Support for feebate scheme

A new poll shows widespread public support for fees as well as rebates being administered under the government’s clean car discount (CCD) scheme.

The specially commissioned survey of 1,000 people for the lobby group Drive Electric also reveals a high level of concern about climate change.

According to the survey’s results, more people support than oppose the CCD and the clean car standard (CCS) also received backing across the board, reports Newsroom.

Just over half of respondents agreed the CCD was a good policy, while 20 per cent disagreed.

Rebates for low and zero-emissions vehicles were supported by voters of all political stripes, ranging from 76 per cent of Labour voters to 47 per cent of Act voters. 

Opposition to the payments came went from seven per cent for Labour and Green supporters to 30 per cent for Act. 

When it comes to the fee element of the scheme, more Act voters opposed than supported it and net support for the fee dropped to 24 per cent among National voters. 

Mark Gilbert, chairman of Drive Electric, says the feebate scheme to encourage the uptake of cleaner vehicles is “one of the most successful climate programmes New Zealand has”.

“New Zealanders support it because it works,” he told Newsroom. “We estimate the cleaner cars brought in under the programme so far will save New Zealand two million tonnes of emissions over their useful lifetimes.”

On the CCS, more than 60 per cent of respondents said it was a good policy, compared with 12.4 per cent who disagreed. 

Nearly 70 per cent of survey participants were somewhat or very concerned about climate change, compared with less than 15 per cent who weren't.