Research finds Government draft energy strategy at odds with majority of New Zealanders

The Government's draft energy strategy does not deliver the plan to invest in public transport that the majority of New Zealanders want in order to head off the impacts of future oil price rises, according to research released today (Monday 30 August) commissioned by conservation organisation WWF.

The ShapeNZ research found only 9% of New Zealanders were in favour of the Government's current plan in its draft energy strategy of leaving it for consumers and companies to find or develop their own alternative transport methods when they consider petrol and diesel prices have become too high.

The research found 81% preferred Government action to help prepare for the increased costs to exporters and households from oil price rises in the future: 19% want more investment in rail, 9% want more investment in other public transport, and 53% want investment in both.

"The research shows that the Government's draft energy strategy doesn't deliver investment in alternative transport in preparation for oil price rises that the majority of New Zealanders want," said WWF Climate Change Campaigner Peter Hardstaff.

"The Government in its draft strategy acknowledges that oil prices are likely to rise in future, and its plan to deal with this is to have no plan and hope for the best. This research shows eight in ten New Zealanders believe that's not good enough, and that the Government's job is to plan ahead for oil price rises by taking action now."

The Ministry for Economic Development is calling for public submissions on the draft energy strategy, closing at 5pm, Thursday 2 September. WWF-New Zealand has strongly criticised the draft strategy and is encouraging people to make submissions. For more information see www.wwf.org.nz.

WWF's Peter Hardstaff continued: "The right decisions now are important so we can continue to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and keep the cost of electricity and fuel manageable for New Zealanders and for our export earning producers," he stated. "The draft energy strategy is an opportunity for New Zealand to protect our environment and our economy. It's a chance to get on the right track to a decent public transport system, and we encourage all New Zealanders who want that to happen to make a submission to the Government."

"We are advocating for the Government to set out a clear strategy to transition away from New Zealand's current heavy reliance on oil for moving people and goods," said WWF's Peter Hardstaff.

The ShapeNZ survey informed respondents that the Government expects oil prices to rise steadily in the future as cheaper, easy-to-reach oil supplies decline around the world, and that increasing oil prices will increase costs for New Zealand exporters reliant on freight and for households reliant on cars.

It asked if respondents thought the government should:

1) Invest more in improving and expanding the rail network

2) Invest more in expanding other public transport

3) Both

4) Leave it for consumers and companies to find or develop their own alternative transport methods when they consider petrol and diesel prices have become too high
The survey found:

Total survey respondents say the Government should:

. 19% Invest more in improving and expanding the rail network

. 9% Invest more in expanding other public transport

. 53% Both

. 9% Leave it for consumers and companies to find or develop their own alternative transport methods when they consider petrol and diesel prices have become too high

. 8% don't know
Results split by party vote for the two main political parties are as follows (note, results may not total 100% due to rounding):
Those who voted National in 2008 (33% of respondents) say the Government should:

. 24% Invest more in improving and expanding the rail network

. 9% Invest more in expanding other public transport

. 51% Both

. 10% Leave it for consumers and companies to find or develop their own alternative transport methods when they consider petrol and diesel prices have become too high

. 7% don't know
Those who voted Labour in 2008 (25% of respondents) say the Government should:

. 19% Invest more in improving and expanding the rail network

. 8% Invest more in expanding other public transport

. 56% Both

. 9% Leave it for consumers and companies to find or develop their own alternative transport methods when they consider petrol and diesel prices have become too high

. 9% don't know
ENDS

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