Calder Cam: Road User Charges Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Calder Cam: Road User Charges Amendment Bill — In Committee 
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Dr CAM CALDER (National) 
: 
 It is with absolute delight that I stand to make a few comments about the Road User Charges Amendment Bill. 
Simon Bridges 
: We’re delighted to hear from you. 
Dr CAM CALDER 
: I thank the member very much. As the honourable Minister observed the motor vehicle is the liberator of New Zealanders. We are in the process of building an extremely fine cycleway that will allow people to go the length and breadth of the country to places of interest and extreme scenic beauty and it will be a huge boost to tourism in our country. We have public transport in small areas of urban concentration but it is the car that is the liberator. It is the great liberator “el libertador” and anyone who has been to South America would have seen the Simón Bolívar of transport on the avenidas. The motor vehicle reigns supreme to this day. 
The exemption from road-user charges as the honourable member on the other side mentioned is for light electric motor vehicles that weigh up to 3.5 tonnes. Some surprise was expressed as to why that should be but I submit that we are in the relatively early days of a resurgence in interest in the development of electric-powered vehicles. We are at a stage where the seed has been planted the research is starting and who knows what the future will bring. 
 So I congratulate the Minister and the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee on shaping the bill to take us forward rather than backwards. 
Rather than the dead hand of prescription and decree favoured by the previous administration this Government is encouraging desired behaviour. In this case with this small but perfectly formed bill the Road User Charges Amendment Bill the desired behaviour is an increase in the use of electric vehicles. We want to make that a little bit easier and reduce the carbon footprint of the individual. Reducing our carbon emissions is crucial. We always hear about the cost and this measure certainly addresses the cost but also we have to consider the drivers of a growth business—growth in sales and growth in margins. New Zealand wants to be a growth business. Our future depends as one of the members on the opposite side of the House pointed out upon the perception of our 100 percent clean green image of our purity and of the pristine nature of our environment. This small bill goes a small way to encouraging and rewarding those committed individuals who wish to reduce their personal carbon footprint but need a motor vehicle by dint of where they live poor access to public transport or having too far to travel by bike or by walking. This bill allows them to have the opportunity to buy and use an ecologically friendly motor vehicle. 
The Government is at the same time—as we are wont to do—keeping its election promises. One of our election promises was to reduce road-user charges for electric vehicles. As luck would have it I have recently had the pleasure of riding in an electric vehicle. Where was it? It was in Christchurch. When was it? It was only a few days ago on my way to that celebration known as the National Party conference. 
Paul Quinn 
: When was that? 
Dr CAM CALDER 
: Last week. 
Paul Quinn 
: Very successful. 
Dr CAM CALDER 
: Yes it was very successful. Last week when I came out of the airport there was a green Toyota Prius. A local company had taken advantage of the opportunity and was providing a green alternative for the traveller. This vehicle was extremely impressive. As a number of members have pointed out the first thing one noted was the quietness. It was a very quiet vehicle. The other thing one noted was that when one came to a stop there were no emissions—the electric motor had stopped and the internal combustion engine was not in operation. So this bill is a very clean green initiative and I think it is appropriate that this Government which believes in encouraging the desired behaviour should have put this amendment in the bill. 
As many of us have read and those members on the select committee would have cogitated at length—