Christopher Luxon, New Zealand Prime Minister 2023

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Forums › Politics › Christopher Luxon, New Zealand Prime Minister 2023

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#3472647 23-Mar-2026 15:43

On the plus side - the government has announced a $50m loan package to double the number of chargers:

"The zero-interest loans will go to ChargeNet and Meridian Energy, who are investing $60m in capital, and would see 2574 new charge points, 1374 DC fast chargers and 1200 AC chargers. The move will more than double the country's chargers, to around 4550."

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/590328/50m-plan-to-double-the-number-of-public-ev-chargers

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#3472649 23-Mar-2026 15:50

gzt: On the plus side - the government has announced a $50m loan package to double the number of chargers:

"The zero-interest loans will go to ChargeNet and Meridian Energy, who are investing $60m in capital, and would see 2574 new charge points, 1374 DC fast chargers and 1200 AC chargers. The move will more than double the country's chargers, to around 4550."

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/590328/50m-plan-to-double-the-number-of-public-ev-chargers

The government has re-announced a $50m loan package that they last announced at least in 2025, and before in 2024, and campaigned on in 2023 as the best way to get people to buy EVs (as opposed to the clean car discount which was going gangbusters).

ChargeNet and others already said thanks, but it won't make any material difference to their plans.

Can't think why they might have decided to re-re-re-reannounce it right now. Is there some global issue with EVs I need to be worried about?

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#3472651 23-Mar-2026 15:52

Winston Peters' NZ First taking electricity market reform retailer/generator policy into the next election:

"Peters anchored much of his speech on energy, announcing [NZ first] would campaign on splitting up the energy gentailers (generators and retailers). "he said the policy would ensure energy gentailers could "no longer control both the power and the price". "The big four power companies control almost 90 percent of the electricity generation and then sell it back to themselves," Peters said. "It will mean more power stations. More renewable energy. More competition. More resilience."

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/590317/winston-peters-announces-proposal-to-overhaul-energy-sector-in-state-of-the-nation-speech

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#3472652 23-Mar-2026 15:55

gzt: Winston Peters' NZFirst taking electricity market reform retailer/generator policy into the next election:

"Peters anchored much of his speech on energy, announcing [NZ first] would campaign on splitting up the energy gentailers (generators and retailers). "he said the policy would ensure energy gentailers could "no longer control both the power and the price". "The big four power companies control almost 90 percent of the electricity generation and then sell it back to themselves," Peters said. "It will mean more power stations. More renewable energy. More competition. More resilience."

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/590317/winston-peters-announces-proposal-to-overhaul-energy-sector-in-state-of-the-nation-speech

Sounds like a vote winner, and entirely uncontroversial -- except, probably to National, and almost certainly not to ACT.

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#3472653 23-Mar-2026 15:57

For sure. Lower power prices from increased competition will be the pitch. Maybe not 100% appropriate for the Luxon thread as Peters could go with either major party.

I'm guessing it's more or less a flagship policy and largely non-negotiable in any NZ First coalition arrangement for either party assuming NZ First lands the votes it expects.

I'd like to know if NZFirst plan to sort out the situation with the feed in tariffs to enable more solar. The speech sort of hints at it.

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#3472654 23-Mar-2026 15:59

SaltyNZ:

The government has re-announced a $50m loan package that they last announced at least in 2025, and before in 2024, and campaigned on in 2023 as the best way to get people to buy EVs (as opposed to the clean car discount which was going gangbusters).

ChargeNet and others already said thanks, but it won't make any material difference to their plans.

Can't think why they might have decided to re-re-re-reannounce it right now. Is there some global issue with EVs I need to be worried about?

1 - Distraction, if we focus on the left hand, we might (maybe, fingers crossed) forget what the right hand is doing

2 - Yes, there is an issue with EVs, we now don't have enough to sell. Despite having multiple EV brands with broad cost / features spread over multiple models as well as plug in hybrids with even more models / features, we simply won't be able to keep up with demand at the moment.

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#3472657 23-Mar-2026 16:01

sen8or:

2 - Yes, there is an issue with EVs, we now don't have enough to sell. Despite having multiple EV brands with broad cost / features spread over multiple models as well as plug in hybrids with even more models / features, we simply won't be able to keep up with demand at the moment.

Well, even if there is (and there probably will be, given that shipping generally is going to choke once the fuel runs out) trying to encourage people to buy more EVs now (however weaksauce this scheme might be) isn't going to help, is it? 🤣

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#3472667 23-Mar-2026 16:13

At least it's shows a bit of mental flexibility and an eye back on the future with some regard to resilience. The govt deserve credit for that. But yeah you're making it sound like there needs to be some guarantee on it or it's liable to be withdrawn again.

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#3472684 23-Mar-2026 16:30

SaltyNZ:

The government has re-announced a $50m loan package that they last announced at least in 2025, and before in 2024, and campaigned on in 2023 as the best way to get people to buy EVs (as opposed to the clean car discount which was going gangbusters).

ChargeNet and others already said thanks, but it won't make any material difference to their plans.

Can't think why they might have decided to re-re-re-reannounce it right now. Is there some global issue with EVs I need to be worried about?

They re-re-re-reannounced to pretend they're are doing something.

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#3472688 23-Mar-2026 16:33

SaltyNZ:

The government has re-announced a $50m loan package that they last announced at least in 2025, and before in 2024, and campaigned on in 2023 as the best way to get people to buy EVs (as opposed to the clean car discount which was going gangbusters).

ChargeNet and others already said thanks, but it won't make any material difference to their plans.

Can't think why they might have decided to re-re-re-reannounce it right now. Is there some global issue with EVs I need to be worried about?

Having more EV chargers wouldn't change my finances, and I still wouldn't be in a position to buy an EV.

Now, give me some options for buying a new car. Sure, I will think then.

As it is, I can keep paying my home loan, buying food and working. Or they could create something that would make it easier to buy a new car. Otherwise, nope.

Net result: nothing changes.

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#3472698 23-Mar-2026 16:50

sen8or:

2 - Yes, there is an issue with EVs, we now don't have enough to sell. Despite having multiple EV brands with broad cost / features spread over multiple models as well as plug in hybrids with even more models / features, we simply won't be able to keep up with demand at the moment.

Double-edged sword; more sales = more available stock, better model mix to choose from when it comes to manufacturers.

I can't speak for all brands but some of the ones I work with are running down stock and others have plenty on hand.

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#3472873 23-Mar-2026 18:58

I suspect that most are equally busy, sometimes more established brands may be doing a little better, but activity has been nuts on the yard

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#3472881 23-Mar-2026 19:43

The charging thing is partly psychological and as such could be helped by making charging incredibly visual. At the same time more chargers are definitely needed so it's not a bad thing at all, and filling in the very few gaps around the country would be a good thing for visibility and confidence if that's the way it turns out.

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#3472889 23-Mar-2026 20:29

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/590398/fuel-cost-crisis-govt-to-unveil-targeted-and-temporary-support-tomorrow

Nicola Willis: "This conflict is impacting just about every New Zealander, it has pushed up the price of petrol, diesel and jet fuel and those increases are already hurting our people and our businesses. Unfortunately the government is not in a position to mitigate that impact on everyone," she said.

"The approach we are taking is consistent with the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the response to the Covid pandemic, which highlighted the damage that can be done by untimely, untemporary and untargeted spending." [here we go with banging on about the last government again 🙄]

It was unclear when the support would be rolled out, with Willis saying that would be made clear when it was announced.

Motorists should fuel up as and when they needed to, she said, with the government's solution set to target income rather than fuel prices.

I wonder what her and Mr I'm-rich-and-sorted have come up with now...and will it save their re-election chances? They haven't got much runway left now until we head to the polls.

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#3472890 23-Mar-2026 20:45

"The approach we are taking is consistent with the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the response to the Covid pandemic, which highlighted the damage that can be done by untimely, untemporary and untargeted spending."

Good recovery! but I think that's more about explaining why we're starting a bit late. Nevertheless, probably not so bad. Carry on..

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