Noise Off Charitable Trust - Political Party Policies

Noise In Politics

2008 Election Policies

In September 2008 Noise Off wrote to all of the political parties seeking their policies for reducing motor vehicle noise emissions (to view letter click here).

The following are the responses we have had to date together with Noise Off's comments.

To view 2006 Political Party Comments click here

New Zealand Labour Party.

The Minister of Transport Safety, The Hon Harry Duynhoven, has provided the attached Labour Party policy. The Labour Party led Government has made some headway with the problem by targeting the most excessively noisy vehicles which exceed 95 decibels. However, the Government continues to maintain that vehicles registered before June 2008 can be modified to increase their noise level up to 95 decibels. In our view this is an unacceptable noise level and is unjustified. It happens to be however the level which the manufacturers of wide bore exhausts sought in their submissions on Vehicle Equipment Amendment (2007). This policy will result in excessively noisy vehicles on our roads for the foreseeable future.

Noise Off comment

The proposed policy attached reflects the Vehicle Equipment Amendment Rule (2009) which the Government has introduced and may be introduced next year. This was in response to the criticism the Government received from Noise Off and other stakeholders over the retention of the 95 decibel limit for vehicles registered before June 2008. This extraordinary knee jerk response introduces a complex and costly mechanism targeting the "boy racer" brigade who exceed the maximum level of 95 decibels. It requires offenders to modify their vehicles to 90 decibels or less following which they can remodify the vehicle again up to the permitted 95 decibels. Noise Off has reluctantly given qualified support to this proposal as it may give some further relief to our members and the public, but until the maximum permitted noise level is reduced to 90 decibels for modified exhausts for cars registered since 1985, then the problem of excessively noisy vehicles will be with us for the foreseeable future.

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New Zealand National Party.

Attached is a response on behalf of John Key, the leader of the National Party. The National Party says that it has published a policy which provides for noise testing of vehicles at the warrant of fitness station and lowers the drive by test for new vehicles in line with Australian and European practice.

Noise Off comment

This policy is essentially a restatement of the current Government policy. There is no indication in the response that National will lower the in-service test level to 90 decibels and no particular noise level is specified in their published policy. This is a disappointing response from the National Party considering the excellent work undertaken by their own MP, Nicky Wagner, who has been campaigning for the last four years for a reduction in noise levels to 90 decibels for in-service vehicles and has a private members bill which provides for a maximum noise level of 90 decibels.

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New Zealand Green Party.

The Green Party has responded confirming that they agree that 95 decibels is excessive and it will support all measures to reduce this to the 90 decibel level that Noise Off has recommended (view email).

Noise Off comment

It is pleasing that the Green Party has come out unequivocally supporting Noise Off's position to reduce the maximum noise level to 90 decibels. Presently the Green Party is the only party that has a policy in line with Noise Off's objectives.

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New Zealand First Party.

Mr Brown, the Deputy Leader and Transport Spokesman, notes that the transport and industrial relations committee has received a written submission presenting similar arguments to Noise Off and this has been sent to the Minister for a detailed response (view letter 1 2). New Zealand First notes that the MPs are aware of the problem and moves are afoot to address it. They are hopeful of a positive outcome.

Noise Off comment

Nothing concrete from New Zealand First, but an acknowledgement that the problem exists and optimism that there will be a positive outcome.

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Maori Party.

Our letter of 10 September 2008 has been acknowledged and passed on to the co-leader, Mrs Turia, for comment. No substantive response has yet been received

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United Future Party.

The Honourable Peter Dunne advises that United Future has no specific policy on the desirable level of vehicle noise emissions but notes that we have made many good points in favour of a lower rate. Mr Dunne is not averse to making a change of the type which we propose (view letter).

Noise Off comment

Like New Zealand First, United Future has no specific policy but it is pleasing to note that Mr Dunne is not averse to making a change of the type which we propose.

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Act New Zealand Party

Act says it has no plans to lower the noise level to 90 decibels but would be happy to look at any proposal put forward by Nicky Wagner in a National led Government (view letter).

Noise Off comment

It appears that Act New Zealand would follow the National Party's lead on this issue.

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Progressive Party

Jim Anderton, the leader of the Progressive Party, responded (view letter) that he endorses the Labour Progressive Coalition position on this issue. Mr Anderton is of the opinion that to require those persons who had previously modified their vehicles to now reduce the noise level to 90 decibels would be unreasonable. He does however say that he keeps an open mind on the matter.

Noise Off comment

It is not surprising that Mr Anderton supports his own Government's current position. He has not however addressed the question of why all of the other 2,500,000 vehicles that have not been modified can now legitimately raise their noise level to 95 decibels. There does not, in our view, appear to be any justification for this. This is a policy for the status quo and, in Noise Off's opinion, will result in continued excessive noise levels for the foreseeable future.

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