'Ute tax' racked up $636.2m before it was scrapped

'Ute tax' racked up $636.2m before it was scrapped
From April, EVs will also be on the hook for road-user charges. (Image: Getty)
Brent Melville
Incentivising the use of electric and low-emission vehicles through the short-lived "feebate" scheme washed out at a net cost to taxpayers of $338.9 million, with the total expenditure amounting to $636.2m.Figures released by the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), which administered the clean-car discount until the new coalition government canned it on Dec 31 last year, showed discount rebates amounted to $615.7m, paid out for the purchase of 192,082 electric and low-emission cars.Total fee revenues invoiced to buyers of high-emi...

More Economy

Mineral sands miner appoints new chair for expansion era
Primary Sector

Mineral sands miner appoints new chair for expansion era

Debbie Birch joins the group as it seeks consent for a major new mine near Hokitika.

Oliver Lewis 01 Apr 2025
Signs of optimism as number of NZers behind on payments falls
Economy

Signs of optimism as number of NZers behind on payments falls

New credit data from Centrix shows green shoots of optimism as mortgage and consumer arrears fell in February.The number of New Zealanders behind on their payments fell by 11,000 in February compared with January.While there are still 480,000 consumers in arrears, levels are 1% l...

Staff reporters 01 Apr 2025
Pricing and cost expectations may raise RBNZ eyebrows
Economy

Pricing and cost expectations may raise RBNZ eyebrows

ANZ Bank chief economist Sharon Zollner: the lift is "becoming a little disconcerting".

Rebecca Howard 01 Apr 2025
RBNZ signals U-turn on bank capital requirements
Finance

RBNZ signals U-turn on bank capital requirements

A major shift at RBNZ's first public outing since Adrian Orr's sudden departure.

Pattrick Smellie 31 Mar 2025