Summarised by Centrist
Transport Minister Simeon Brown pushed through softer carbon emissions rules despite his own officials advising for a month’s delay to explore other options.
Emails show that Ministry of Transport officials warned that the new rules could add up to two million tonnes of carbon emissions between now and 2050, but they considered this level “immaterial” in the grand scheme of climate goals.
Brown pushed ahead, saying he wanted to give consumers and the car industry more certainty and ease cost of living pressures. He cited looming penalties for importers who would pass the costs onto consumers if the original rules weren’t relaxed.
Those penalty figures came straight from the Motor Industry Association, with no independent analysis to back them up. However, Brown argued that it was not possible to verify those figures: “There is no independent organisation – including the Ministry of Transport – that is privy to the supply agreements vehicle distributors have with their overseas suppliers.”
Brown engaged with the main opponents of the stricter standards—car industry groups like the Motor Industry Association and the Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association. These groups warned that importers would struggle to meet the original targets and that EV sales had crashed following the scrapping of subsidies.
Editor’s note: Despite his officials advising delay and broader consultation, it is reasonable to suggest the Minister has a mandate to enact changes that reflect the electorate’s will. Furthermore, mainstream media often presents official advice as neutral, though many officials may hold biases, particularly regarding environmental issues, which could influence the guidance they provide to elected officials.
