KEY POINTS:
Climate change is back on the political agenda, and some MPs are embarrassed at what's in their own garages.
The environmental crimes include a gas-guzzling SUV being used to ferry children around the suburbs, and a large, powerful vehicle being used to pull a caravan to a holiday spot.
Although not all MPs practise what they preach, it appears the debate about car emissions has them embarrassed enough to at least consider changing their driving habits.
Greenhouse gas emissions from transport make up a big chunk of New Zealand's overall emissions, and are projected to rise by 35 per cent by 2030 unless energy policies are changed.
National leader John Key - who has a Mercedes SUV and a V6 Commodore - says he is thinking about changing his vehicles to something a bit more environmentally friendly.
The Key family's blue Mercedes was purchased when they returned to New Zealand after living overseas, and he admits it isn't the ideal image for the leader of the newly "bluegreen" National Party to be projecting.
"I wouldn't mind selling it, but because the kids have trashed it, its re-sale value is right up there with Taito Phillip Field's memoirs," he said.
Mr Key says he has ruled out any "excessive purchases", and has been thinking of getting a hybrid vehicle.
But he is wary of doing something that will be seen as a political stunt.
Across the other side of the House, Climate Change Minister David Parker has admitted to being ashamed about using a Holden Adventra station wagon to tow a caravan.
He offsets the emissions from his six-cylinder vehicle by paying for forests to be planted in Marlborough.
Mr Parker admires electric cars and plans to buy one.
Prime Minister Helen Clark, who in October caused ripples by announcing her aspiration of a carbon-neutral New Zealand, knows a bit less about her vehicle.
It's no longer a Mitsubishi Diamante but because the Prime Minister is mostly driven by others, she isn't certain of the make or model or fuel efficiency of her vehicle.
National's climate change spokesman, Nick Smith, drives a two-litre 1996 Honda CRV - the poor man's four-wheel drive.
Confessing that he is the type of person who buys a car and "drives it to its death", Dr Smith says he has decided that his next car will be a hybrid or at least have more up-to-date fuel technology.
He makes an effort to address climate change at home, using a solar water heater and energy-efficient lightbulbs, recycling and composting, and feeding some house waste to his chickens.
But if certain MPs in the two big parties have some way to go when it comes to car emissions, Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons is a model citizen.
She purchased a small yellow 1300cc Honda Jazz in mid-2005 and has been "delighted" with its fuel efficiency, which is better than the public rating because of how carefully she drives.
She decided against getting a hybrid because of the higher cost.
Ms Fitzsimons and husband Harry Parke use the Jazz as their family car, although they also have an "elderly" low-powered ute for jobs around their Coromandel property.
Unlike United Future leader Peter Dunne, who thinks that talking about MPs' own vehicles "trivialises" the issue, Ms Fitzsimons says people should practise what they advocate.
She says car owners must be weaned from the theory that status depends on engine size.
"There isn't a hill on the Coromandel that my Jazz has a problem with, as long as you don't feel that your masculinity is seriously threatened by changing down a gear."
