27 April 2005
Still no plan to clean up vehicle emissions: Greens

The Green Party is shocked that after a two-year pilot study the Government still has no plan to clean up vehicle emissions.

"It is staggering that just days after announcing a study that found vehicle emissions kill over 400 New Zealanders a year and cost our health system $400 million, the Government has abandoned its plan to clean up vehicle exhausts, " said Jeanette Fitzsimons, the Green Co-Leader and Transport Spokesperson.

"The Green Party understands that the Government's pilot program has found the technology they were trialing does not give accurate-enough results and that a change of plan is needed.

"What shocks us is that it seems there is no plan.

"The New Zealand vehicle fleet is old and dirty. Secondhand cars are imported with catalytic converters, but most of them are removed. It should be an offence to remove any pollution-control equipment.

"Europe and Japan both have emission testing that works, and far cleaner vehicles than we do as a result. We should spend some of that $400 million to keep people healthy.

"If the Greens are in a position of influence after the election we will initiate an urgent investigation into the most cost effective ways of cleaning up our air, then act promptly," said Ms Fitzsimons.

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