Fact Check: "The New Zealand government has eliminated 35 climate policies, including a clean car discount and a fund for investing in decarbonizing industries, without proper public consultation."
What We Know
The New Zealand government has indeed repealed the Clean Car Discount scheme, which was initiated in 2021 to incentivize the purchase of low-emission vehicles through rebates and charges based on carbon emissions. The repeal of this scheme means that the charges will end for all vehicles registered after December 31, 2023, and rebate applications will also close at that time (Government has repealed Clean Car Discount scheme, Clean Cars | Ministry of Transport).
Additionally, the government has been actively working on its Emissions Reduction Plan, which outlines various climate policies aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 (Clean Cars | Ministry of Transport). However, recent reports indicate that several climate policies, including the Clean Car Discount, have been discontinued as part of a broader shift in government priorities (New Zealand's second emissions reduction plan).
Analysis
The claim that the New Zealand government has eliminated 35 climate policies is somewhat misleading. While it is true that the government has repealed the Clean Car Discount and other policies, the specific number of 35 policies lacks clear documentation or official confirmation. The sources available primarily focus on the Clean Car Discount and do not provide a comprehensive list of all policies that have been eliminated (NZ Legislation Disclosures, Regulatory Impact Statement).
Moreover, the assertion that these changes occurred without proper public consultation is contentious. The decision to repeal the Clean Car Discount was part of the National Party and Act New Zealand's manifesto commitments during the 2023 elections, suggesting that there was some level of public discourse surrounding these policies during the election cycle (NZ Legislation Disclosures). However, the extent and nature of public consultation prior to the repeal are not clearly documented in the available sources, making it difficult to fully assess this aspect of the claim.
Conclusion
The claim is Partially True. While it accurately states that the New Zealand government has eliminated the Clean Car Discount and has taken steps to discontinue other climate policies, the assertion that 35 policies were eliminated lacks substantiation. Additionally, the claim regarding the lack of public consultation is not definitively proven, as there was some public discourse associated with the political commitments made during the election. Therefore, while there is a basis for the claim, it requires further context and clarification to be fully accurate.
