The 'Electric Election': energy policies, side by side
⚡🍿 One man. One manifesto. Many portfolios. His name is MegaWatts and he has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to save households thousands on their energy bills, save the country $11 billion every year, slash our emissions, keep the lights on, grow the economy, and help New Zealand lead the world.✊ Will he grasp it? Or will others step in and steal his thunder in next year’s ‘electric election'?
📈 ⛽ 🚢 New Zealand’s energy system is expensive, emissions-intensive and very vulnerable to shocks. Our 2025 policy manifesto shows what needs to be done to fix that and it is not pie-in-the-sky thinking. It’s an achievable and affordable plan using technology that exists today, but it requires greater political ambition to bring it to life.
💲 It’s now in our national interest (and our economic self-interest) to use more locally-produced electrons in electric machines rather than expensive foreign molecules in fossil fuel machines. See the vision 👉 rewiring.nz/manifesto.
And send Simon 'MegaWatts' Watts and the opposition parties a message to let them know you back it.
Note: this video was produced by Rewiring Aotearoa and used AI tools.
'Twas the night before Chris-mas, and all through the house, all the voters were stirring, the pundits showing their nous … the election will soon be over, but the energy crisis won't, so we'll be there to pester whoever is in power about the need to run more of the economy on New Zealand-made energy; can Ethiopia's aggressive push for EVs work and how does New Zealand compare in terms of adoption rates?; a two-way charging trial from Genesis shows promise in Auckland, but there's still a way to go before it's mainstream; small electric vehicles are often overlooked when it comes to electrifying transport, but it's hard to miss this weird French one; a solar-powered cafe (and some electric coffee); and we endorse the political vandalism of Keith of All Trades.
Read moreDownloadPoliticians are being urged to adopt stronger electric vehicle incentives ahead of the election. Climate and energy advocacy group Rewiring Aotearoa is arguing that EVs are one of the most effective long-term solutions for rising transport and energy costs. They're promoting an EV Salary Boost proposal, which would allow workers to access EVs through pre-tax salary arrangements – similarly to already existing schemes in the UK and Australia. Policy and Government Relations Spokesperson Ngaio Neumegen told Kerre Woodham that even with the rising cost of power, it's still cheaper to run an EV than a car running on imported fuel.
A proposal that would let New Zealanders lease an electric car using their before-tax pay has not won a commitment from either National or Labour, with the 7 November election days away. Under the EV Salary Boost, put forward by Rewiring Aotearoa and Drive Electric, an employee would lease a new or used EV for three to five years. The payments would come out of their pay before tax, lowering the cost of running the car. The idea is based on Australia’s novated leasing system, though the groups say they are not proposing a direct copy.
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