Obraik:
We could add an emissions tax to the purchase of new ICE vehicles (not second hand) to counter what is lost from selling EVs.
Except that would make people hold onto their existing ICE cars for longer. Especially for use cases such as Utes, where no EV version yet exists. Then you would also need to apply it to used imports as well, due to how many of them arrive in NZ.
And it would be unlikely to get the type of people who currently buy new or near new little hatchbacks, to instead buy EVs. If your use case can be met by a an ICE hatchback, It is highly likely that an EV would also be a good fit for your use case.