Last Sunday, the Governor-General issued the writ, which is the formal instruction to the Electoral Commission to hold the general election on Saturday 17 October 2020. Under the Electoral Act, the writ must be issued within seven days of the dissolution of Parliament, and it must be returned with the final election results within 60 days – by Thursday 12 November unless a recount application is received.
Advance voting starts on Saturday 3 October.
Writ day also marks the beginning of the ‘election period’, when party-political election broadcasting can begin. The Electoral Commission allocates taxpayer-funded time to parties based on factors such as previous election results and polling.
A key fallacy that often emerges at this stage of an election cycle is the notion that tactical voting can strategically influence coalition outcomes.
We saw this at the 2017 election, when voters of all political persuasions supported New Zealand First on the basis that if Winston Peters was part of a new government, he would introduce a referendum on the future of the Maori seats.
Although New Zealand First was indeed part of the new government, the referendum was conveniently dropped from the political narrative leaving many voters disillusioned.
This election, it appears the prospect of a government with the radical Greens in a more powerful position is causing some to consider voting for Labour to ensure they can govern alone.
However, they should reflect on the fact that no single party has ever managed to gain sufficient votes to govern alone throughout the entire 24-year history of MMP.
Furthermore, there is no guarantee that Labour would not ‘reach out’ to the Greens and bring them into government, similar to what happened in 2014. At that election, National had enough MPs with ACT and United Future to govern without needing the support of the radical Maori Party. It nevertheless drew them into government and adopted many of their extremist policies, much to the horror of those who had voted for National to keep them out.
In other words, there are no guarantees that Labour would not bring the Greens into some form of governance arrangement.
As the country looks to the future, the question for many voters is which party will best help New Zealand recover from the recession caused by Labour’s hard-line lockdown.
Three new surveys have shed light on the way voters are thinking.
TVNZ’s self-selected Vote Compass survey shows respondents rate the economy as the number one issue of concern, followed by the Government’s response to the pandemic crisis, then health.
This compares with the last election, where health was the top issue, followed by the economy, then housing.
The Westpac McDermott-Miller Consumer Confidence Survey of 1600 people shows public confidence has fallen to its lowest level since the global financial crisis. It indicates consumers are extremely concerned about rising joblessness, the ongoing border closure, and the recent flare up in Covid-19 infections. Lower consumer spending is expected throughout the rest of the year.
The 2020 Deloitte and Chapman Tripp Election Survey reveals that 91 percent of business voters do not want higher income tax, 88 percent don’t want higher corporate tax, and 86 percent believe economic well-being should take priority over social (7 percent), environmental (6 percent) and cultural (less than 1 percent) well-being.
Of the survey participants, 80 percent think building infrastructure will be useful to the recovery, 79 percent believe more should be done to reduce regulations on business, and 60 percent are uncomfortable with New Zealand’s debt reaching 53 percent of GDP by 2023.
While over 65 percent of respondents think the Government does not have a coordinated plan for raising New Zealand’s economic performance, this problem is not new.
This week’s NZCPR Guest Commentator, businessman and former Director of the NZIER Dr Kerry McDonald, believes the country has lacked good economic management for decades, largely as a result of poor political leadership:
“In 2003 a comprehensive study of the NZ economy concluded that ‘Compared to other OECD countries, New Zealand’s growth in real GDP per capita was slow. New Zealand went from being one of the richest OECD countries…. to one of the poorest’.
“So this paper is not a prediction of future problems but a documentation of what has already gone seriously wrong, over some decades and a why things will now only get worse. It is also a highly critical judgement on the incompetence and ineffectiveness of New Zealand’s political leadership over some decades…
“The fundamental cause of the problem is the lack of capable political leadership to implement the necessary policies, and politicians’ strong preference for the personal rewards of being in power ahead of improving National living standards.”
In reality, New Zealand’s only periods of genuine economic reform occurred during the late eighties and early nineties, when the country emerged from the ravages of years of protectionism culminating in a three-year wage and price freeze imposed by Prime Minister Sir Robert Muldoon.
In 1984 Labour’s new Minister of Finance, Sir Roger Douglas began a comprensive economic reform programme – floating the dollar, reducing taxes, eliminating subsidies, and introducing a multitude of changes including the State-Owned Enterprise Act, the State Sector Act, the Reserve Bank Act, and the Public Finance Act.
These, together with the Employment Contracts Act and the Fiscal Responsibility Act – later passed by National’s Minister of Finance Ruth Richardson – transformed New Zealand from an economic basket-case to a prosperous modern economy.
But as Dr McDonald says, over recent years, the political leadership needed to keep the country on the path to prosperity has been lacking. Instead of doing what’s right, leaders have become obsessed with doing what’s popular.
A few years ago the Economist attributed the economic successes of Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Norway to the fact that they had reduced government spending and balanced their budgets by lowering taxes, ensuring greater flexibility in the workplace, encouraging entrepreneurs, and restricting welfare entitlements.
So, if that is a winning strategy, how do the main political parties, who are claiming they intend to rescue us from the economic crisis Labour has created, stack up?
Abysmally, as far as the Greens are concerned. Even though lower taxes are the key to economic growth, the Greens plan to raise them. They would penalise wealth creators with two new higher tax rates of 37 percent on income over $100,000 and 42 percent on income over $150,000 – along with a wealth tax of 1 percent of all assets worth over $1 million including the family home payable each year, and 2 percent over $2 million.
Labour also wants to penalise wealth creators with a tax increase. Emulating Helen Clark’s Labour Government, they would raise the top rate of personal income tax from 33 percent to 39 percent on income over $180,000.
These parties are ignoring the lesson from the economic reforms of the eighties – when the top rate of income tax was halved from 66 cents to 33 cents, within two years income tax receipts were higher. As Treasury has explained, by discouraging investment, hard work and entrepreneurship, “high marginal tax rates on personal and company income are the most damaging to growth”. Especially in a recession.
ACT is the only party to have prioritised lower income taxes with a plan to drop the 30 percent rate to 17.5 percent.
At this stage, all National has said is that they will not increase taxes nor introduce any new taxes if they win the Treasury benches in October.
Sadly, the promise that “Crusher Collins” would revive the fortunes of the National Party when she became their leader has failed to materialise. In their race to the centre, National’s strategists appear to have become so obsessed with trying to out-do Labour’s ‘niceness’ that National’s new leader is fast losing her point of difference.
What they are missing is that many voters are hankering after that straight-talking style that was part of Judith’s brand – a leader not afraid to call a spade a spade, speaking out against the creep of race-based privilege, opposing the climate extremism that threatens to bankrupt the country, and refusing to kowtow to the PC brigade that is trying to silence our freedom of speech.
The harsh reality is that unless National comes to their senses soon, Judith Collins will lead the party to a resounding election defeat.
What the country needs right now is a modern-day Kiwi equivalent of Margaret Thatcher, who revived Britain from its post-war economic stupor. She had the courage to introduce a fearless policy agenda that injected new life into their moribund economy.
And what were the radical policies that kick started Britain’s revival?
Nothing more than a belief in the drive and resilience of the British people – and the knowledge that if the government backed them to unleash their energy and expertise, then got out of their way, they would have the freedom to forge a better future for themselves, and in the process lift the fortunes of all.
The question is whether any of our political leaders have the courage to step up and do the right thing – lower taxes to unleash entrepreneurialism, creativity and growth; slash the red tape and regulations that are holding back progress; and put government spending under the microscope to reduce waste.
At this stage, the only party coming close to the policy agenda used by Margaret Thatcher to rescue Britain from its economic malaise is ACT, which may explain why UMR has them rising in their poll to over 6 percent – at the expense of National, which remains mired under 30 percent.
Margaret Thatcher’s stirring speech to a small business conference in 1965 gave so much hope for the future that it is worth repeating extracts here:
This Government believes in small business. Because small firms are indispensable to the creation of jobs and of wealth. Firms with fewer than 200 employees produce about a fifth of our national income; employ one in four of the total workforce; and provide one job in three in the private sector.
Small firms can be a seed-bed for new ideas and a testing ground for new ways of working. They often lead the way in new products and new services. They put the customer first. They have to, to survive in a fast-changing world.
We support small businesses because they embody freedom and independence. They are the roots of a free society. For in the words of one American President: “Energy in a nation is like sap in a tree; it rises from the bottom up; it does not come from the top down.”
We seek a society
— where people make their own choices and take responsibility for their decisions.
— where rewards are related directly to one’s efforts.
— where people have a stake in its success.
— where individual initiative rather than the diktat of Government provides the driving force…
Running a small business involves great risks. But to run those risks the rewards must be there. That means that taxes must be cut.
If we are to reduce taxation, we must hold down public expenditure.
The pressures for more public spending are remorseless. But the Government will resist them. Even though we may be opposed by powerful interests our duty is to speak up as well for the taxpayer, the ratepayer, the businessman, the wealth-creator. In a free society, government must leave more in the pockets of the people, to spend as they decide.
I came to office with one deliberate intent: to change Britain from a dependent to a self-reliant society—from a give-it-to-me, to a do-it-yourself nation.
A get-up-and-go, instead of a sit-back-and-wait-for-it Britain.
This means creating a new culture—an enterprise culture—which accords a new status to the entrepreneur and offers him the rewards to match; which breeds a new generation of men and women who create jobs for others instead of waiting for others to create jobs for them.
That is why this Government has given so much attention to the promotion of the small business. It is not simply that tall oaks from little acorns grow. Small businesses are the very embodiment of a free society—the mechanism by which the individual can turn his leadership and talents to the benefit of both himself and the nation.
The freer the society, the more small businesses there will be. And the more small businesses there are, the freer and more enterprising that society is bound to be.
So my message to you today is quite simple: we will do our best for you, so that you can do your best for Britain.
While Jacinda Ardern’s Government is busy using the election campaign to dish out millions of our tax dollars to their politically motivated interests, Kiwis are already tackling the future by starting new businesses in record numbers.
Imagine the boost a Thatcher-type plan would give to them and all of the other New Zealanders with good ideas, who just want the opportunity and the freedom to do the best they can for their families – and for their country.
Please note – you can register for our free weekly newsletter by clicking HERE.
THIS WEEK’S POLL ASKS:
*Do you believe higher taxes or lower taxes are the best way forward for New Zealand?
*Poll comments are posted below.
*All NZCPR poll results can be seen in the Archive.
THIS WEEK’S POLL COMMENTS
| It’s the best way to grow the economy and to put the economy’s growth in the hands of the private sector. Everyone knows the private sector is more efficient at this than any government. | Diana |
| Higher taxes stifle growth, increase dependence on the state and increase unemployment. | Noel |
| I include in that getting out of the Paris Agreement, lowering taxes on farmers and letting them get back to work providing us and the world with top quality beef and lamb. | Darag |
| Lower taxes so people have more incentive to work and fund their own lives without the bribes of costly government assistance. | Eric |
| ‘Tax and spend’ (in reality – Tax and give away to the feckless few, who will then continue to vote for you) has the same effect on any nation’s economy as ‘slash and burn’ has on the Amazon rain forest. A short term gain leading to total destruction. Think before you vote! | TOBY |
| More importantly , for the country to eventually recover financially , govt desperately needs to reduce beneficiary expenditure , mainly by making parents who have more children than they can afford to raise correctly , responsible for their issues, not making the working tax payer forever responsible for others poor life management. stop dipping into our monies by stealth and by outdated left wing laws , just to gain more votes. we need first past the post , voting again.! | Roy |
| Listen to Margaret Thatcher | Ross |
| Are you happier now that National have announced their tax policy? Labour Coalition will collapse under the weight of its own absurdities embedded by censorship. Will someone please criticize the stupid communist so-called leader? Come on Judith Collins, start talking and doing like Pres. Trump and we’ll get the economy back but basically I agree with Dr K. McDonald. | Monica |
| Lower, particularly for SME’s. Smaller government to get them out of the way of the free market. | Tom |
| National has promoted this concept recently, thank heavens!! | John |
| Higher taxes are a ‘Highway to Failure’. | J J |
| Taxing the life out of people and business is akin to shackles on slaves. We are not slaves to serve freedom devouring politics | Kerry |
| And less regulations that hinder productivity | Maurice |
| Higher taxes are a recipe for disaster and have never worked anywhere else in the world | Alan |
| Higher taxes for higher earners. They will still have plenty of money left to spend. | Rosemary |
| Higher taxes have never worked anywhere else in the world, why should they work here. | Graeme |
| I believe we have to go back to living like we all did in the 1950-60s, just import what the country requires to keep going and repair and made materials and equipment ourselves to keep everyone with a job, treat our overseas earned funds as Gold and us as little as possible. Move into manufacturing our own medical drug supply, control the funds the bankers can lend out | Don |
| New Zealand has already experienced the advantages gained by a low tax regime compared with a high tax, overbearing government intervention regime. The coalition Government, have made great gains in making a larger percentage of our nation now being dependents of the state, perhaps the greatest increase in 50 years. Comparisons between the Reagan led USA compared with the Stalin led USSR, the former being a capitalist low-tax economy with minimal government intervention the latter being a marxist tax-for-equality with massive government intervention in all sectors of the economy. Which system survived and gave prosperity to its citizens? You don’t even have to one-eyed and myopic to agree that the low tax – minimal government interdiction regime fared so much better. Can we hope to have a lower tax regime if a Labour/Green Coalition regain the Treasury Benches? Such an action would go against the tenets of two Marxist/Socialist parties and therefore what I believe will have no part in their decisions! | Michael |
| Make Ardern Go Away (MAGA) … PLEASE!! | Maddi |
| Should increase spending and get the economy moving and help small businesses to increase gross profit and incomes | Barry |
| Let people keep more of their money, to spend! | Eb |
| Giving business at any level the freedom to determine the manner in which they spend their earnings will have the result that the business will reinvest in order to further improve their earnings. This will lead to growth and an increase in employment. Our present socialist government is hardwired to believe that the only way to improve the lot of the lower levels of society is by taking away the benefits of the productive members of society. Taking from those who have worked and earned and giving to those who have not is a guaranteed way to destroy initiative and a society. | Theo |
| Give people more money to spend and contribute to the recovery of the country | Andrew |
| Higher taxes and more holidays are certain to hold back the recovery and hasten our slide down the ranks of prosperity | Frank |
| Maori pigeon english for the IRD Dept is “Tari Take” | brucew |
| It is economics 101, proven time & time again. lower taxes/Lower govt. spending leads to higher GDP. See Milton Friedman, Dr. Brash, USA .last 4 years -etc. . All govts. waste money. Small business is best & creates the most efficiencies. “Small is beautiful” | bruces |
| All our taxation history proves that whenever you lower taxes, the tax take increases. | Ron |
| Just whatever it takes to get rid of Amateur Ardern and her coalition of losers. I would happily pay more taxes to see her go, so what a bonus if paying less tax does the job of getting rid of her. Let’s face it, she is bound to find a job on some committee somewhere, writing the minutes rather than featuring in them, and making nothing happen… She might also be good at giving the lotto results too. But I think she might need some elocution lessons first. | LUKE |
| No brainer | Ray |
| Chatham Rock Phosphate; worlds most environmental phosphate : we must do it to feed the world. $$$$ to NZ economy. | Greg |
| I would wager [in a small way] that we are likely to see GST rise to 20% to pay for all the borrowing that has gone on over the last few months by the Labour benches. It is not a new tax but no one seems to ask that question. | rod |
| Its a no brainer!! | David |
| New Zealand needs a “Thatcher” response to save the country but the incredible lack of political leadership means that won’t happen. Even nationals proposed tax cuts are tinkering, Much more could be done. A missed opportunity again. Who will be brave enough to cut the civil service and mandate councils to cut race based, and green costs and focus on core needs. No one, they are all looking after themselves, unwilling to put the countries economy and security first for all citizens. UN climate cost; Cut it now. | Sam |
| Get real. Higher taxes only benefit the government, not the tax payer, not you and me. | Paloma |
| To encourage businesses and wealth creation to pull us all out of the hole Cindy has dug for us along with her fellow bureaucrats | Laurie |
| Great to see National are proposing tax cuts in their economic plan. | Phillip |
| It will Encourage More Investment In Production. | Richard |
| How could there be any other way. It worked in Britain under M Thatcher and with Sir Roger Douglas in NZ. At present the only Party with will to state this are Act. | John |
| Wont happen if labour get back in Jacinda being Commo. does not believe in such, the state controls all. | Graham |
| As a National Party voter all my life I am in despair of the current lot of National pretenders. Judith is deeply disappointing. We desperately need courageous leadership and bold ideas to rid us of the sugar-fix economy we are becoming addicted to. The Act Party is showing us what courage looks like. Forever hopeful. | Robert |
| Let’s get some good old Thatcher/80s/90s motivation going. Let’s get away from the deadly Wokeness, failed Socialist Ideal and get back to being ourselves with more free Enterprise. With the start up of all these new Businesses, it shows Kiwis are ready for it. Suppress us at your own Peril. | Geoff |
| Only way forward!! | Sandra |
| I personally reckon that all taxes ought to be dropped except for GST. Raise GST to 20% on all transactions and cease all other taxes including Income Tax. So, what will the majority of people do with extra money in their pockets……..spend it of course which raises the amount of taxes collected by our Govt. Tax people on their spending, NOT on their hard earnt dollars. SO, those who want to spend up large will pay more taxes via GST and those who are wise with their spending will be able to save more of their hard earned dollars, which makes it a much fairer way of economic life for all NZers. | Bruza |
| Proved in HK many years ago, that low taxes collected more as was cheaper to pay than to pay an “expert” to find loophole on how to avoid | Anne |
| It has been proven beyond doubt that lower taxes promote growth and result in a larger tax take | Barras |
| How could anyone take the Greens seriously? really makes you wonder what motivates some people in this country. God help us if they get power, Kiwis will be leaving NZ for greener pastures. | Peter |
| We must take account that for the average waged or salaried earner the tax take comes out first, but virtually all our spending is subject to GST on what is already taxed income. This cumulative and combined value of tax is amongst the highest in the world given the relative isolation of our ports to markets. The poor are poor in this country because their community culture does Nor prioritize education, productive enterprise, commitment, or investment.Those that do sacrificice to those priorities do not deserve to have their efforts stolen to subsidize the lazy and inept, a class of wasters that by the hand of clark was merged with the genuine retiree superannuants and genuine infirm. We need to again separate the low productivity and set limits on welfare, free up employment conditions and lower taxes to a level that encourages productivity and risk. | Richard |
| This government appear to have little understanding of economics, no one has ever owned a business. | Florence |
| I think a capital gains tax is very necessary Instead of tax increases. | Catherine |
| It’s difficult to escape the notion that in fact, Labour don’t know how to run a free, capitalist system, relying on individual pursuit and the personal work ethic. It’s impossible that this current government are ignorant to the facts—this country was built on mostly agricultural production and individual determinism. It seems highly likely that their national directive, is to render a nation of weaker individuals and a higher dependent, population. Socialism may look benign and secure, but that’s a stark illusion. I state again, this governments proposal to open the gates of barely restrained, cannabis use, at this time especially, to a vulnerable populace, is a graphic statement of incompetence, weakness and outright deception, to all N.Z.ers. | Alan |
| NZ needs a society free-er of restrictive laws to enable a quick response to our economic problems. | Mike |
| God save us from what is coming. Fantastic article Muriel. | Tony |
| While ACT may well appear to be the only one with good ideas, there is also the New Conservatives who are espousing most of the things needed that have been mentioned. nc.org.nz | Ted |
| Oh for a 2nd Margaret Thatcher !! Wake up Judith Collins – you can do it. | Jasmine |
| give consumers the decision on how they use their money | Bruce |
| Oh for some one with some guts to implement this | bill |
| The evidence is there to be seen by those without blinkers on. ACT’s policies are inspiring. Remember Act was spawned by disillusioned mps from Labour & National | Doug |
| Lower taxes stimulate growth and employment. Higher taxes stifle growth and employment. It’s a ‘no-brainer’! | Simon |
| As your article says the way forward is lower taxes and get rid of all the red tape that burdens our present business climate. Labour is not the party to do this with especially if they team up with the Greens. Our country will sink further into the mire and I really wish Judith would start to speak out. Act you look like you will get my vote at this stage. | Fraser |
| Here’s one from MarkTwain…”What’s the difference between a taxidermist and a tax collector?” “The taxidermist takes only your skin”. Can we really make the poor wealthy by making the rich poor?.? | bart |
| The most effective recovery policy. | Terry |
| We are taxed on nearly everything at present & I think governments need to be more selective on what is taxed plus selective on what this money is spent on. Have a plan. | Mary |
| It’s a no brainer. | Ronmac |
| Proven strategy. | Vic |
| I am all for sugar tax, and fat tax. | Sheena |
| Obviously, releasing money to tax-payers stimulates the economy… | Mark |
| No country has ever taxed itself into prosperity | Peter |
| Give people the freedom to do their own thing. If they see direct rewards for their efforts they will bring out the good ideas. There are many out there. | Sheila |
| Lower taxes create an a seed bed for strong growth. | Brian |
| Lets just get real and get our cash flow moving. | Owen |
| Certainly a 40% tax on all income over250k but the real answer is increased productivity and rewards offered accordingly Even a 24/7 economy should be considered .Sadly this half wit of a PM and her socialist rabble do not understand business | Don |
| The only way to stimulate the economy is for lower taxes, allowing people to have more control over how they spend their money. this would assist businesses as well as wage and salary earners. Reduce regulation and the size of government would also stimulate. What we have at the moment is an orchestrated plan to tax the middle class out of existence and subsidize the unemployed up to the same level. This communist ideal is all designed to take control over every aspect of peoples lives. Total control. So this is what we get if Labour is voted in. You can vote yourself into communism, but you have to shoot your way out. So i wonder why they have taken our guns from us? | Neil |
| The Government (which ever party it may be) needs to step back and let the business men/women get on with it with as few impediments as possible. if that means lowering taxes – all the better | Steve |
| The old wisdom ‘you can’t tax your way to prosperity’ still holds good. Far too much of the present Tax take is wasted on ideological dreams. | Bob |
| History proves that lowering taxes increases productivity. The higher the taxes the less incentive people have to work. People spend their own money better than governments do. | Kerry |
| govt waste 50% of it so no way higher…. | wayne |
| It provides incentives not disincentives. | Ian |
| We need to stop dishing out tax payer money for political gain | William |
| As a small business owner I always resented paying high tax’s to satisfy most politicians search for eternal popularity amongst people who didn’t understand that those high tax’s were destroying their own quality of life. Supporting those ideals is a large bloated civil service who don’t give a damn about anyone other than themselves. I will always remember John Kennedy’s inaugural Speech; “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” How many NZrs vote for politicians who promise them other peoples tax’s? | Rex |
| Lets get a margaret thatcher back. | Bev |
| Lower taxes support entrepreneurship. | Layor |
| This is a nonsense question as it does not give an opportunity to differentiate where taxes should be applied.. Trickle down is a con proven by the past since Rogernomics | phil |
| It is inevitable that it will take some time to “pay off” the economic damage that has been done by the government in the last year. Keeping taxes low, and perhaps even lowering them, will provide the boost Kiwis need to get our economy up and flourishing. It is as simple, and important, as that. | Rob |
| One doesn’t have to be a political genius to understand that lower, across the board taxes equals more money in circulation which in turn increases spending equals more revenue for the Government by way of the normal tax take. ie GST, Excise Tax Tax on pofits ect.THEN Control Government spending on non essentials. Freeze all Waitangi payment for 5 yrs and stop promising what can never be achieved, like building 100k houses and put a freeze on all welfare payment, and then we may come out of this on the right side. | Barry |
| Neither labour or national have taken note what has been successful overseas & their ideas aren’t any good.ONLY ACT is following Margaret Thatchers ideas & will be good for NZ.Neither jacinda with her taxes & no ideas or Judith will help us get out of the debt labour has got us into.WHY doesn’t some-one point out to jacinda her race based policies are digging a big hole for us when NO OTHER RACES put their hands out & keep on wanting more & judith hasn’t ruled out lockdowns in the future it is V ERY CLEAR to me that ACT will follow Magaret Thatcher & even though cuts will be hard THEY NEED TO BE DONE NZ IS IN DEBT WHICH WILL LAST APPROX 20 YEARS WITHOUT CUTS.I hope more people will start thinking ahead & vote ACT as they will make sure govt. cannot keep giving OUR MONEY away. | Cindy |
| The wasteful spending of Tax Payers money and pet projects has gotten completely crazy. Especially on Matters Maori. | Geoff |
| instead of the bent mp’s throwing money around to their mates which the tax pay has worked bloody hard for, lower the tax rate or do what Australia does, have a tax free amount that you can earn before you even start paying tax as that way people have more cash to spend which with sales tax plus gst gives the govt more money for the coffers and everybody wins plus if we get rid of the treaty crap it would save millions from being wasted on a select few. and we would end up with a first class hospital system with decent wages for those hard working medical personnel. | Richard |
| I agree with your editorial that Judith Collins is following the “Be Kind” cancerous thinking that is pervading our national psyche….it is as if so many people – leaders or just ordinary folk – are afraid to be forthright and definitive in their opinions; particularly if those opinions are contrary to those of Ardern’s and her minions. Why is this? What is the fear? | Heather |
| With lower tax rates and a government that will tell the PC brigade and racial separatist tribes to go get stuffed, then you will see this country flourish again. Stuff the socialistic whinging mob. | Peter |
| People should be encouraged to work not penalised | Robbie |
| At this time of financial crisis and excessive government spending raising tax would further damage any recovery. Lowering taxes may increase investment and consumer spending thus aiding a slow recovery. | Graeme |
| Obvious! This site has great support basics from well sought out commentators, but you let yourselves down by weak questions. Huge build up for blatant and obvious answers. Pity… wasted opportunity. | Robyn |
| Act is absolutely in the ball park on this one, hope the Nats are keeping the powder dry on this one until shortly before polling day | Phil |
| The Swiss have stated that the tax rate of 10% will be paid by all and will therefore increase the overall tax collected . Didn’t even those terrible thieving mediaeval barons impose tithe ? | Vivian |
| Along with FOCUSED assistance to those with genuine need. A reduction in the staffing levels of government departments, to meet their needs rather than the salary package of their Chiefs. A rationalising of the healthcare regime to far fewer DHB’s (if not just ONE) to reduce replication of effort, and cost….. | Lionel |
| HAVE A LOOK AT New Conservative POLICY. Why the public cling to the belief that National are different to Labour, even after the last Nat government added another layer of Apartheid to the mix, & refused to repeal unwanted laws introduced by Labour is beyond me. Even endorsed the ZERO CARBON BILL, & now Collins is promising to subsidise the electric car industry, while promising no let up on food producing farmers, with the demand to plant more soil & environment destroying pine trees, to off set a mythical carbon footprint, that billionaires use to increase their wealth by trading ,carbon credits,. That is ONE instant where the tax rate should be set high enough to destroy the dishonest traders of nothing. . | A.G.R. |
| we have too many chair warmers in the beehive. cut government expenses. stop giving money to the maori. go to work, grow veggies, built something. stop moaning and begging. for the country to survive we do need lower taxes. | Johan |
| Higher taxes in the past have discouraged hard work | Anon |
| Create incentive and reward hard work | Jeff |
| The only way | Graeme |
| It has been proven beyond a doubt that lower taxes help the economy. | Dennis |
| It will stimulate the economy to prosperity | John |
| Lower Tax is the only way to lower unemployment and in turn give the population more money to spend, which would in turn boost the economy. | Jude |
| Follow the Thatcher mantra | Peter |
| Higher taxes reduce the average spend which small and new businesses require to get going and succeed. Higher taxes will be distributed within Governments and only lead to more brainless dummies in the bureaucratic sector with no drive to succeed for the good of the country – just keep their jobs as they are dismally doing now. – no progression in sight. | Garry |
| ONLY ACT is following Margret Thatchers advice to STOP giving OUR MONEY AWAY & let us be free to start new businesses & lower taxes.WHY aren’t labour & national listening. If anyone is silly to vote labour they can expect them to invite the greens into govt. & that will be a REAL DISASTER for NZ.WAKE UP PEOPLE, do things for yourself don’t expect govt. to rule your life. | Cindy |
| Higher tax will kill incentive. | John |
| follow thatcher | norman |
| Lower taxes would encourage and stimulate job growth and therefore the economy. | Darryl |
| Lower taxes will allow people to spend more and boost the economy | Colin |
| simple math. Shopkeepers have sales & specials during quiet & trying times. What does this do? It brings in much needed cash, the same would happen with a government hell bent on kickstarting the economy. Taxing the wealth makers is stupid & short sighted. | Nick |
| lower taxes will prevent money going over seas and even entrepreneurs leaving | michael |
| we need more people back in the workplace, firstly for more money to be circulating so as a bigger tax take and secondly for peoples mental health and wellbeing. | Graeme |
| You cannot tax your way out of a recession | Jan |
| Obviously | Mark |
| High taxes always slow growth disproportionally. | Michael |
| Must provide economic, emotional, & moral encouragement & initiative along with freedom & freedom of speech. This government is absolutely clueless, terribly incompetent., & abysmally fascist. New Conservatives have easily the best policies. | Jack |
| You cannot tax a community(or country) into prosperity, that is what eventually brough down the Roman Empire. Every time has been in power in New Zealand they have moved towards this and failed!!! Labour | Les |
| Apart from lower taxes– what really will bring the country back on it’s feet is only one thing: Get rid of these red green perverts who are driving us to ruin. People will only wake up when their pants are on fire and – if the looney brigade makes it back into the house-will have a rude awakening very soon. | Michael |
| Power to the people to spend their hard earned dollars as they please. The present government plan is to centralise spending in the state as they know best. Most of them have never had an hones real job in their lives. Shame on this coalition mob! | chris |
| It has always revised a moribund economy. so why not now. Otherwise the same old same old will not achieve real , needed growth | John |
| Higher taxes will only lead to a hidden economy, why would people want to declare their real income if they are on the threshold of a higher tax bracket just because they work hard? | Sue |
| The more money moves the better the economy and the more tax gets made | Andy |
| Lower taxes. Judith does admire Thatcher greatly so here is hoping she is brave and does something similar. Also said the New Conservatives not mentioned in their take on tax- reducing taxes, bureaucracy and red tape and have first $20,000 tax free. | Laura |
| I lived in Hong Kong in the eighties where there was a flat tax rate of 15% – and no dole or other social welfare and this was one of the most buoyant and successful economies in the world. | Mark |
| we need to encourage entrepreneurship and business development. No farmer and few businessmen can afford a 2% tax on wealth – that would mean disaster. | Gerry |
| It’s a no-brainer! Lower individual tax so people have more money in their pockets. Lower the taxes that businesses pay so they have more money to re-staff and get higher productivity. Also, EVERYONE must pay tax. The idea that a small ethnic group pays no tax is ridiculous. | Jenny |
| Higher taxes if you want radical Socialism. | David |
| No contest.Margret Thatcher said it all. Come on Judith, do the right thing.Wave your big stick and get rid of the fairy dust imposter who has no idea what an economy is. | Ross |
| I don’t have a problem with the proposed small increase in tax over $180k. But more than that invites those earners to hide income in all sorts of ways, processes well known to them all. Lawyers/accountants get a huge jump in business! | Hugh |
| That will encourage small businesses, & lift the economy disaster | Anna |
| Always lower taxes. The less legalised theft the better. Rule number two, drastically cut regulations and controls – another incentive killer. Read about how post war Germany%u2019s finance minister Ludwig Erhard created what came to be known as the West German Economic Miracle. Economists across the world condemned him for the actions he took and also those within his own party. He proved them all wrong. | Don |
| Higher taxes mostly kills incentives and individual’s business investment to develop and grow their business ambitions. – and thus potentially pay more in income taxes. To simply enforce Government taxes higher to subsidize those ‘without’ or to fund more (mismanaged) Government authorities leads to an unproductive society. Just look at socialist totalitarian countries! Just look at how the American economy has grown – twice – as a result of wide spread reduced taxation PLUS reduced Government’s inhibiting regulations. | Stuart |
| Lower Taxes will get things moving again. | Maurice |
| Stimulate growth with lower taxes, greater incentive to profit, more employment due to better business confidence, greater tax take resulting from more people employed and more business’ working. | Bruce C |
| You would think it is pretty obvious but most can not comprehend. | Mark |
| Government is incapable of generating wealth for the nation. Taxes take! | Martin |
| Higher taxes only take more money out of circulation. The Labour party has to realise it needs to spend less, not tax more | Neil |
| If Lange had not had his cup of tea, NZ would be top! | Chris |
| of course lower taxation is the best way for all, a big vote for act to become the boss is imperative, go act go. | james |
| International Businessman. There is no doubt at all that encouragement works far better than punishment | tony |
| Taxing or lower tax has in the past not fixed anything. Get rid of the RMA as it is and open up our export and make it easier to gain overseas markets. | colin |
| we have sufficient taxes now do not need them to go up good idea would to be take GST off of food to help the needy | Russell |
| Most definitely Lower Taxes are the best way to genuinely promote enterprise and achieve higher GDP growth. Instead of raising taxes The NZ Govt should be first scrutinizing their largess spending habits. | Mark |
| If you don’t have any money you can’t spend it. More money in the wallets of the people is the only way to kick start the economy. | Chris |
| If the Govt had any brains they would look at what Donald Trump has done for the USA by lowering taxes and follow his example of how to expand the economy | David |
| Lower taxes please, but govt has to cut out all wasteful spending and keep a check on those abusing the welfare system. | Frank |
| Release the entrepreneurs. | Judy |
| Cannot tax our way out of Civid19. Time and smart policies will get us there | Kevin |
| This Labour Government have given away the gains and reserve that had been built up under 10 years of a National Government. | Carl |
| You can’t tax a country into prosperity! | Mark |
| Lower the taxes, remove government bureaucracy and watch Kiwi’s rebuild our economy. However this Socialist government modus operandi is to tax the rich pricks and redistribute this to the poor (the voters they keep bribing with more and more free stuff), which isn’t a way forward, unless that is you don’t give a shit about the economy or Kiwi’s, just the maintenance of power! | John |
| Where is our Maggie Thatcher. It has been proven time and again that the reduction of taxes along with the reduction of regulation means a faster growing economy and in the not too distant future an increase in the overall tax take. I would support a flat rate of tax with an effective tax free allowance and if necessary an increase in GST and along the way get rid of Working for Families and other government subsidies | Robin |
| provides individuals with either some, or increased, discretionary spending which can only assist economical growth and confidence. | John |
| It is just not on to tax in order to cure a recession. | Christopher |
| Higher Taxing would be a waste of time anyway. With a deficit of 269.3 Billion if you payed back $1.00 every second non stop until the debt was paid, it would take 8617.6 years: 1 Billion seconds is 32 years, do the sums!! I think our Grand Kids kids, better start learning Manderin. | Allen |
| No high taxes for working hard and long hours. Our small biz earned us $3 per hour for 105 hours each for 2 people per week. For 9 years!! Gain came only from capital gain. | Prue |
| Lower Tax for the lower wage earners….lower GST….No tax for NZ pensioners ….and no tax for interest on Bank deposit accounts… | Chris |
| encourage people to earn more they spend more and pay more GST Common sense for a change | ray |
| And a massive reduction in Government. Ditch MMP, even first past the post is more democratic | Richard |
| That question is like asking if the turkey would vote for Christmas. | Tim |
| Higher taxes just punish the people who are creating jobs and growth | Chris |
| Encourage spending to help local business to grow and provide stable employment for others. | Carol |
| Initially, lower taxes will provide insufficient government funding for their ‘pet’ projects, some of which have no benefit to Kiwis in general. As entrepreneurs increase their earning capability and worker salaries increase, government tax receivables will increase as the country becomes more productive and hence more wealthy. Increasing taxes will not increase productivity – it will kill the golden goose. | Martin |
| Only if coupled with less Government expenditure | Romi |
| To pay any tax you must have earned an income. Higher taxes are not going to increase production or create employment opportunities. Hoskings and his ilk have had nothing constructive to say about the situation the country has been forced into. We are all scared for the future and what it hold for us all, the younger generation in particular. Better scared than dead though. Thank you Jacinda and Ashley! | Bruce |
| Absolutely | Greg |
| no government has ever taxed its way out of trouble. Remember the disaster created by high tax policies in this country culminating in the Muldoon governments policies. The longer this goes on the greater the pain to correct it. | Willy |
| IT would provide more cash to invest and share around | Warren |
| You can not create a healthy economy by raising taxes. | Don |
| Lowering taxes is the only sensible way forward. When we see our hard earned tax dollars being thrown recklessly around like confetti it is time to reduce taxes, leaving the cash to be better spent in growing the economy. | Lee |
| Tax is a penalty. | Andrew |
| Productivity is better increased by incentives – not taxs | Maurice |
| Margaret Thatchers summary spells it out in black and white. National and Labour have got to stop pandering to Maori and harden up on Social welfare. | Wayne |
| Without doubt..! | Grahame |
| Lower taxes means more disposable income, which in turn will help the economy to recover. | Heather |
| Not much of a choice really as neither will help. Until we have some real leadership at a national level the train wreck will continue. | Alan |
| We need to cut govt spending and bureaucracy, lower taxes area a major incentive for growth | David |
| Absolutely lower taxes – we earned it, why should they steal it off us? | Andrew |
| Raising taxes in a recession is madness. | Julie |
| Kerry McDonald is spot on with his analysis of New Zealand’s political leadership – they are so obsessed with staying popular that they have forgotten that they have a duty to do what’s right. Higher taxes might appease their voters but it will be another nail in the coffin for our economy. | Michael |
| What idiot would vote for higher taxes? Oh, I forgot – those driven by envy and those too lazy to work themselves! | Dan |
| Like Margaret Thatcher found, lower taxes, less regulation, and reducing government waste would allow NZ to pull itself out of the economic mess Jacinda Ardern has created. | Simon |