Unclear on the concept

So while young and older New Zealanders are allegedly suffering from the cold even in their homes, they still need enormously expensive government programs that attempt to make it slightly cooler outside?!

Vote '08: Election coverage from Fairfax Media

Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons has lashed National's decision to axe a 15-year $1 billion household insulation scheme set up as part of emissions trading legislation.

The policy, which the Government agreed to in return for the Greens' support for the legislation, is due to start next year and will be paid for through profits recycled from state-owned power companies as a result of the emissions trading scheme (ETS).

National's environment spokesman Nick Smith yesterday told Radio New Zealand that National had never agreed to the insulation programme and would scrap it if it became government.

Ms Fitzsimons today attacked that position as well as National's overall record on climate change.

"I'm absolutely stunned Nick Smith wants to take away a fund to make New Zealand homes warm and dry and energy efficient and give them decent heating," she told NZPA.

"It's a fund that has a huge return on investment if you want to look at it financially. It will halve child asthma to insulate those homes, it will help older people with arthritis and rheumatism."