Keeping climate goals on track

Fleet-leasing companies and specialist lenders are well-positioned to help customers achieve their climate-change goals without the need for investment of taxpayer funds.

That’s according to the Financial Services Federation (FSF) as the government prepares to wind down its green investment fund.

The “reassurance” comes after an announcement by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis, Minister of Finance, which aims to “accelerate low-emissions investments”.

Most commercial fleet-leasing providers operating in New Zealand are FSF members, including Mercedes-Benz, the Spiers Group, Scania, Fleet Partners, SG Fleet and UDC. The federation also represents specialist lenders, credit unions and building societies.

Lyn McMorran, executive director, reports that FSF members have been responding to market demands to meet customers’ climate targets since well before the fund came into play in 2019 – and will continue to do so.

“Our specialist lending and fleet-leasing members are well-positioned to assist New Zealand business and consumers achieve their climate goals,” says McMorran, pictured.

“It simply does not make economic sense for taxpayer funds to be invested when the private specialist-lending sector has already got this.”