The 'Electric Election': energy policies, side by side
Political Power has gone local! Dr Nick Smith, mayor of Nelson and ex-National Party minister, is an early adopter when it comes to electric machines but, through his efforts with the council and his close involvement with the Ratepayer Assistance Scheme, he's also embracing one of Rewiring's core mantras: once you've electrified your own life, electrify someone else's life, too.
One of Smith's big claims to electric fame is that he took ownership of one of the first full EVs in the country back in 2010. He challenged the auto industry to provide one and he told Mission Zero that he paid $84,000 for the new i-MiEV (an acronym for Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle) back when the petrol equivalent cost $26,000, but he's still driving it today (for relatively short distances).
He also has solar on his roof and a hot water heat pump. And in his role with council, he's also pushed for a lot more solar on public buildings to lower electricity costs, improve resilience and reduce emissions.
As he says, Nelson has been ranked the sunniest place in the country 13 out of the past 26 years, so there's a real opportunity to harness that with more solar.
Smith was there to cut the ribbon when Nelson upgraded its bus fleet in 2023. That made it the first primarily electric fleet in the country outside a major urban centre and the decision has been further vindicated after the diesel price spikes this year.
As chair of the Local Government New Zealand group responsible for working on and promoting the Ratepayer Assistance Scheme, Smith has also been instrumental in the policy space. The RAS will allow homeowners to take out long-term, low-interest loans for electric upgrades that are tied to the property.
Councils covering over 75% of the population are now onboard and a number of political parties have come out in support of the scheme ahead of the election. It does require central Government backing, and he's confident it will be passed into law next year.
"In the next 20 years, we're going to see a revolution around the use of electricity."
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'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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