EECA pulls plug on Better NZ Trust

Funding for the Better NZ Trust to promote EVs ends on June 30.

Up to $100,000 annually has been provided to the trust for more than three years by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), with $55,000 given this year.

Praising the trust for its EV education efforts – particularly the Leading the Charge EV road trip, which continues this year on September 26-October 3 – EECA chief executive Andrew Caseley leaves the door ajar by adding EECA would consider other scenarios from the organisation.

An earlier review found numbers of people attending EV test drive events promoted by the trust had dropped off and that questions people asked about EVs had progressed, Caseley explains.

“The trust has done a great job but things have moved on,” Caseley adds, confirming more effort is going into EECA’s Gen Less project which embraces a lifestyle of using low to zero emission transport and less energy to help stop climate change.

Meanwhile, an announcement for successful round eight applicants to the EECA administered low emission vehicles contestable fund is expected in early August with round nine applications opening the same month.

The Better NZ Trust chairperson Kathryn Trounson says EECA’s funding withdrawal means it can no longer employ event co-ordinator Rachelle Tilsley after the next Leading the Charge road trip.

Trounson hopes to see other funding sources come on board, allowing the trust to continue its work.

Anyone who can assist the trust should email kathryn@betternz.org

for more information.