KEY POINTS:
The gas-guzzling, toxin-spewing car fleets owned by local councils have been named and shamed in a new survey by the Green Party.
The Greens today released the results of a nationwide survey of the fleets of 82 city, district and regional councils, aimed at encouraging local government to take the lead on climate change.
The worst performers were three smaller district councils - Waitaki, Buller and Opotiki - but Auckland Regional Council's petrol-powered fleet was close behind, taking out the honour for the worst regional council.
"Auckland Regional Council came up with low efficiency partly because they operate an all petrol fleet.
"We suspect this may be because until recently diesel fuel in New Zealand had so much sulphur that it was causing poor air quality in the city. As cleaner diesel is now available, the ARC could now act to improve its fleet composition and standing," said Green Party co-leader Ms Fitzsimons.
At the other end of the table, North Shore City Council scored highest out of all the local authorities for running a fuel efficient and climate friendly fleet, but could still save $21,824 a year by upgrading its cars.
The single worst vehicle was a petrol-powered Nissan Patrol operated by Horizons Regional Council. Changing that vehicle alone would reduce carbon emissions by 4.7 tonnes a year, said the Greens.
The survey found the 4569 cars, vans, utes and SUVs operated by the councils averaged 8.9 litres of petrol for every 100km travelled, despite far more efficient vehicles being available on the market.
If councils moved to the most efficient vehicles available in each class they could collectively save $2.25 million in fuel each year.
Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said ratepayers should push councils to buy efficient vehicles.
"Local bodies could save their ratepayers substantial amounts of money with more fuel efficient vehicles, money they could put into improved public services."
It would also help improve New Zealand's balance of payments by reducing fuel imports and cutting carbon emissions by almost 4200 tonnes a year.
Ms Fitzsimons said she believed central government initiatives to clean up its vehicle fleet would lend impetus to local councils doing the same.
Prime Minister Helen Clark announced yesterday the Government would purchase more efficient vehicles for its ministerial fleet.
A review of the ministerial fleet by the Transport Ministry found potential three-year savings of 550 tonnes of carbon dioxide, 400,000 litres of fuel and $500,000 could be achieved by replacing the ministerial fleet with more fuel-efficient, lower-emission vehicles.
The Government is also tightening rules around new car imports to improve efficiency. Draft rules will be released in April.
How they ranked:
1. North Shore City Council
2. Tauranga City Council
3. Dunedin City Council
4. Kapiti Coast District Council
5. Matamata-Piako District Council
6.Porirua City Council
7. Rodney District Council
8. Environment Canterbury
9. Tasman District Council
10. Whakatane District Council
11. Papakura District Council
12. Manukau City Council
13. Waipa District Council
14. Masterton District Council
15. Selwyn District Council
16. Hamilton City Council
17. Kawerau District Council
18. Central Hawke's Bay District Council
19. Rotorua District Council
20. Franklin District Council
21. Taupo District Council
22. Hawke's Bay Regional Council
23. Palmerston North City Council
24. Hutt City Council
25. Environment Waikato
26. Marlborough District Council
27. Waitomo District Council
28. Upper Hutt City Council
29. Environment Bay of Plenty
30. Auckland City Council
31. Rangitikei District Council
32. Queenstown Lakes District Council
33. West Coast Regional Council
34. Kaipara District Council
35. Greater Wellington Regional Council
36. Waitakere City Council
37. Waimakariri District Council
38. Ashburton District Council
39. Horowhenua District Council
40. Otago Regional Council
41. Environment Southland
42. Christchurch City Council
43. Westland District Council
44. Tararua District Council
45. Otorohanga District Council
46. Napier City Council
47. Gore District Council
48. Western Bay of Plenty District Council
49. Wellington City Council
50. Ruapehu District Council
51. South Taranaki District Council
52. Carterton District Council
53. Northland Regional Council
54. Waimate District Council
55. Stratford District Council
56. Taranaki Regional Council
57. Timaru District Council
58. Wanganui District Council
5. Nelson City Council
60. Invercargill City Council
61. South Wairarapa District Council
62. Whangarei District Council
63. Hurunui District Council
64. Central Otago District Council
65. Waikato District Council
66. Grey District Council
67. New Plymouth District Council
68. Far North District Council
69. Thames Coromandel District Council
70. Manawatu District Council
71. Hastings District Council
72. Clutha District Council
73. Kaikoura District Council
74. Horizons Regional Council
75. MacKenzie District Council
76. Auckland Regional Council
77. Wairoa District Council
78. South Waikato District Council
79. Buller District Council
80. Opotiki District Council
81. Waitaki District Council
