Matamata-Piako DC's vehicle fleet tops Waikato region's councils

Matamata-Piako District Council has come out tops in the Waikato region in a Green Party national survey of the fuel efficiency of local body vehicle fleets.

The survey analysed a total of 4569 cars, utes, vans and SUVs operated by city, district and regional councils and worked out how much money and how many kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions could be saved if the councils' fleets were the most fuel efficient available in each category.

Matamata-Piako District Council ranked 5th in the country, but it still had the potential to save an average of 669kg of carbon emissions and $341 in fuel costs each year for each of its 49 vehicles if it upgraded them to the most fuel efficient available.

"We all need to take responsibility for the impacts our actions have on climate change, and that includes local authorities. While some, such as Matamata-Piako, appear to have made an effort to buy clean, fuel efficient vehicles, many other still have a long way to go," Green Party MP Nandor Tanczos says.

Of the other 10 local bodies in the Waikato region that took part in the survey, Waipa District Council, with potential carbon savings of 765kg per vehicle came in 13th of the 82 councils involved. Hamilton City Council (777kg) took 16th place, Taupo District Council (799kg) took 21st place, Environment Waikato (808kg) took 25th place, Waitomo District Council (852kg) took 27th place, Franklin District Council in 27th place, Otorohanga District Council (990kg) took 45th place, Waikato District Council (1154kg) took 65th place, Thames Coromandel District Council (1187kg) took 69th place and finally South Waikato District Council (1297kg) took 78th place and the wooden spoon, locally.

"Local bodies are likely to be picking up a big part of the tab for the effects of climate change. It's pretty short sighted to not be trying to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions."

Despite repeated requests under the Official Information Act which binds councils for information about its vehicle fleet, Hauraki District Council refused to respond.

"I hope this is not an indication of the seriousness with which the council takes climate change," Nandor says.

Both Waipa District Council and Environment Waikato got a bouquet for having the greenest council car in the region — one Toyota Prius each which have a fuel efficiency of 4.4 litres per 100km, while brickbats went to Waikato District Council for owning the biggest planet destroyers — five Holden Rodeo utes and a Ford Territory SUV all of which have a fuel efficiency of 13l/100km.

The various types of councils have differing roles so are likely to need different types of vehicles, for example, some will need more utes than others, Nandor acknowledged.

When compared by council type Matamata Piako District Council ranked 2nd out of the 52 district councils that took part in the survey. Waipa came 6th, Franklin came 12th Taupo came 13th, Waitomo came 14th, Otorohanga came 23rd, Waikato came 37th, Thames Coromandel came 41st and South Waikato came 48th.
Out of the 16 city councils, Hamilton City Council came 6th.
Out of the 14 regional councils in the survey Environment Waikato ranked 4th.

"If councils were to purchase the most fuel efficient vehicles available in each class, this would translate to big savings for ratepayers and significant savings for the planet in terms of greenhouse gas emissions," Nandor says.

"Taken across its entire fleet the Hamilton City Council could save its ratepayers the most, $44,416 a year, if it upgraded all its vehicles. Taupo District Council could save $39,227, Waikato District Council $29,604, South Waikato District Council $25,885, Waipa District Council $25,699, Thames Coromandel District Council $22,616, Matamata-Piako District Council $16,723, Franklin District Council $11,828, Otorohanga District $9253 and Waitomo $7043. An additional $34,997 would be saved if Environment Waikato also upgraded its fleet. Taken across the entire region ratepayers could save $267,291 — money better spent on improving services."

An entirely fuel efficient fleet across all of the Waikato region's councils would reduce New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions by 497 tonnes a year.

"It's these kinds of decisions that, cumulatively, have such an impact on climate change. We need to pressure central and local government to lead by example. With better choices what they buy could help minimise our reliance on imported oil, and the impact of climate change," Nandor says.

For more information

Nandor Tanczos, MP, 04 470 6716, 021 887 011
Fran Tyler, Media Coordinator, 04 470 6679, 021 473 900
James Redwood, Coromandel spokesperson, 07 552 5966
Mark Servian, Hamilton spokesperson, 07 855 5227, 021 505 434

Note: Copies of the survey are available from the Green Party media unit 04 470 6679, 021 473 900 or on the Green Party website www.greens.org.nz