April 24, 2008

Media Release (For Immediate Release)

Foot Off The Pedal Suggests Mayor

Waitakere City Council supports the principle of regional fuel taxes as the fairest and most sustainable way to fund things like improvements to public transport, particularly in Auckland.

But with the cost of oil nudging (US) $120 a barrel and those rising prices reflected at the pump, Mayor Bob Harvey says that perhaps the introduction of any tax needs to be delayed.

Legislation is going before Parliament which would give regional councils the ability to levy petrol taxes of up to 10 cents a litre.

“In the space of 18 months the price of petrol has become a very real concern for not only businesses but households,” he says. “People are buying more efficient cars, making fewer trips, and using public transport more, which we applaud, but constant petrol rises are definitely hitting them in the pocket.”

“There are urgent public transport projects in Auckland that need getting on with and they simply can’t delayed for too long, but we also have to look at the ability of people to pay,” says Mayor Harvey.

“Maybe we need to take a bit of a deep breath and wait for oil prices to ease back before introducing the extra tax.”

ENDS

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