Our 2011 election manifesto - Labour Party

Sustainable transport
New Zealand needs to become much less heavily dependent on fossil-fuelled cars and
trucks for transport of people and products. Transport emissions make up 19% of New
Zealand‟s overall greenhouse gas emissions, with road transport accounting for 90% of
these. We must greatly reduce these emissions.
The foundations for a sustainable transport network were laid by the last Labour government
with a 15-fold increase in public transport spending, electrifying Auckland rail, buying back
KiwiRail, and legislating for sustainable biofuels.
Labour will continue to promote public transport, cycling, walking, rail and biofuels, as well as
coastal shipping and electric vehicles. This will ultimately lead to decreased greenhouse gas
emissions.
Labour will continue to support funding for public transport and energy-efficient
freight transport modes such as rail.
Labour aims to halve per capita transport emissions by 2040. This will also make transport
more affordable and reduce oil imports (and in turn our international trade deficit).
Labour will halve New Zealand‟s per capita transport emissions by 2040.
Lifting the use of indigenous energy resources for transport will have positive spin-offs for
the economy and the environment. For example, locally made sustainable biofuel can be
produced using tallow and, as the technology becomes available, wood. Biofuel will both
reduce our dependence on oil and cut our greenhouse gas emissions.
Labour will promote locally produced biofuel, especially using wood as the
technology becomes available.
Electric vehicles
Electric vehicles could make a significant difference to emissions production, if they are
made from predominantly recyclable materials and powered from renewable sources.
Building on our clean green electricity generation, Labour will work with the electric vehicle
industry to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles.
There is a role for government in establishing an environment that facilitates the large-scale
roll-out of electric vehicles. Numbers will grow slowly at first, but volumes will increase as the
production of electric vehicles ramps up internationally and prices come down.
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