11. JEANETTE FITZSIMONS (Co-Leader—Green) Link to this
to the Associate Minister of Transport
Does she expect proposed vehicle exhaust emissions standards to reduce the number of premature deaths from air pollution from vehicle exhausts; if so, how many lives does she expect this rule change could save?
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN (Minister for Transport Safety) Link to this
Yes. The Minister has not received any advice on the specific number of premature deaths that the proposed rule will prevent, but the Health and Air Pollution in New Zealand report released in July this year found that 500 New Zealanders were dying prematurely every year as a result of vehicle emissions.
Jeanette Fitzsimons Link to this
Will the Government stand firm on its proposed schedule for emissions standards in the face of industry pressure from both the Imported Motor Vehicle Dealers Association and, more surprisingly, the Consumers Institute of New Zealand, which both seem to believe that cheap cars are more important than saving lives?
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN Link to this
Yes. The Government will stand firm on its proposal to improve the quality of the fleet coming into New Zealand by ensuring emissions standards are put in place. It is notable that the proposals being put up by the used-car dealers are simply aimed at having every sector of the car industry pay the costs except those who import used cars. We are far too used to having shonky, old, worn-out, “clocked” vehicles brought into this country and foisted on the public; it is time we had some better-quality vehicles.
Hon Mark GoscheHon HARRY DUYNHOVEN Link to this
The Government is taking action on emissions on three fronts. We have already addressed the quality of the fuel available in New Zealand, and are working towards the biofuel sales obligation. We have addressed the way we use and maintain our vehicles—the Choke the Smoke campaign was one example of that—and we are looking at the quality of vehicles in our fleet, both through the vehicle scrappage scheme trial and the proposed emissions standards rule.
Peter BrownNoting the earlier answer, how does he justify such a rule coming into being, knowing it will raise the price of an imported school bus from about $40,000 to closer to $100,000, thereby encouraging operators to continue to use the existing buses for a lot longer until they virtually become clapped out?
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN Link to this
Firstly, I tell the member that something like 200 buses are on the water on their way to New Zealand, and a large number of buses around the country are available for use. Secondly, we should aim at not having our schoolchildren taken around the country in grotty old buses that are cast-offs from other countries and do not meet any environmental standards.
Jeanette Fitzsimons Link to this
Will the Government expand the highly successful Auckland Regional Council pilot vehicle scrappage scheme, which has now ended, to help motorists afford to replace the dirtiest, most polluting vehicles, thereby getting them off our roads sooner, saving lives, and making a dent in the 435,000 restricted activity days each year, largely from asthma, caused by particulate pollution in Auckland alone?
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN Link to this
I think it is very interesting that the member spoke about particulate emissions in her question, because that is one of the real issues—the age of the diesel fleet coming into New Zealand, and particularly the used imports that are not only elderly but often “clocked” as well. But leaving that issue to one side, we have to ensure that we have quality vehicles brought into New Zealand, and the vehicle scrappage trial actually resulted in polluting cars being taken off the roads and disposed of in an environmentally friendly way. An essential part of modernising the vehicle fleet is actually to ensure that older vehicles are removed from the fleet and that good-quality modern vehicles that comply with emissions standards replace them.
Jeanette Fitzsimons Link to this
Will the Government be moving with similar resolve, then, to improve the exhaust emissions of the current fleet on the road by compulsory exhaust emissions testing at warrant of fitness time, given the substantial savings in health costs and the demonstrated fuel savings to motorists from having properly tuned vehicles?
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN Link to this
Tailpipe emissions testing is already part of the warrant of fitness test. The visible smoke check was implemented in September 2006. Cars with excessive visible exhaust emissions will not get a warrant of fitness, but this issue is one that officials continue to do work on.