Focus on vehicle affordability
An industry association has welcomed the Act Party’s pledge to consider vehicle affordability, supply and fleet turnover when developing regulations affecting the automotive sector.
Act’s Keep New Zealand Moving transport policy, released before the general election in November, includes a commitment to “keep vehicle prices down for families”.
The document says the party will “scrap unrealistic vehicle-emissions settings, oppose arbitrary vehicle age bans and other rules that price affordable used vehicles out of the market, and require new regulatory proposals to disclose their effect on vehicle supply, prices and fleet turnover”.
The Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association (VIA) says the underlying principle of Act’s plans closely reflects what the used-vehicle industry has been asking policymakers to recognise.
Greig Epps, VIA chief executive, adds: “Good regulation has to look beyond the vehicle crossing the border and consider what happens to the whole New Zealand fleet.
“If a regulation makes affordable replacement vehicles significantly more expensive or removes large numbers of them from the market, people do not necessarily go out and buy a new car instead. Often they simply keep the vehicle they already have for longer.
“That can slow fleet renewal and leave older, less safe and higher-emitting vehicles on our roads for longer.”
As a result, VIA argues affordability and vehicle supply should be considered alongside safety and emissions objectives when government develops vehicle policies.
Epps notes Act’s election policy making reference to vehicle supply, vehicle prices and fleet turnover is particularly welcome.
“Those three things are connected. New Zealand needs to improve the safety and environmental performance of its vehicle fleet, but we need regulations that help the fleet turn over rather than inadvertently slowing that process down,” he explains.
“The used import market gives New Zealand households access to newer technology and safer, cleaner vehicles at price points that many people can actually afford.”
He adds VIA’s support is for the policy principle rather than any particular political party. “We welcome Act recognising this issue, and we would welcome the same approach from every political party.”
Epps says the association is ready to work constructively with whichever government is formed after the election “if it adopts an approach that properly considers affordability, supply and fleet renewal alongside safety and environmental objectives”.
Election policy
Act launched its Keep New Zealand Moving policy on August 4, saying that if it is part of the next government it will stop unnecessary rules pricing families out of reliable vehicles.
Other promises include requiring major transport projects to publish the lowest-cost safe option alongside the preferred option, building roads ahead of growth, and requiring councils to repair potholes, drainage and bridges before funding street redesigns.
The party notes it will also stop the National Land Transport Fund paying for non-functional art, monuments and decorative extras, saying motorists’ money should build and maintain the transport network.
“New Zealanders pay at the pump, through road-user charges, rates and tolls. They should see that money in reliable roads and shorter journeys,” says Act.
“New Zealand cannot unlock its potential while people and freight are stuck in traffic. Act will build more, waste less and make every transport dollar deliver.”
