WWF survey poll finds support for energy rethink
Seven out of 10 people want the Government to invest in public transport and alternative fuels as easy-to-reach oil supplies run out, a poll by environmental organisation WWF has found.
The Colmar Brunton phone poll of 500 people this month was conducted ahead of the deadline for submissions on the Government's draft energy strategy on September 2.
WWF has criticised the draft energy strategy as an approach of "wait and see" once petrol and diesel becomes less affordable.
"We are advocating for the Government to set out a clear strategy to transition away from New Zealand's current heavy reliance on oil for moving people and goods," said WWF climate change campaigner Peter Hardstaff.
As part of the poll, people were told that the Government expected oil prices to rise steadily as cheaper oil supplies ran out, and that increased New Zealand oil production would have no impact on this trend as the price is fixed to international oil prices.
They were asked if they thought the Government should:
* Invest now in developing public transport and alternatives to petrol and diesel for New Zealand;
* Or allow consumers and companies to find or develop their own alternative transport methods and fuels when they consider petrol and diesel prices have become too high.
Seventy-two percent said the Government should make the investment now, 24 percent said the Government should let consumers or companies find their own alternative, and the remaining 4 percent said they don't know.
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Comments and questions8
I bet they would have got a less bias (these are greenies after all...) if they had asked the questions thus or similar:
Should the Government:
*Invest now in developing public transport and alternatives to petrol and diesel for New Zealand;
* Or allow consumers and companies to find or develop their own alternative transport methods and fuels.
Scaring the people that responded by mentioning the price going up will of course push people to a government solution option.
Typical left leaning survey wanting the state to do everything for us and no doubt with a plan to redistributing wealth.
It is long past time for New Zealand to abandon it's outdated nuclear free mantra
Nuclear power is obviously the best way to go. It has been proven to be cheap,reliable and largely risk free
The much lauded Lange "uranium on your breath" quote has done much harm by keeping our heads firmly in the sand for far too long.
Time to get with the real world and move on!
peter martin
Isn't that just typical of the dog-in-a-manger attitude of so many lefties, House?
Was the same with stopping the mineral bonanza we could have had.
Do they not realise we are one of the few countries self-sufficient in oil and gas/ reserves.
I nearly mentioned the "ghastly" coal we should get SASOL expertise to turn into high-value chemical stock, gas and petrol, like the Jaapies have done.
But that might make our standard of living rise to unacceptable Aussie-like heights. Like you say, they are into redistribution rather than wealth-creation for all.
Still we have to see the positive in this WWF effort. At least there was no mention of the anthropogenic global warming fantasy. At least they have recognised that energy is a bigger issue. They seem not to know that I can buy an electric ute and a small wind charger right now, and the price is nearly right.
Time to get with the real world and move to nuclear
We have,thanks to Lange's policies had our heads in the sand for far too long
Nuclear has been proven to be cheap,reliable and safe.It's time we got with it!
peter martin
No doubt 99 out of 100 Aucklanders favour that other people should be using public transport, but not them. I know I'm one. It was great when petrol was $2.30 a litre, the roads were so much emptier.
I agree with Liberte,Aug 27th,that David Lange set NZ back light years by not allowing emmission free nuclear electric powert to be generated as well as giving the USA the fingers.
Amongst other mistakes he altered Local Body administration paving the way for CEO's and Councilors to rort ratepayers,Previously
Councillors in most instances acted for the good of their communites on a voluntary basis.
Yhe well known Latin phrase comes to mind.
The well known Latin phrase that should have finished my previous post is "Quo Vadis".