Under section 103 of the Crown Entities Act 2004, I direct the New Zealand Transport Agency (“Agency”) to give effect to government policy in the administration of rebates under the Clean Vehicle Discount Scheme.

In this direction I set out the government policy that the Agency must apply when issuing rebates under the Clean Vehicle Discount Scheme, as part of its function under section 95(1)(ma) of the Land Transport Management Act 2003.

Prior to giving this direction, I consulted with the Agency.

Government Policy on Eligibility for Rebates

1. Rebates may only be issued for eligible vehicles:

1. registered under Part 17 of the Land Transport Act 1998 for the first time in New Zealand on or after 1 July 2021; and
2. with a purchase price of less than $80,000 (including GST and on-road costs); and
3. with a 3-star safety rating or higher (as reported on the Rightcar website).

2. The amount of Rebate for each eligible vehicle is the amount agreed by Cabinet from time to time.

3. If the funding for Rebates is exhausted at any given time, Rebates will not be issued until more funding is available and withheld Rebates will not be queued up for later payment.

4. From 1 April 2022, CO₂ emissions for the purposes of issuing rebates are those determined in accordance with the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Efficiency and Emissions Data 2022.

Definitions

Eligible vehicle means a new or used light vehicle that is:

1. of class MA, MB, MC, MD1, MD2, or NA in Table A in Part 2 of the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002 that is required by that rule to be certified for entry into service, other than an excluded vehicle; and
2. from 1 July 2021 to 31 March 2022, either a battery electric (EV) or plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) vehicle.
3. from 1 April 2022, a vehicle with between 0 and 146 grams of CO₂ emissions (based on grams CO₂/km WLTP-3P).

Excluded vehicle means:

1. a special interest vehicle as defined in Part 2 of the Land Transport Rule: Frontal Impact 2001.
2. a vehicle manufactured 40 years or more before the date on which it was certified for entry into service in New Zealand.
3. a motor sport vehicle as defined in Part of the Land Transport Rule: Frontal Impact 2001.
4. a vehicle specified in paragraph (a) of the definition of low volume vehicle in Part 2 of the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002 that is certified in accordance with the Low Volume Vehicle Code.

New and used, have the meaning given in section 172(1) of the Land Transport Act 1998.

Dated this 28th day of February 2022.

Hon MICHAEL WOOD, Minister of Transport.