesel vehicles, then as long as they are manufactured to current Japanese standards they will improve the fleet. If he is talking about used Japanese vehicles coming into the New Zealand fleet, then the Japanese Government is continuing to improve their standards. We still have to keep a good eye on the fact that some diesel vehicles are a real problem. However, the vehicle standard is only one of the issues around better vehicle emissions. There is also the issue of better fuel standards, and the use and maintenance of vehicles. So, no, I do not accept the member’s assertion.