Walk the talk, Ardern

Given that our prime minister declared climate change was our ‘‘nuclear-free moment’’, it is strange how little this Government has done to action this fine sentiment. Aside from a token gesture on oil drilling, in practical terms there has been a big oily cloud of inertia.

Why, for example, are we not following Norway’s example in kick-starting the electric vehicle revolution with price incentives, or at least tax relief? In Norway EVs pay no GST, reduced charges on road tolls, parking, company car taxes and no road taxes. Even oily old UK offers incentives.

Going EV would eliminate the need to join Uncle Sam’s oil wars and kow-tow to murderous oil tyrannies like Saudi Arabia.

Financially, de-carbonising our economy is a no-brainer. By incentivising EVs we can eliminate vast sums of our treasure wasted on oil imports, instead using home-grown electricity. Similarly, it could reduce the emissions pressure on our farm sector if EVs took up the carbon slack.

Come on, Jacinda, time to walk the talk, or do we have to wait until another round of New Zealand’s new cyclone season before we are forced to act?

Kit Carter, Hamilton