Nick Smith falls flat

Nelson MP Nick Smith posted on his Facebook page he was “feeling goofy” after learning his Mitsubishi iMiEV’s battery was flat at Nelson Airport.

He says in the post there’s no electric car charging station at the airport so he would walk the few kilometres home.

Smith had completed a tour of the nearly redeveloped airport with National leader Simon Bridges – who helped Smith secure funding for the new control tower.

“Must put a plug in for a recharging station,” Smith says on his post.

But, as several responses to Smith’s Facebook post attest, there is an EV charger at the airport available for public use.

That’s confirmed by Nelson Airport to EVtalk, adding the $3 per hour (or part thereof) parking fee at the charger site is the same as for the main carpark (also $12 per day).

We’ve approached Smith for comment and to learn how he got on charging his car and whether he did walk home.