Explanation on EV road user charges needed
We have a question regarding the proposed Road User Charges for electric cars from April 1.
A Toyota Prius Hybrid driver will pay $37.12 tax (etc) on petrol when travelling 1000km.
A Toyota Prius PHV driver will pay $18.87 ‘tax’ on petrol plus $53 RUC when travelling 1000km.
Why will the Prius PHV driver pay 93.6 per cent more ‘taxes’ for the use of the road than the Prius Hybrid driver?
It’s not that we disagree with the need for RUCs on electric vehicles but, on our calculations, we are being charged inequitably.
We purchased our Prius PHV in January 2020 to help save on emissions and fuel. We are a retired couple and the vast majority of our driving is on electric power.
Explanation anyone? Short-Circuited
Maunu
Pure poison
India is now issuing a stark warning that an old favourite, pink candy floss, may be causing cancer.
How can a pure white sugary product mixed with artificial colouring and other items not be anything but pure poison, and the perfect diabetes-creating food?
I used to eat that stuff too as a kid with eyes bigger than my brain and since then have had 65 years of trying to keep my glycaemic levels stable.
NZ parents should keep these enticing, colourful, sugary confectionaries, and soft drinks laced with white sugar too, far away from their kids who have no idea of what future diabetes can do, causing ulcers and an epidemic of limb loss.
Fiji too now has two amputations per day from diabetes! We know that fact as we set up a prosthetics centre there to address that problem. Rob Buchanan
Kerikeri
Meeting report
As a previous elected member of the Northern Regional Council I was surprised at the front page article last Thursday which reports on a meeting held last year, November 28.
The opinion of Robin Lieffering is interesting, as she periodically writes on subjects which are more general in content and are readable, not based on weak chatter.
Robin has stepped into what many constituents would have an “about time” opinion of, as the NRC seems to need strong leadership and to start acting with direction, getting results, and with financial caution, all of which in the current financial state of our country is needed.
I, for one, believe this new leadership team has a big job in front of them to change the lethargy under the previous lot and all nine should do what they were elected to do and improve the outcomes or resign.
The rating policy of the previous NRC (2020/2023) seemed to me to be spend, spend, and she’ll be right, including the increase in staff levels and perhaps not achieve any more results, anywhere. In my opinion this irresponsible financial plan was unseen, invisible, or plainly not there. Just more cost.
Where were the articles explaining a 53 per cent rate increase when there are many people who struggle to put food on the table, let alone have to find that sort of rate increase? That decision shouldn’t have passed the sniff test but went through under the previous NRC chair and councillors.
As for the “explosive” meeting, at which I sat in the public gallery, two parts were very memorable.
Firstly, the speech given by the retiring chair Tui Shortland which I thought was gracious, well delivered, and in keeping with the tone of the meeting.
I was pleased to see she was elected later as the deputy chair. Secondly, as a stickler for process and democracy, the meeting then followed the rules which are in place for changes such as then happened.
The article states the eight notices of motion could be a New Zealand record, which certainly is drawing a long bow and I imagine that there would be numerous council meetings in which there have many more. So explosive it was not, process was followed. Robin’s, reported statement that says the councillors didn’t give regard to the Local Government Act and act in the interests of the entire community. Robin, there are many times that as a councillor you must act in what you see as the best action for the subject in discussion and know that friends and neighbours may not all agree, it goes with the territory. As an interested citizen of the North, I wish Geoff, and all the councillors well. As for the November 28 meeting, get over it, and get on with it. John Bain
Whangārei