Photo: RNZ/Nicky Park

The transport minister is dismissing fears New Zealand will become a dumping ground for high-emission vehicles as the government slashes the Clean Car Standard.

The standard - an effective penalty set up to incentivise the uptake of low- or zero-emission vehicles - will drop by nearly 80 percent at the end of this week.

Importers will be charged $15 per gram of COβ‚‚ for new imports instead of $67.50, and $7.50 per gram of COβ‚‚ for used imports instead of $33.75.

Transport Minister Chris Bishop has made a strong case for urgent change to save consumers hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars when buying a new car.

"If we don't act there will be $264 million in net charges that could have and likely

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