If Nicola Willis really didn’t want to hand out lots of money to rich people, why the billions in tax cuts for landlords?

It’s an absolute rubbish excuse to cancel a policy that was demonstrably working to bring in EVs and low emissions vehicles.

March 15, 2026 - 22:20 UTC

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Blinded by ignorance.
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The subsidy should have been more targeted at those who could not afford an ev otherwise and especially those who use their car for their job. Personally I don't think my uncle in his 80's who decided to purchase a second hybrid just because, should have been the target of it while already
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The idea was to get as many EVs into the system as possible: from govt depts to “rich people” … it also serves to kick-start the second hand EV market.
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struggling workers, like careworkers, were left out entirely. Despite Willis' disingenuous criticisms, it's shameful that we continue to target policies to those at the top and claim some perceived trickle down benefit for those at the bottom. This is not what should be happening.
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Wouldn't want to reduce our dependence on oil during ... *Checks notes* an oil crisis
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I'm glad the landlords got tax cuts because now they'll be able to provide rent relief for tenants in these times of need. 😂
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🫠
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I wish I was a millionaire in Remuera, but I'm relieved to be using my EV that the subsidy enabled as I near retirement in Mount Roskill!
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Well done you!
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THIS ⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️ #nzpol
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I need wealthy people to buy lots more expensive EV's so there are some second hand ones for me later on LOL.

This might be the only trickledown thing that actually works. Perhaps someone can sell it to the Nats as a special TrickleDown boost to the economy :)
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Did they ask her why, if she's such a grown-up economist, did she ignore the financial models that showed the policy she cancelled had a positive $1.8B NPV?
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Unfortunately she's not a grown up economist, she has *checks notes* an English literature degree. And while English literature is a very worthy subject, it's not proving to be much help in these circumstances
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And why are they proposing an LNG terminal to give billions in perpetuity to billionaires from other countries? It is insanity for NZ to attempt to save the global fossil fuel industry.
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In 2022 the fossil fuel industry received subsidies of one TRILLION dollars
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If Willis didn't want to hand out money to rich people perhaps a reduction in the price cap on CCD EVs to say $50k. Those rich people wouldn't lower themselves to low cost EVs.

We have 2EVs (1 is a $13k Leaf) and battery garden tools so petrol stations are a foreign concept now.
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What we're seeing here is a government floundering in the face of a significant crisis. What a contrast to our last government who took several in their stride.
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The Coalition Government love giving the rich more money and aren’t shying away from corporate welfare.

The common factor in cancelling policies like the Clean Car Discount and GIDI fund was that they were reducing emissions (and therefore our exposure to high oil prices.)
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and lower dependency on imported oil over locally sustainably produced electricity would benefit the entire economy.
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The common factor is the donations by used car importers (who import shitty ICE vehicles rejected by other countries)

And donations by oil companies

But you can't say that because it implies our government is corrupt
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And if we're not spending at the gas pumps how will the Govt get more GST?
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Making sense in nz is illegal. You're not allowed to say what is happening and provide solutions. The kiwi psyche just cannot handle it
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Well they aren't alone are they? The previous Labour govt gave them billions to invest in housing pushing prices up faster than they ever had, leading to ongoing harm for generations who will now be locked into lifetime rent debt. What we need is opposition to the red/blue status quo, not smaller
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Bernard Hickey has proposed a war-time style build up of electrification infrastructure and mass imports of consumer and commercial EVs and solar tech.
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What sort of car does Nicola drive? If EV, did she get a clean car discount?
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