From carless days to EV push: The fuel crunch options on the table episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 15, 2026 · 14 MIN

From carless days to EV push: The fuel crunch options on the table

from The SME Stream · host iHeartRadio NZ

If you’re old enough, then you’ll remember there was a time when every Kiwi household had to pick a weekday where they wouldn’t drive. Carless Days were introduced in 1979 as an attempt to reduce petrol consumption amid a global oil shock thanks to the Iranian Revolution. The scheme was short lived – it was scrapped in 1980, after it achieved only a minimal reduction in petrol use. So, why are we hearing about it again now if it failed so miserably? And, are there alternatives we should be looking at closer? Today on The Front Page, transport commentator and Greater Auckland director Matt Lowrie is with us to break down the idea, and maybe what others there are as petrol prices continue to rise. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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From carless days to EV push: The fuel crunch options on the table

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If you’re old enough, then you’ll remember there was a time when every Kiwi household had to pick a weekday where they wouldn’t drive. Carless Days were introduced in 1979 as an attempt to reduce petrol consumption amid a global oil shock thanks to...

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